When painting the exterior of your business property, you want to ensure the best possible finish. After all, the exterior is the first thing customers see upon visiting. Its appearance shapes their expectations and may inform their decision when choosing where to take their business. Getting this perfect finish requires careful timing. Sundeleaf Painting provides exterior commercial painting near you in Portland, Oregon. Here, we explain how the weather impacts exterior painting and how to choose the best time to schedule.
What Factors Affect Exterior Commercial Painting?
While commercial interior painting can take place in a climate-controlled environment, exterior painting does not have that luxury. The exterior of your building is constantly exposed to the weather. This exposure can impact how well your paint dries, making the difference between a clean, blemish-free finish and one with visible flaws. There are several factors to consider when deciding whether the weather is ideal for painting. These include:
Temperature
Not only do extreme temperatures make outdoor work uncomfortable, but they also impact how paint dries. Cold temperatures cause paint to thicken, so it dries slowly and does not stick well to surfaces. Hot weather, meanwhile, causes blisters and bubbles for a messy finish. The ideal temperature is in the middle, between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Precipitation
Exterior paint is weather-resistant, but only after it dries. Before the paint is fully cured, snow and rain can wash it away. You want at least 24 or 48 hours without any precipitation to allow your paint to cure completely. This can rule out wet seasons, such as the spring, when frequent rain and unpredictable weather make it difficult to find an acceptable window.
Humidity
High humidity is also an issue. Wet paint absorbs moisture from the air, slowing its dry time. Paint is most vulnerable to scuffs while it is drying, so this can increase the risk of accidents. Very high humidity can also make paint runny, leading to unsightly drips and splotches. These hazards are best avoided by painting during periods of low humidity.
Debris
Finally, seasonal debris can be a hazard to paint. Pollen and fallen leaves can stick to paint, ruining the finish with ugly bumps, smears, and embedded junk. It is extremely difficult to protect a recently painted building from all airborne hazards, so the best way to prevent this outcome is by painting during a season with low pollen counts and no leaf fall.
When Is the Best Time to Paint Your Building Exterior?
So, with all of these factors accounted for, which season is best for painting? Typically, the ideal times for exterior painting projects are during the late spring and early fall. These periods offer the best conditions for a perfect finish, including:
- Moderate temperatures
- Minimal risk of rain
- Low humidity
- Light pollen
- No fallen leaves
This period also offers lower demand for painting, meaning that you’re less likely to have a long wait before we start your project. Even so, you should contact a painting contractor as early as possible, no matter when you’re planning to paint. The earlier you get onto our schedule, the more confidently we can promise you a project date that aligns with your preferences.
You should also be open to schedule changes. Even during the perfect painting season, Portland weather can be unpredictable. Flexible scheduling allows you to shift your project date in case of an unexpected rainstorm or heat wave.
Exterior Commercial Painting with Sundeleaf Painting
While the weather can significantly impact your finish, not every painting contractor goes to the effort of accounting for seasonal shifts. Cheap contractors aim for quantity over quality. Sundeleaf Painting, on the other hand, takes pride in our attention to detail. We prepare surfaces extensively by removing debris, power washing, and performing minor repairs before we begin to paint. We also track the weather. By choosing our project days strategically, we ensure a beautiful finish.
Sundeleaf Painting has served high-end homeowners and business owners throughout Portland, Oregon, for over three generations. We have deep roots in the area, giving us an intimate understanding of its climate and needs. This knowledge goes toward ensuring the highest quality of work on every job. We don’t cut corners to reduce costs, because we understand that when it comes to the face of your business, the best is worth a little more.
Schedule Your Commercial Painting Process in Portland, OR
Your building exterior affects your business reputation, so make sure it looks its best. Sundeleaf Painting offers exterior commercial painting for customers in Portland, OR, with special expertise in high-end properties and historic buildings. Explore our portfolio to take inspiration from our completed projects, or contact us to request a quote and discuss project schedules with a painting contractor.
