Exterior painting in cold weather can be a problem since regular paint is not designed to work below 50° F (10 ° C). Cooler temperatures interfere with the curing process, and the paint will not dry properly. Painting in colder weather can also produce a finish that shows signs of damage shortly after application.
Let us find out more about it in the following section.
Can you use spray paint in cold weather?
If you want to start the year with your house aligned with the new decoration trends or you plan to join the optimistic movement that greenery raises: the color of the year you must know what it means to spray paint a house in winter.
Although the house can be painted at any time of the year, however, it is necessary to know all the possibilities before spending the first coat of paint.
Painting exteriors in winter
The truth is that especially if it is exteriors and we want to paint the facade of the house or paint the backyard, painting in winter is not a good idea. Not only because the person who paints will have a hard time at low temperatures. But also, because weather conditions can affect the drying of the paint (rain, snow, humidity, etc.). However, if it is an urgent job, it is advisable to be aware of the weather forecast and choose a sunny day and try to do the work early in the morning to take advantage of those hours of light.
For more information, you may also read our 5 tips to prepare for spray painting.
Painting the interior of a house in winter
When we are going to spray paint a room, the weather does not matter too much (unless it is a question of painting in summer). Since if the interior part of the house is covered and heated, the external temperature will not have much influence on the process of drying the paint.
Of course, what can be a problem is that to eliminate the smell of paint, it is recommended to keep the doors and windows open. If it is very cold that implies allowing low temperatures to enter your house and alter the environment. To avoid this, a dehumidifier can be used to speed up the process and prevent moisture spots from appearing.
As important as the time when you decide to paint your house, is who paints it. If you want to ensure a good finish, we recommend requesting the service of professional painters.
Avoid the hassle of painting a wall yourself, especially on these dates that do not feel like doing physical activities.
What is the lowest temperature you can spray paint?
Ideally, the temperature should be between 10° Celsius to 32° Fahrenheit. Also, humidity should be below 85%. You should avoid spray painting in direct sunlight and humid weather.
How do you spray paint in the winter?
Here we give you a step-by-step guide on how do you spray paint in the winter?
Step 1:
Buy a specialty paint like that is designed to be used in temperatures as low as 35° F (2° C). If you use a primer, it will also have to be one designed for lower temperatures.
Step 2:
Prepare the surface for painting. Sand the area until smooth. If there is mold on the surface, apply a fungus remover, and allow it to dry completely before applying the paint.
Make sure the surface to be painted is dry. Condensation is often the result of cold weather. And if you try to paint over it, not only will the paint not dry properly, but there will be a build-up of mold under it and it will runoff.
Step 3:
Start painting at the end of the morning, when the sun has had a chance to warm the air a little.
Step 4:
Use the brush correctly. In cold weather, even specialized paint will not flow as well as it does when temperatures are higher. It is vitally important that you use the brush carefully to prevent the paint from smearing.
Don’t overload the paintbrush and remove excess along the edge of the can before applying. Use the brush in straight, regular strokes and make sure you only move it in one direction. Use either a top-down or side-to-side motion, but not both.
Step 5:
Wait for the paint to dry before applying a second coat. The paint will take longer to dry in cold weather and you must be patient.
Never apply colors at temperatures below 5 degrees
If temperatures are below 5 degrees Celsius, you should not undertake any painting work. When painting, make sure that you never store paints in rooms with temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius. Colors thicken, freeze and tear open during thawing.
The binders in the materials are destroyed and the individual components separate from one another. Opaque properties are lost and the color no longer adheres, so the painting must be repeated.
Consider the drying time of the pain
Problems also arise if the minus degrees do not occur during the coating process, but only later in the day. Find out about the day’s weather. Then find out how long the selected color takes to dry.
For example, if your paint needs 5 hours and the weather forecast predicts temperatures of 10 degrees for midday, but less than 5 degrees for the afternoon, you should also refrain from painting in this case.
Use glazes and varnishes in frost
Some glazes and varnishes can also be applied when the temperature is below zero. Resin-based paints tolerate frost well. Because they contain special solvents that are not sensitive to frost and are incompatible with water. They, therefore, do not offer any surface for frost to attack.
What happens if you paint when it’s too cold?
When it is too cold, it is not the ideal condition to paint. This condition makes it difficult to adhere to this paint. Also, if you have pets and do this work at home, do not allow them to be around, as they lack protection and gases, and splashes can harm them.
Some of the problems to spray paint when it is too cold are water spots in latex paint and poor color uniformity.