Effect of Temperature and Humidity on Paint

Environmental conditions radically affect the quality and speed of commercial and residential painting projects. Not only will weather and climate impact the duration of the paint over the years, but it also impacts how painters perform the work. Having the right temperature and humidity for painting can help guarantee a smoother, longer-lasting surface that thoroughly dries between coatings or follow-up tasks. In Phoenix, Arizona, it’s especially important to have humidity conditions that aren’t too dry or too humid. Learn more about the optimal humidity level for your next project.

How Does the Temperature Affect Your Paint?

Temperature affects how both oil-based and water-based paints behave. If the temperatures are low, such as during desert nights or throughout the winter, the paint will thicken. As a result, it might not allow fine details or textures to come through. Thicker paint also takes more time to dry, so a project that requires multiple coats will slow down and have unpredictable delays. If the painters don’t notice the change, they might even paint over still-wet paint and need to perform costly rework.

But if the temperatures are too high, as they can often be in Phoenix-area summers, the paint will dry too quickly. This makes it more susceptible to peeling, blisters, bubbling, and a fragile texture. When the temperatures climb above 85° F or 90° F, the paint can start to peel as it cures.

Ideally, try to schedule your painting projects for reasonably mild days with temperatures of 50-85° F.

How Does Humidity Affect Paint?

Humidity can have an even more significant effect than temperature. Like hot weather, low humidity levels can make paint dry too fast and make it hard to work with. Dried paint becomes gummy and doesn’t adhere well to surfaces when applied with a roller brush, and it can evaporate or spray onto the surface unevenly.

High humidity also presents serious challenges, perhaps even more than low humidity. When you’re painting in high-humidity conditions, anticipate problems like:

• Very slow dry time
• Bubbling and peeling due to reactions with the air and humid surface
• Failure to bond to porous materials like wood, as it may have absorbed too much water
• Poor overall evaporation, especially if combined with low temperatures

What Should the Humidity Be to Paint?

Because temperature and humidity have such an impact on how paint dries and bonds to a surface, painters need to choose the right conditions for beginning any project. Ideally, the temperature should be between 40° F and 85° F, and the ideal relative humidity level should be between 40% and 50%. Painting should be avoided entirely in areas or weeks with humidity levels of 85% or more.

If you’re painting in high humidity conditions, consider using fans and dehumidifiers to artificially lower the amount of moisture in the area. Monitor the conditions to ensure they stay within range for every coat. You can also schedule large projects, such as refreshing the paint on the exteriors of commercial buildings, for optimally dry and temperate months.

In regions like Phoenix, which have low levels of humidity, you can also schedule painting for the early hours of the morning when temperatures are low and humidity levels are relatively high.

Contact Us Today for an Estimate on Your Next Project

Professional painters have the expertise and the equipment to provide high-quality painting services throughout the year. At Robo Painting, we’re committed to creating beautiful finishes for residential and commercial paint projects. Contact us today to learn more about how we manage humidity for painting or to schedule a consultation for your next project.

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