Painting contractors know that one of their biggest enemies they face in the painting business is poor weather conditions.
At certain times of the year the lines between good weather conditions and poor weather conditions become blurred.
There are numerous conditions to consider before applying paint to the exterior of a home.
If a homeowner is planning to paint a home during the winter months, the cold weather can present a serious problem depending on what areas of the country they live in.
Even while using low temp paints, cold weather can cause paint failure if weather conditions are too extreme.
Some low temp paints allow you to paint when temperatures are as low as 35 degrees if the temperatures are going to stay above 35 degrees during the day for a certain number of hours.
Drying times vary depending on the paint you choose.
However, my experience with this is that you may be safe as long as the humidity is not rising.
Rising humidity often means a dome of humid air is entering the area and this humidity will slow down the drying of the paint.
If the drying of the low temp paint is slowed down, it may not have enough drying time above 35 degrees before freezing temperatures set in during evening hours.
The paint stands a high risk of freezing in this situation and thus paint failure will become a stark reality.
Painting contractors normally check to see what painting conditions are going to be like over the next 48 to 72 hours.
Are they going to be faced with rising humidity as a front moves in or will the humidity stay low for an extended period allowing the moisture to evaporate out of low temp latex paint? Will there be enough time to above 35 degrees to allow the paint to dry before falling back into freezing temperatures? Another thing to consider is how windy will it be.
A windy day with low humidity is good.
The wind will reduce the drying time of the paint.
Make sure you cloth yourself for the uncomfortable conditions.
With stable humidity, this is a preferable condition.
Another thing one must consider is the temperatures of the surface of the substrate you are applying the paint to.
If you had overnight temperatures in the mid to low 20 degree range, it will take time for the exterior of your home to warm to 35 degrees, So applying paint as soon as the thermometer says 35 degrees for the atmosphere, is not a good idea.
You will need to wait 2 or 3 hours before you can apply paint safely.
The amount of sunlight you get should be considered.
If it is a clear day, radiant energy created by the sun will help warm the surfaces of your home above 35 degrees.
Sunlight is certainly a consideration and I recommend painting the side where the sun is shining.
Follow the sun.
In a few days temperatures may improve enough so that areas that do not get sunlight or very little sunlight can be painted during a safer range of temperature.
I personally do not allow my painters to apply low temp paint to a clients home unless the temperature will rise above 47 degrees and the humidity is stable or going down.
I also consider the level of humidity through most of that day.
I consider what the low temperature will be the night following any paint application.
If temperatures are going to drop into the low 20's I know that we will have less painting time that day before we will start entering the danger zone.
Many times I abandon any painting when temperatures are going to get this low the night following what seems like a good day.
I will abandon painting because of reduced drying time.