Why Exterior Painting Should Be First On Your Spring To-Do List

As the springtime weather shifts from messy to mild, every homeowner’s attention turns to the out of doors. It’s time to clean things up, tend to the garden, and make needed repairs to both the home and its surroundings. Where to start? Assuming that your exterior paint is failing, it’s best to focus on that first, according to experts.

Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for the Paint Quality Institute, says there are plenty of good reasons to start spring chores with exterior painting:

“First, spring is a very comfortable time to do outdoor painting. Second, it’s smart to paint before putting down mulch, which along with your plants, will just get trampled if you paint later on. Third, why not get your painting done before more pleasant ‘distractions’ like gardening, sports, and barbecues begin?”

Zimmer says that if your house paint is near the end of its life expectancy, you’re taking a chance by postponing repainting. It doesn’t take long for exposed wood to begin to rot, and other types of exteriors also suffer when the paint wears off. Wait too long and you may have to make repairs before starting to paint.

Another reason to get to your painting first: Exterior latex paint forms the most durable, protective finish when the weather is mild. “It’s always best to do exterior painting when the temperature is above 50 degrees F., but not too hot,” says Zimmer. “Very hot days can cause the paint to dry too quickly and impair good paint film formation. By painting in moderate weather, you’ll likely get a longer-lasting paint job.”

If a day starts off mild, but turns very hot, try to avoid painting in direct sunshine, since sunlit surfaces can be 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature. Work your way around the house so that you are always painting in the shade. As a bonus, you’ll be more comfortable!

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