Fall & Winter Painting
Now, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have all spent the better part of 7 months in our homes. Are you tired of looking at the same old wall colours? I know I am. I am very ready to freshen up my décor, and I expect you are too. One of the biggest questions on your mind may be:
Is it Okay to Paint Interiors in the Winter? In Most Cases, Yes
People choose to have the interiors of their homes painted in the winter for many reasons: The biggest reason this year is more than likely because of Covid-19. But, in “normal times” summers are for taking vacations and travelling; enjoying parties with guests soaking up the warm temperatures and, of course children are off school, so endless activities may be arranged. Also, if you are not a “do-it-yourselfer”, it may be hard to get a paint company as when the weather’s nice, crews are booked for painting projects.
Under the proper circumstances and when you have experienced painters on the job, winter interior painting can be a perfect arrangement. Here’s what we mean by proper circumstances.
Temperature of the Rooms and Their Walls
Ideally paint should be applied in temperatures above 15 degrees celsius Painting at temperatures below that, and especially below 10 degrees celsius, can result in adherence problems and longer drying times, which means a longer wait to set the room back up again. Most homes during the winter don’t have internal temperatures below 10 or 15 degrees. But what about the walls?
If you’re in the middle of a cold snap, the outside chill may permeate the exterior of the home and cause significant cooling of the walls. In order for paint to adhere properly (and maintain its quality appearance for as long as the paint’s manufacturer says it should), the wall temperature is important, just like the air temperature.
Turning up the thermostat while professional painting crews are applying interior paint and for approximately 36 hours after they’re finished might help if the walls are excessively cold. This will create an ideal atmosphere for the new paint. (Needless to say, don’t crank the heat up to 35 degrees – you might suffocate the painters.
How Humidity Affects Paint
Typically, winters are less humid than summers. But this isn’t always the case. If you suspect the air in your home is particularly humid, you’ll want to do something about it before painting starts.
Particles of moisture in the air is what causes the effect known as humidity. The more particles, the higher the humidity. When the air is full of moisture, paint has trouble evaporating (drying), because the wet air keeps the paint wet. When the liquid component of the paint remains, the paint won’t properly bond to the walls. As with painting in temperatures that are too cold, paint in a humid environment stays wet and can sag, pick up dust and be smudged when moving furniture and other items back into the room.
As indicated, for paint to do its job, it must dry out (release its moisture elements) in a timely fashion. It’s the drying that makes it adhere to surfaces. Temperature extremes on either end of the scale and excess humidity affect how paint dries and, consequently, how good a finished paint job looks and holds up in the coming years.
NOTE: Remember paint should never be applied at under 15 degrees celsius and ideally not under 10 degrees celsius Take into account the temperature of the walls, which in winter can be colder than the room air temperature. Keeping rooms temperate will allow paint to dry faster and deliver the best results. Humidity is usually less in the winter, allowing paint to apply better and dry faster.
