The quiet days of winter make you feel like staying home in your bed wrapped in your favorite comforter. Having coffee with your loved ones and planning upcoming birthday or holiday celebrations is our top priority. Painting the interior of your home can also be part of your planning. What can be more exciting than getting rid of seasonal depression by celebrating with your family in a freshly painted home?
Precautions To Take When Painting a Room In Winter
The winter season itself requires preparations, from resetting the temperature ranges on the thermostat to arranging throw blankets around the house.
Some preparations are also required when you are painting your room in winter. It is important to keep the room temperature warmer so the paint can adhere to the wall properly. Since you need to keep windows and doors shut inside the house, this presents a ventilation problem. You should use any exhaust fans and air purifiers you have to keep the air circulating. Another point to keep in mind is that only interior painting is advisable, not the outer walls of your house.
Something you can do ahead of painting any room in the winter is take the time to check out your windows and doors for drafts. If there are drafts, controlling the temperature will be more difficult and affect the painting outcome. Adding an extra step to seal them properly could make all the difference in your results.
What Makes Winter Special For Painting
The winter season is known for the cold (obviously) and its dryness. The dryness can actually turn out to be a benefit and can help the paint dry faster.
Your thermostat will play an important role in maintaining the correct temperature indoors. Too much dryness can cause the paint to crack, so it is better to use a humidifier if you’re going to keep the room cold. Otherwise, you want to maintain a temperature in the 50 to 70 F range. This is the ideal temperature to make your paint adhere properly. Even in this range, it will be important to be sure the first coat of paint or primer has completely dried before adding another coat.
Should I Use a Different Paint During Winter?
This is going to depend on your situation. Do you have good ventilation in the room you are painting? Do you have a powerful air purifier? Can you seal the room off and control the temperature with an open window? Are you out of the home for extended periods of the day?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you can likely use standard high-quality interior paints and be fine.
If you have small children, pets, poor ventilation, or spend most of your time near the room you intend to paint, you will want to find a paint offering the lowest amount of volatile organic compounds(VOC’s). Check out our blog that talks more about VOC’s in paint by CLICKING HERE.
Additionally, if you cannot control the temperature to stay above 50F, try looking at your local store for cold-weather paints. These are made specifically to cure in temperatures under 50F.
Winter Painting Tips
We have talked about what makes interior painting different during winter conditions, but what can you do about it?
- Small space with no vents nearby? Try using a space heater! This can also be looked at as prep for the ceilings and walls, allowing for proper paint adhesion.
- Clean your surfaces with a degreaser to remove any dirt, salt, or buildup on the walls before painting.
- As always, use high-quality brushes or rollers. Ensuring even coating is in your best interest.
- If you have paint that is not perfect for cold weather use, ask the paint store about additives that could improve consistency and workability. This will be especially helpful if you are using a paint sprayer.
- Keep your paint warm and apply in thin coats so it can dry and cure quicker.
- Be ready to paint again in the springtime! Many times without a professional touch and set of tools, you will have unavoidable imperfections. Just be sure to take a good look when the weather turns and correct any mistakes or issues.
Conclusion
Winter is a wonderful time to keep yourself busy with a painting project! Depending on your timing you can prep for holiday celebrations, start the new year of fresh, or get a head start on spring cleaning.
Keep in mind that the winter climate will throw some curveballs your way, and you should be prepared with some additional steps or tools needed for the process. Pay close attention to your room ventilation and temperature control and you will be on track to tackle seasonal and depression and increase the value of your home!
Want a pro to do it for you? Check out Four Seasons Interior & Exterior Painting website by CLICKING HERE or get in touch with us today for your free estimate by CLICKING HERE!
