Top 3 Painting Projects to Complete Before Winter Is Over
Posted on March 1, 2022
Despite popular belief, wintertime is a great time to paint. Although it is possible to paint outdoors in winter, today we will discuss popular wintertime interior painting projects. In winter, the air is often drier, so painting can be done quickly. Many do-it-yourselfers take the opportunity to catch up by repainting cabinets, stairs, and ceilings when it is too cold to work outside. Today we will discuss three popular interior painting projects and why winter is a great time to do them.
Repaint Kitchen Cabinets
Winter is a good time to repaint kitchen cabinets because the HVAC unit tends to keep the air dry inside the home. In summer, high humidity can cause newly painted surfaces to fail because the water that evaporates is replaced by the water in the air. This causes the paint to dry too slowly and can result in paint that struggles to adhere.
In winter however, the air can become so dry that additional moisture is pumped back into the system. The dry air allows kitchen cabinets to be painted one at a time if necessary, making the project convenient for a busy family. Often, the lower cabinets are painted a darker shade than the upper cabinets, but remain the same color. You’ll also want to use low or zero VOC (volatile organic compound) paint to avoid having to open several windows and let the cold air in.
Repaint Your Stairs
Repainting stairs tends to be a fall and winter project, especially if the home does not have a second staircase nor elevator. Often, this is because kids are in school and will not be using the stairs for a few hours. Some stair designs use either carpet or runners to avoid the wear and tear of natural wood. In these situations only the edges of the treads and risers will be painted, making the project even easier.
Repaint the Ceilings
Especially in underused rooms, winter is a great time to paint ceilings. DIY painting can be a hassle because often we just don’t have time to complete large projects. Having the ability to break the project up while still using the home is a huge advantage.
Ceilings should always be painted first, so some homeowners paint the ceilings during fall and winter weekends. Painting the ceilings first allows any dripping from the corners to be covered by the wall paint, saving labor. Plus, in the spring and summer when we tend to have more time off, much of the work has already been done. Doing the painting in chunks avoids becoming overwhelmed and takes much of the stress out of the project.
