How to Paint in Cold Weather?

Painting can be a real chore in cold weather. When temperatures start dropping, most paints won’t dry properly, causing big problems. Some of the common problems of painting in cold weather are:

• Water spotting in latex paint
• Poor color uniformity
• Film cracking
• Extremely slow drying time

How to Paint in Cold Weather

If, despite the warnings, you have decided to paint in cold weather. Here’s what you should do:

1. Surface Inspection– The air outside may be heating a little, but that doesn’t mean the surface you are going to paint is warm yet. Make sure the surface is warm enough for the paint to stick. If the air temp is more than 50°F, but the surface is still cold, use a hairdryer to warm the surface up a bit.
2. Building a greenhouse – If the air temperatures aren’t above 50°F, you will have to create your own greenhouse. Using six mil plastic, create a bubble around the area you are trying to paint. You can build a frame using zip poles. Now place a small space heater in the area and let it run for a little while so that the building surface and the air is warmed. But don’t make the area too hot. The ideal temp is between 70°F to 80°F. Paint inside your bubble and leave it with the heater, maintaining that temp as long as you can.
3. Using additives– Paint gets thicker during winters making it harder to work with and get an even coat. The best way to overcome this issue is by using the proper additives. You can use Penetrol for oil-based paints and Floetrol for water-based paints. Make sure to follow the instructions for the ideal quantity to add to your paint.

This is all you can do when it comes to painting in cold weather. Unfortunately, if you’re one of those suffering from extreme cold, wait until it’s warm again.

If you need expert painting services, call Lucas Craftsmanship at (713) 864-2510.