Most experts recommend repainting your home around once every five to ten years. With the tropical storms and intense sunlight of our Florida climate, you might find yourself addressing old paint even more often!
Because of the scorching heat we get in this area, homeowners might be surprised to learn that summer can be a great time to repaint. Following a few summer painting tips can ensure that the work gets done faster and easier.
Whether you’re hoping to test a few popular summer paint trends or try a unique shade of your own, let’s look at why summer painting is ideal, how to do it, and some crowd-pleasing colors worth trying.
Benefits of Summer House Painting
If you’ve been on the fence about painting your home’s exterior, this summer is a great time to jump in.
Though spring and fall tend to have milder temperatures, the weather is often a bit less predictable during those seasons. Aside from the occasional summer storm, the weather tends to be calmer and sunnier.
This calmer weather is another key to painting a home. It’s best to apply paint to a thoroughly dry surface. Experts often recommend waiting a full day after it rains to add paint to your home.
Summer’s sunny skies are great at drying out moisture, and the warm temperatures can even ensure that your exterior paint cures well.
Last, but not least, the longer days during the summer often make it easier to get the job done. Not only can more sunlight dry your home’s paint faster, but it also means you don’t have to worry about the sky darkening early like you do in late fall and winter.
Summer Painting Tips for Your Home
Summer may be great for your paint job, but it still brings its own painting challenges. Here are a few things to keep in mind for summer house painting:
Consider the Sun’s Orientation
Sunny days are great for painting, but direct sunlight isn’t. Sunlight that beats down on part of your home can cause inconsistent drying that affects the look of your exterior.
Make sure to paint with the orientation of the sun in mind. Start your work on the south side of your home and work your way around the property to end on the west side in the evening. This keeps the area you’re working on in the shade.
It’s also helpful to start painting early in the morning or evening. This can help you avoid extreme temperatures and direct sunlight.
Protect Your Paint’s Moisture
As the sun beats down, water may start to evaporate from your paint. This can change its consistency and affect its quality.
Keeping your paint bucket out of the sun and covering it when not in use can help prevent some evaporation. You can also put your paint bucket in an ice bath by adding ice to the bottom of a paint tray.
To add moisture back into your paint, you’ll need to add some water, a process called “reconstitution.” Experts recommend adding no more than 10% of the paint’s total volume. It’s a good idea to separate the paint you’re reconstituting into a separate container.
Be careful: it’s easy to thin the paint too much! If you struggle with this, check your paint manufacturer’s instructions, or reach out to an experienced painting company for help.
Use Quality Products
As is the case at all times of the year, the right products can help create the perfect finish. However, these products can be especially important during the summer months, as they can also keep your paint from fading in the sun.
Work with experienced exterior and interior house painters to find high-quality paint that can withstand the heat and humidity of Florida’s climate. Make sure you’re priming your surfaces and using additives that offer better coverage as well.
This Year’s Summer Paint Trends
It’s hard to talk about summer house painting without discussing the most important choice of all: the color!
If you’re working with quality paint, the shade you choose can last for a decade or longer, so it’s crucial to pick something you know you’ll love for years to come. Timeless neutrals have long been favored for this reason. It’s hard to get tired of a classic grey or earthy beige exterior, for example, and these shades are often great for resale value.
However, there are also some interesting paint trends you’ll want to consider for this summer and beyond, as their staying power seems to be holding strong.
Experts have noticed that slate blue exteriors are growing in popularity this year. This soothing shade offers a pop of color without being over the top, and it’s neutral and versatile enough to pair well with any landscaping and decor.
Warm, earthy hues are trending as well. When paired with materials like stone and wood, earth-toned paints in rich browns and verdant greens can give homes a calming, natural aura.
Last, but not least, more monochromatic exteriors are becoming popular as well. Though bright and colorful doors are still trending, many homeowners are opting to paint their trim and shutters in a similar or even identical shade to their main exterior paint. This can create a sleek, cohesive look that works well for homeowners who prefer a more modern or minimalistic feel.
Work With the Right House Painters
In addition to the summer painting tips above, here’s a bonus tip: choose the right house painters for the project! If you’d rather not research paints and techniques, deal with the summer heat, or tackle the labor on your own, professional painters can help.
No matter which summer paint trends you’d like to try on your home, the experts at Accurate Painting of NW Florida will get the job done. Our experienced residential painters offer high-quality products and pay great attention to detail. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.