Do Cold Temperatures Affect Painting Interior Walls?
Posted on October 23, 2019
Most construction is impacted to some degree with the changing temperatures outside. Painting is no exception. Even when you are painting in a temperature controlled house, you could deal with some effects of the cold weather on your paint. Do cold temperatures affect painting interior walls? Yes.
Heating
The ambient temperature in your home should be between 50 and 90 degrees to get the best outcome from your paint. Any lower and the bonding to the walls could be compromised. The lower mercury can also affect the viscosity of the paint, making it patchy and harder to roll onto the walls. Dry times are lengthened when the temperatures are too low. Avoid any condensation at all cost. Dew drops forming on your new paint can permanently become part of the paint film.
Ventilation
Are flow in a room you are painting is an absolute priority. Open the windows to allow air to flow through the room. When the temperatures dip low, it’s tempting not to open the windows. You’ll need the air flow to keep you safe and encourage drying.
Construction
When working in new constructions, painting can be harder since heating may not be installed yet. If you cannot use an HVAC system to heat the room and dry the paint, you might need to consider a space heater to raise the room temperature. If it’s too cold, you’ll rise poor bonding between the paint and primer. Some paints do boast that they can be used in lower temperatures with good results. Our pros have reported mixed results with these options.
Colors
Some colors take longer to dry. The more vivid or dark the color, the longer it will take to form a paint film and dry. To get the true color to show through, you may need more coats as well. This all adds to the amount of time you’ll need the temperatures to be at a good level. If it’s too cold, the paint can begin to sag or ripple ultimately ruining your paint job.
Crews
By booking your paint job with a company, you’ll benefit from many hands helping with the work. Crews can offer a team of painters to get the paint on the walls at the optimal time for the best drying. They will also have experience working in lower temperatures and still getting a great turn out. Take advantage of painting in the off season and get on our schedule now.
If you’re ready to paint but not prepared to take on the cold weather, call us! Get a free, in-home estimate. We can discuss the incoming colder weather and options to finish your project beautifully.
