Residential Painting

Should You Paint Your House Interior in the Winter?

Posted on December 22, 2019

When it comes to painting, most people think it’s a summer home maintenance task. There are quite a few benefits to painting in the winter. If your walls could use some love, don’t wait for the ground to thaw, get some paint chips and get started. Here are the pros and cons of a winter interior house painting project.

The Pros

Price Drops for Winter Projects

Most painting companies offer discounts and extra services to entice buyers. Working against common thought has benefits for you. You will find that not only is the job itself less costly, but the scheduling times will be much shorter. Long gone are the several week delays of summer. If you choose to paint on your own, big box and paint stores run specials all winter on paint and tools you’ll need to complete the job.

If your exterior and interior are both due for work, tackle the interior over the winter months. This will break up the work time and price on your wallet. Half the work in the winter, means half the cost now, and the other half in summer.

Paint Will Dry Faster in Winter

Humidity and heat can work against your paint when it’s trying to dry. The cooler and drier air will provide quicker dry times with less chance of failure. Moisture in the air can cause bubbles and eventually chipping. Winter gives you temperatures that won’t cause these issues.

Free Up Your Summer for Fun

Home maintenance during the summer is no fun. It can take up valuable days you’d rather spend with your family. By taking on the interior paint jobs over the winter months, you’ll have more of your summertime back. Tackling everything at once after the ground thaws is tempting, but it will put the interior and exterior of your home in turmoil for an extended period of time. Avoid it by breaking up the project.

The Cons

Ventilation Restrictions

Winters can be cold. It might not be feasible to open windows and create a breeze to move odors around. Frigid temperatures mean keeping the house sealed despite the smells. When you shop for paint, opt for a low or no VOC gallon. You’ll likely still need some movement in the air. Use your HVAC system to blow in conjunction with fans.

Slow Dry Times Might Occur in Colder Temps.

Dry times are normally great even during the winter months but if the temperatures drop below 50F, you’ll experience extended dry times. If it is this cold, the paint film takes longer to cure. That means you could be looking at more time in between coats and until the paint is finally dried.

Allow our team to take care of the work of painting your interior. Schedule a free, in-home estimate today.