Have you been thinking about repainting your house, but just couldn’t find the time this summer? Sure, traditional philosophy says summer is the time to climb the ladder and get to painting – but it turns out early fall might actually be the best time to do it. Whether you’re looking to touch up the house exterior or interior, this could be the sign you needed to pick up the paintbrush.
Exterior painting in the fall.
Us Chicagolanders know all too well that the seasons here change quickly and hit some pretty different extremes. And while the 100-degree summers might feel like a worthwhile trade after some brutal winters, your exterior paint may beg to differ.
Here’s the rule: exterior paint does the best in dry, consistent, warm weather. So those humid summer days that dropped down to cool nights weren’t going to get you very far for painting. In fact, when there’s moisture in the air, it takes longer for the water in the paint to evaporate. That, combined with differing templates, creates condensation on the surface of the paint, which may damage the finish and make all your hard work look less than ideal.
Similarly, direct sunlight and heat will prematurely cure paint, which causes it to dry almost immediately after it’s applied. Because of this, some painters suggest waiting an hour or two after the sunlight has left to paint your surface which can be such a hassle.
Fall, on the other hand, offers a few great perks for exterior painting! First and foremost, the temperatures are more consistent, and your paint loves that. Rather than jumping from a high heat day to a medium heat night, pick a part of early fall where the day and night are staying around the same temperature.
Not to mention, there’s seasonally a lower chance of rain and moisture and humidity than in the summer months. And here’s the best tip: the fall is usually a slower month for professional painters. So if you were looking at hiring some help rather than doing it yourself, the fall can offer a more flexible schedule to get the job done.
Interior painting in the fall.
Thinking about repainting the inside of the house as well? For all the same reasons above, fall could be your time to shine if you’re looking to switch up some interior rooms. But also notable, without that summer heat beating in, you’re totally free to open up some windows to let the paint fumes out and encourage the room to dry a little faster. And of course, as we settle back into our routines in the fall, there’s less travel, parties, festivities, and mayhem to work around, so finding the time to actually paint well isn’t a total disaster.
If you’re thinking you missed your chance to paint this year, it’s not too late. Fall could be your chance to spruce up the home, just in time for hosting the holidays!
