Have you been thinking about painting your home, but are just not really sure when the right time is? What one needs to remember, is that paint application depends on the weather and humidity, it’s truly a unique process for everyone and will depend on the climate and weather where you live. What we can tell you is how to know when it’s the best time for you or a team of pros to get started on your paint project. Painting adds value to your home and it sends messages to your neighbours that your home is alive and well.
Here are some advice before you pick up that paintbrush.
There is a reason why you don’t see a lot of people, in the dead of winter, painting their homes. Painting your home isn’t something that you can do at any time of the year. The best time in Cape Town is late Spring to early Autumn.
During Summer, you can expect more than 12 hours of sunlight each day. If you paint your house during summer, you’ll have more time during the day to get the job done. The more sunlight you have, the better the quality of the job. Plus, longer days will allow you to get the job done faster.
If you’re selling your home in Cape Town, summer is always a great month to list it on the property market. After all, if you were thinking of buying a new house, would you prefer to visit a home when the weather is overcast and rainy, or sun shining down on you?
That said, you have to make your home look nice from the moment visitors park up. House painting in the summer can increase your property’s curb appeal. It can also increase the value of your home. Of course, the better the job, the better your home will look. Summer offers the best weather conditions for painting the exterior of a home. During this month, you’ll achieve the best results that will last you a long time.
The key to house painting is static temperatures. All paint manufacturers recommend a minimum outside temperature to use their products. Whether you’re painting your home yourself or are hiring a contractor, you should check the manufacturer’s instructions before starting.
Luckily, today, paint quality is much higher. This means that the minimum temperature point is lower. Some paint manufacturers would suggest you never paint the exterior of your home if it is less than 10°C.
By the time autumn, winter, and spring have passed, your home’s exterior will be stressed. It will have withstood the cold. It will also have to have fought against the moisture of the rain and humidity. You may have even noticed that the moisture has led to mould and mildew growth.
Additionally, the sun can cause paint to crack, fade, flake, and peel. This can reduce the protection that the paint provides to the exterior of your home.
If you want to paint your home, do it towards the beginning or end of summer. During this time, your home will have gone through all the extremes each season has to offer. But remember, don’t wait too long because you may not have the best weather to complete your house painting job.
Once Spring hits, the days get warmer; better yet, they stay warmer. This is important because maximum and minimum temperatures for exterior paint vary. They depend on the type and brand of paint you use.
If the temperature is too low, the paint will not bind to the surface of your home, causing it to crack and peel. If the temperatures are too high, the paint will dry and brush out too quickly.
Some of the highest rainfalls in Cape Town are in Winter. Once Spring hits, the weather starts to get a bit drier. Painting your house during the wetter months could stop your paint from drying altogether or could cause streaking. Additionally, moisture plays an important role when house painting. If you apply paint to a moist surface, it just won’t bind. If for any reason you experience heavy rain, you should postpone your paint job. Remember that your painting surface can get moist from humidity in the air.
Before you get set up to paint your home’s exterior, check the weather forecast for the next 72 hours. If there is any chance of rain or colder nights, don’t start the job until the weather is clear. Even if the weather has cleared, you should wait for your surface to dry. This is especially true with porous materials such as wood.
The fluctuation between high and low temperatures is as important as the minimum temperature if you are planning on painting your house. Paint doesn’t perform well if the temperature outdoors goes from over 30°C during the day and lower than 5°C at night. And, that’s why house painting is best in summer. This is because daytime and nighttime temperatures are often most similar.
To get it right, you have to read the weather report. Don’t take any risks because the paint will not bind to the surface of your home. If you don’t paint your home in the right conditions, you won’t achieve the results you intended.
Before you can start painting, you should consider the following:
If you want to spruce up your home’s exterior but aren’t DIY savvy or simply don’t have the time, contact Jools.
If you’re in Cape Town, or any of the surrounding areas, Handyman Homes can help! We offer products and services for everything from major construction projects to small renovations. Our solutions are designed to help you complete your project on time and stay on budget.
To find out more about our products and services, contact our team today.
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Renovations says:
This is a lekker article with some good info. Some good points in it.