Brisbane winters are awesome, right? Sunshine without the sweat! But is it the best time to grab your paintbrush and give your house exterior a makeover? Of course, it is ideal to paint outside when it is not very hot during the summer season. However, you need to explore why winter painting might require a bit more planning.
Should you paint your Brisbane home’s exterior in winter?
You totally can give your Brisbane abode a fresh coat of paint this winter. But it is not advisable. Here is why this season might not be the best time to do your project:
- Slower drying times: When it is cold, the water in the paint dries significantly slower. As a result, it takes a longer time for the paint to dry. This means that your newly painted surface will be exposed to rain, dust or bugs for a longer time.
- Uneven application: In colder temperatures, thicker paint can be harder to apply smoothly. This will make your exterior paint less appealing.
- Risk of cracking: If the paint does not dry properly in cold weather, it can get all brittle and crack later on.
How does cold weather impact exterior paint drying time?
Paint dries by evaporating into thin air. For best results when painting outdoors, you ideally want sunshine and temperatures between 10°C and 30°C. When it is colder, the water in the paint takes forever to disappear, making drying times a real drag. This can cause problems like:
- Streaking and uneven drying: If it rains or if morning dew touches the paint before it dries, it can make the paint streak or dry unevenly.
- Slower curing: Curing and drying are not the same thing. Curing is when the paint forms a hard, protective film. If it is cold, curing can take longer, and the paint becomes more at risk of being damaged by rain, wind, and other elements.
- Higher chance of mould and mildew: If the paint dries longer, mould and mildew might grow on your freshly painted exterior.
What are the ideal winter conditions for painting your Brisbane home?
If you finally considered hiring house painters Brisbane residents trust, better do it in sunny and dry weather with temperatures above ten degrees Celsius. Other tips include:
- Select the right paint: When painting in cold temperatures, use paints made for cold weather. The special additives in this paint can dry faster in winter.
- Paint during the warmest part of the day: Start painting around late morning when the sun has heated the surface. Do it until the afternoon to let some time to dry the paint before it gets dark.
- Protect your work: If there’s a chance of rain or dew, cover the painted surface with tarps overnight.
What are the tips for faster drying times when painting in this season?
Even with the right conditions and paint, drying times might still be slower in winter. Here are some additional tips to speed things up:
- Improve ventilation: Open windows and doors so the air flows well around the painted surface.
- Use fans: These will get the air moving and speed up the drying process, especially in shady spots.
- Consider using a space heater: When you’re in a well-ventilated area, a space heater can help warm up the place and dry things quicker (just be sure to use it safely).
Are there risks of painting your exterior in unfavourable winter conditions?
Despite having the right tools to ensure a successful house painting project, if the weather is bad like freezing, really humid, or rainy, it can cause many issues:
- Uneven finish: When the paint dries, it may look patchy or blotchy because it does not dry evenly.
- Poor adhesion: The paint might not stick properly to the surface, causing it to peel and flake later on.
- Cracking: As mentioned earlier, make sure that the paint is dried properly to ensure that it does not crack easily as it turns all brittle.
What are the alternatives to painting your Brisbane home’s exterior in winter?
If the weather’s not looking good, or you’re worried about painting in winter, there are some other options:
- Wait for warmer weather: Exterior painting services are more common in Brisbane during the spring and autumn seasons because of the good weather conditions.
- Consider power washing or minor touch-ups: If your outside paint is not in a very bad condition, you can try these options to wash off the dirt and fix a few areas if needed.
- Focus on interior projects: Winter is a great time to finally get around to indoor painting projects you haven’t done.
Why should you also consider scheduling exterior painting for warmer months?
There are several reasons why it’s better to wait for warmer months to paint your home’s exterior:
- Faster drying times: When it is warm, the paint dries faster and that means that you will not have issues such as streaks and mould.
- More comfortable working conditions: Painting can be quite a workout. It is even more fun when the weather is warm and the painting can be done for hours without feeling the cold.
- Better adhesion: In warm weather, the paint sticks to the surface better and remains there longer than it does in cold weather.
- More paint options: When it’s warmer, you have more paint options to choose from, including some traditional types of paints and finishes that may not be good for cooler temperatures.
Don’t let winter chill your painting plans: Make the right choice for your Brisbane home
Painting your home’s exterior is a smart move. Doing it properly at the right time will result in awesome and long-lasting paint. If you’re unsure about your exterior paint winter project, let Djari Group’s experienced professionals transform your home’s exterior. Our team can check out what you need and suggest the best way to go. We use exceptional paints made just for Brisbane’s weather and we can give you tips on getting a perfect finish.