The beautiful Kelowna summer weather is perfect for beach days, boating, patios, etc. But it’s also perfect for painting your house. Read on for some useful hacks on panting the exterior of your Kelowna home this summer.

Avoid conflicting conditions

Paint tends to dry much quicker in warmer temperatures, which can be a good and a bad thing at the same time. To make sure your paint dries correctly, you’ll want to keep these ideal conditions in mind. When painting during the summer try and avoid temperatures over 35 degrees celsius and painting in direct sunlight at the same time, and never combine those conditions with painting a hot porous surface. Avoiding painting when 2 or more of those conditions are present is important for making sure your paint job is a success.

Temperature and humidity

Continuing from the first point, if it is too hot outside the paint will not be able to properly bind to the exterior of your house, which results in cracking and peeling. For a specific temperature guide, check out the label on the cans of paint, but the ideal temperature for painting the exterior of your home is around 20 degrees.

Humidity also can play a part in when you should paint your house in the summer, as high humidity affects the time it takes for paint to dry. It is wise to look at the weather ahead and make sure there is a trend of good weather over the coming days so that you don’t have to continually start and stop. 50% humidity is ideal for exterior painting in the summer.

Prepping and drying before painting

Before you begin painting your house in the summer it is critical to rinse and remove any mold or mildew from the exterior. Start by spraying your house with diluted bleach and then rinsing it with a hose. Once you have finished you can now let the hot summer temperatures dry the house quickly. Wait at least 24-48 hours to begin painting after you have begun to let it dry.

Utilize the shade

When you’re painting in the summer it is difficult to avoid painting in direct sunlight, but there is a trick to this. Start your painting on the shady side of your house, and then follow the shade as the sun moves throughout the day. This makes it a lot easier on you, as well as keeping the temperature of the surface you’re painting on a little cooler than spots in direct sunlight.

For more tips about painting your exterior home in Kelowna this summer, or if you’re looking to hire a professional, contact us today!