Best Time to Paint Your House Infographic
Infographic: exterior paint needs 50–85°F, humidity below 85% and a dry surface. Fall (September and October) is prime time; spring and summer work with care, and winter is limited to cold-weather paints.
Infographic: exterior paint needs 50–85°F, humidity below 85% and a dry surface. Fall (September and October) is prime time; spring and summer work with care, and winter is limited to cold-weather paints.
Most interior walls need two coats of paint. One coat only works for same-color repaints on smooth, undamaged walls with quality paint, while dark colors, big color changes and stained ceilings often need three coats or a tinted primer plus two coats.
The best time of year to paint a house exterior is fall (September–October), followed by late spring and early summer. Most acrylic latex paints cure best between 50°F and 85°F with humidity under 85%; summer painting should happen early in the morning and winter painting is best kept to touch-ups.
Exterior colors fade mainly because UV light breaks down paint binders and pigments. Muted earth tones like tans and grays hold up best, bright reds, blues and yellows fade fastest, and satin or semi-gloss finishes resist fading better than flat paint, especially on west- and south-facing walls.
Infographic: choose warm neutrals, earth tones, muted greens or classic whites for your home’s exterior, save bold colors for accents, test swatches in sun and shade, and match your roof, stone and brick for color that looks good and lasts.