The Best Time of Year to Paint the Exterior of Your Home

A house that has had its exterior recently painted looks like a shiny new penny! There aren’t many things you can do that make as big an impact as a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of your home. Right now, with the warm weather of summer, you might be thinking that it is the perfect time of year for that project. But, is it? You should be aware of a few factors that affect whether a paint job turns out beautifully or terribly. When deciding on a time to paint the house, be sure to consider all the factors and choose carefully.

At Osborne Painting, we have years of experience painting the exterior of houses. We’ve seen the end result when the job was done at the right time as well as at the wrong time. Painting your home is a big decision and you want it to be a showcase when it is done. Here are our suggestions about when is the best time of year for painting the exterior of your home.

Which Season is Best?

You need to paint the outside of your house when the weather is suitable. Generally, the period from May to November offers plenty of days that are the right temperature and when all the elements are cooperating. So, spring, summer, and fall are the best times to paint. But, be aware that during these months the temperatures need to be within the range that gives you a great coat of paint. (See below.) Painting in the right temperature and weather means the paint binds well and goes onto the surface without cracks and bumps. Choose a time of year when the days are warm, dry, and the temps don’t fluctuate significantly from day to nighttime. When you have big temperature fluctuations from day to night, the paint won’t cure properly.

Within the May to November timeframe, in Raleigh and surrounding areas, the very best times are early spring and late fall when the humidity is right and rainfall may be less.

What is the Optimum Temperature?

The best temperature range for painting outdoors with latex paint is from 50 degrees to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Oil-based paint is best applied when the temperatures are between 40 degrees and 90 degrees. Paint won’t bind together properly when the temps are too high or low. When it doesn’t bind correctly, you get cracking and peeling. Painting during extremely hot weather can cause latex paint to dry too fast, resulting in brush marks and clumps of paint on the paintbrush. This impacts how smooth the coats will be. Painting when it is too cold causes the paint to crack and peel because it doesn’t adhere well to the surface.

What About Humidity?

Humidity is definitely a factor in whether your paint job turns out as you want it. Some moisture in the air helps to slow down the drying rate. But, at the same time, you don’t want the paint to dry too slowly because the paint will turn gummy and will not solidify. To get the best results, you should paint when the relative humidity is 40% to 50%. The higher the humidity, the more condensation will form on new paint when the temperature drops, which leads to streaking, fading, and poor adhesion. If conditions are too humid when applying paint, proper curing is impaired because the paint is water-logged. When the humidity is lower than 40%, the drying rate is quicker, which can cause visible brush marks. Both oil-based and water-based paints experience the same results in different humidity levels.

Will Rain Make a Difference?

Let’s face it…when painting the exterior of a house, you are subject to the weather. You can try your best to paint when the temperatures are good and the humidity is right, but you can’t always predict whether it is going to rain. Sometimes the time of year with the best temperatures for painting might also have the most rain. Rainy days and wet surfaces create two problems with painting–rain will wash the wet paint off the surface and paint won’t be absorbed into a wet surface. Try your best to avoid painting on rainy days.

Latex paint needs a minimum of two hours of direct sunlight after painting and before it rains. Even after two hours, light rain may still mean you have to repaint some of it when it is dry. It really takes paint six hours of sunlight to dry completely. The ideal is to have five days of normal weather when painting the outside of your house. Make sure the surface is dry after rain before beginning to paint. 

Contact Osborne Painting to Paint the Exterior of Your House

Osborne Painting has the experience you need when you are scheduling exterior painting of your house. You want it done right and we are the ones to make that happen. We have years of painting in all kinds of seasons and weather conditions and can advise you appropriately. To get a free estimate, contact us at (919) 878-6611 or complete the easy-to-use form below.