The Prep Work You Should Consider to Make Winter Painting Better
Winter Interior Painting Prep
Most of the painting projects that occur during the winter involve interior spaces. While exterior painting isn’t always off-limits in the winter, winter weather can be a major hurdle in these efforts.
Internal Climate Considerations
When winter comes, temperatures tend to drop and the air tends to dry up These environmental changes can have an effect on paint application and the drying process When painting inside, however, you have control over the conditions in which you work. To make winter painting better, pay attention to how you configure your internal climate (i.e. temperature and humidity). Most paints do best in temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity levels between 40% and 50%. The more consistent you can keep these conditions, the better.
Normal Prep Work Applies
Regardless of the season, you or your interior painting services must go through the same basic preparation steps prior to painting a room. These steps include:
- Removing all moveable furniture, curtains, and other objects
- Covering stationary furniture, electrical fixtures, etc., with tarps and plastic sheets
- Laying down drop cloths to protect floors
- Repairing and cleaning surfaces
- Priming when necessary
Winter won’t make a major difference in any of these steps, aside from the possibility of tracking in snow and salt from outside into the room you wish to paint. Just be mindful of this. If all your materials are inside and on hand, you won’t need to worry about this potential problem.
Ventilation and VOCs
Maintaining a consistent internal climate in winter means keeping the outside air completely out. However, some ventilation is usually beneficial for painting, especially if your paint contains strong odors and/or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Residential and commercial interior painters might recommend running exhaust fans to facilitate proper ventilation. In some cases, it’s also fine to crack open a window or two -- this will let some cold, dry air in, but it will also flush out harmful fumes and possibly aid in the drying process as well. Additionally, when painting in the winter, you might want to use zero- or low-VOC paints to reduce the need for intense ventilation.
What About Exterior Painting?
If you live in a generally warmer, temperate region, winter might not get in the way of exterior painting. Still, it’s important to keep an eye on the weather. Whenever having your exterior painted, you’ll want to shoot for a string of 3-7 days that offer relatively consistent temperatures no lower than 45 degrees Fahrenheit and are devoid of high winds, precipitation, and/or excessive sunlight.
Prepare to Make Winter Painting Possible
You don’t need to put off your painting project any longer. If you’re looking for a reliable residential, commercial, and/or HOA painting provider this winter, look no further than Endure Painting. For more information regarding our skills and services, call us at (510) 458-2120 or send us an email at hello@endurepainting.com.
