When is The Best Time of Year to Paint?

House painting, whether interior or exterior, is no small undertaking. To make sure you get the best results – and the least disruption to your daily life – choosing the right time of year is important. So, what season is best for painting your home?

Before we get ahead of ourselves, climate and location make a difference here. Our team is located in the Boston area, which means we have the full spectrum of seasonal weather to contend with. If you live somewhere with sunshine and warmth year-round, picking the right season will be much less of a concern – just make sure it’s not too hot!

For those of us with more variant weather, let’s take a look at some pros and cons.

The conventional wisdom is that oil-based paint works best between 40º and 90º F, and latex paint is best between 50º and 85º F – though some paints can still dry properly in temperatures as low as 35º F. This essentially means that warmer weather is better for exterior house painting.

Because warm and dry makes for the best results with exterior paint, summer seems like the obvious choice… And in many cases it is. Still, it’s worth considering some of the other factors at play. Ideal humidity for paint drying is between 40% and 70%, so if summers where you live are particularly humid or extremely hot, this typically sunny season might not actually be the best choice.

Similarly, spring and fall tend to have more precipitation, but might be more forgiving when it comes to temperature. Paint also dries best with relatively consistent temperature, so the times of year where temps vary wildly from day to night aren’t ideal. Early fall and late spring are good options to consider because temperatures remain more consistent from day to night.

We can definitely rule out cold, snowy winter as an ideal exterior painting season, and for similar reasons, early spring and late fall aren’t great options either. This gives you a good window from late spring, through summer, and on into early fall. Plan for a time of year when things are likely to be dry and warm, and your paint is far more likely to dry without cracking or peeling, adhere properly, and provide lasting protection.

Now, what about interior painting?

The short answer is: whenever you like! Because the interior of your home is a far more controlled environment, the weather and season outside doesn’t matter nearly as much. On one hand, you may want to have painting done during a time of year that you can open the windows for ventilation, but this is less of a concern if you’re only doing one room at a time. When working with professional painting companies, winter is probably the best time of year. Not only are professionals more available during this “slow” season (because they aren’t likely to be doing exterior work), many companies also offer discounts and promotional pricing.

Choosing the right time of year to paint your home will depend on a variety of factors – and weather is always a little bit unpredictable. Do your best to plan for a time of year between late spring and early fall, and if you’re uncertain about scheduling, you can always reach out to professionals for guidance!

For help with interior and exterior painting, or any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact CertaPro Painters of Metrowest today at 781-296-6044!

Looking for more Home Painting tips? Check out our other home improvement articles!