Early Fall, Not Summer, Is Best Time for Exterior Painting
"Most people wait for summer to get outside and paint, but contrary to popular opinion, a hot sunny day is not the ideal time for an exterior paint or stain job," said Martin Tustin-Fuchs, brand manager for Dulux paint in unveiling the brand’s new exterior colour card. "What the majority of Canadians don’t realize is that weather conditions can make or break a paint project and affect the longevity of a job." For example, "If it’s too hot outside, the coating will dry too quickly, leaving behind brush marks, causing blisters and preventing the paint or stain from properly adhering to the surface," he explained.  According to Tustin-Fuchs, the perfect time to paint is when the weather has been dry for at least two days and daytime temperatures are between 10C and 25C. Humidity should be low or moderate, and there should be no fog, drizzle, dew or gusty winds, he said. To guard against potential night-time temperature drops, he recommends completing painting by mid-afternoon to allow the paint ample time to dry and reduce the chance of early moisture causing condensation on the surface. "Similarly, when starting to paint early in the day, make sure to wipe all surfaces with a rag or towel immediately before painting to remove any moisture that may have settled on the surface overnight, even if it may not be visible," he said. With exterior painting season upon us, Dulux paint has unveiled its fall 2014 colour palette – featured in its new exterior colour card – including a mix of deep reds, jewelled greens, warm browns, classic whites, and muted neutrals. "The combination of the muted classics with bolder accent colours works particularly well on the outside of a house and does wonders to enhance a property’s curb appeal," Tustin-Fuchs said, offering the following advice on choosing the right colours for your exterior paint job. Key in on your door. Painting your front door a vibrant colour not only jazzes up your entrance way, but it also adds interest to your entire home, creating a welcoming feel. Top door colours for 2014 include tropical blue, spicy orange, reddened violet and mustard brown. Don’t pass up pastels. Lighter shades of any hue work well on home exteriors because they attract less light and heat. Tans, whites and creams in particular will also make your gardens pop and lend well to brighter accent colours for trim and doors. Enjoy the view. Choose a paint colour that complements both your surroundings and neighbouring homes. If your house gets a lot of sun, whites or yellows will look radiant. If you are in a woodsy area, browns and greens blend well. Mix things up. Rather than use matching shades on trim and siding, consider contrasting colours to highlight shutters, frames, gables and other architectural features. The general rule of thumb is to use a lighter colour for the main areas and a darker tone for accents. "The right colours, combined with the right paint conditions, will result in an exterior paint job that’s both eye-catching and long-lasting," Tustin-Fuchs said. He added that for those who are late even for fall’s prime painting season, there are products on the market – such as Dulux Diamond Exterior Paint – that are specially formulated to work at surface and air temperatures as low as 2C, helping increase the longevity of a paint job even in colder weather. For more information about Dulux paint’s fall 2014 colour palette, and to select the right products for your exterior painting job, visit www.dulux.ca or a Dulux paint store near you. |
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