You wouldn’t know it by stepping outside right now, but winter will be here soon. Though colder winter temperatures affect everyone, they can be especially difficult for exterior painters and siding contractors in Calgary who have to pay attention to the daily weather in order to do their job.
The colder the temperature gets, the less exterior painting we can do. Luckily, advancements in paint technology allow us to paint in temperatures as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit, as long as we take special precautions while painting. Continue reading to learn more about painting in cold weather:
- Choose the right paint: First things first, you’ve got to buy the correct paint when you’re at the hardware store. As mentioned above, there are paints on the market that allow you to paint when the temperature is at 35 degrees—just make sure you purchase that type of paint and not one that’s meant for warmer weather. Using a warm-weather paint will only lead to disaster, and you’ll have to finish (or completely redo) the job in the spring when it’s warm again.
- Buy the right tools: Similar to the point above, be sure you purchase the right tools for the job. Some rollers and paintbrushes are better than others for painting when the temperatures are lower. Employees at the hardware store should be able to point you in the right direction.
- Check the surface before you start: Now that you have everything you need to paint, it’s time to get to work! Well, almost—before you open your paint cans and get out your rollers, you need to check the surface on which you’re painting. If the surface has too much moisture or is colder than the 35-degree benchmark, you’ll need to wait to paint. You can use an infrared thermometer to accurately test the surface temperature. Remember, just because the air temperature is 35 degrees, that doesn’t mean the siding is!
- Paint at the right time: Timing is everything when you’re painting on colder days. Experts recommend focusing on preparation early in the morning, but waiting until about 10:00 a.m. to actually start painting. Continue working until about 2:00 p.m., and then stop for the day. Finishing up at 2:00 allows the paint to cure before the temperature drops below 35 degrees once again.
- Follow the sun: Unlike during the warmer months, when you aim to paint in the shade, painting in colder temperatures requires you to paint in the direct sunshine when possible. Painting in the sunlight helps ensure that the surface temperature stays above 35 degrees—and will probably be a lot more comfortable for everyone in your painting crew!
If your siding is looking a little haggard these days, be sure to call Rhino Exteriors to replace it. As the top siding contractors in Calgary, you can trust that we’ll install your new siding correctly, and in a timely manner. Regardless of the size or shape of your home, we’re the team for the job.