He who paints in the sun will not get the professional results they are expecting. Why?
It is a “no brainer” paint whether oil or latex thinned out or not dries or cures from air temperature, slower in the shade and faster in the sun.
The solvents or driers such as ASA (anti skinning agent), Colbalt, VMP Naptha, Mineral Spirits, Xylene, found in oil based paint evaporate at a much quicker rate when directly exposed to the sun.
Whether spraying, brushing, or rolling paint sets up much like frying a egg in a pan when painting in direct sun lite. This “setup time” will not allow the applicator to properly spread out or level the paint on the surface. The end result whether on wood, metal or siding is going to be rough in appearance.
Before painting the exterior of any structure the painter must scope out the direction of the sun and its relation to the structure at different times of the day. He or she must work away from the sun! This most important when working on the roof painting the sides of dormers etc. The heat generated to roofing materials, most notably shingles, can reach temperatures well over 100 degrees.
Painting in these extremes is self defeating in that the paint sets up too quickly to properly apply it. In turn making the outcome of the paint job look unprofessional.
The painters tools react differently under different temperatures and don’t achieve the same results when painting in the hot sun. Brushes cake up, rollers dry out, and spray tips clog faster. The pot life of the paint curdles faster which is detrimental. To obtain the best results of exterior painting is to Paint in the Shade!
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Rowe’s Painting and Carpentry is dependable, knowledgeable, and experienced making sure that your project, no matter how large or small stands out from the rest.
4 Responses
I agree completely. I love bumping around a house hiding from the heat of the sun, at least when I can. I usually find myself at some point getting stuck in the blazing heat for a couple of hours putting on some final touches.
Thanks!
http://www.ericwelchpainting.com
I agree with this article whole heartedly. But sometimes to stay on schedule you have to take the bad with the good. I normally try to explain those details to all my customers because you better believe the question will arise if they watch HGTV and many of the other channels.
I work in the Arizona heat and I chase the shade as much as possible. Sometimes you just can’t avoid the sun though depending on how large the job is.
If I can do a 5,000 square foot home, there is not trouble working in the shade, but when the home is only 1,500 square feet, it’s hard to chase the shade.
Add one half gallon of water to a five gallon bucket of paint for spraying to keep the paint from setting up too quickly.
Even the hot shade in Phoenix will set up the paint quickly.
Good luck and happy painting.
Dave Drew
18 years in the business
//www.drewpainting.com
I just found you using a web search, great stuff here!
I agree about painting in the sun, I just wrote a similar paragraph about why exterior painting in early spring is a good option.
Optimal surface temperatures and shade make for a quality application.
To your continued success!