Unpredictable weather can make deadlines hard to meet
and keep work schedules in constant change, causing financial
uncertainty and making late-season contracts a risky proposition. In
addition, quality can suffer, because cold weather sometimes causes
problems with latex paints regarding color development, gloss variations
and delamination. What’s more, these problems are often not seen until
the next time extreme weather causes stress to the surface. That’s when
expensive callback lists begin to grow.
But thanks to a roster of cold-weather
systems now available, a chill in the air no longer puts a damper on
productivity. Specially formulated paints and primers engineered for
temperatures as low as 35°F. have been available to painting contractors
for a few years. These systems are now being joined by wood stains and
concrete preparation products that can extend the application season and
reduce cold-weather downtime on a wider range of substrates.
Not only do these cold-weather products
perform well in chilly weather, they can also give good service under
the moist conditions that winter brings, especially in the coastal
regions. Cold-weather systems can be used for residential, commercial or
institutional applications, and for both new construction and
remodeling, allowing sales to be closed with confidence throughout the
year.
Here are some general rules for cold weather painting using these new products:
1. If you’re painting a home or office building
exterior, make sure that both the ambient temperature (the temperature
of the air) and the substrate temperature (the surface to be painted)
are 35° F. or above. Be aware that the early morning sun may make for
ambient temperatures that top 35 degrees, but cooler night time
temperatures from the previous evening may have chilled surfaces to be
painted to less than 35° F. Alternatively, while all-day sunshine may
warm surfaces, ambient temperatures may not get to 35° F. or greater.
Under either of these conditions, painting can pose problems.
So when doing cold weather work on a
house or commercial building, it might be useful to begin a little later
in the morning, when the sun has had time to do its work, and to knock
off a little earlier in the afternoon. And be sure to start the job in
areas exposed to the morning sunshine, where the sun has had time to
warm things up.
2. Be mindful of the dewpoint, too, that
setpoint where air temperature and humidity meet to form moisture on
surfaces. In colder weather, the humidity goes up as the temperature
goes down, causing dewpoints to vary and moisture to form unpredictably.
Moisture is a problem with waterborne paints at any time, but in cold
weather it can easily become frost, hard to see but extremely
detrimental to any painting project.
3. Because nighttime ambient temperature
and substrate temperatures must not fall below 35° F. for two days after
painting, pick exterior painting days with an eye to the weather
forecast. Don’t paint on a day when a freeze is expected that night.
4. Use a system of products on your
project that are all designed to be used together, products that can be
applied easily and that are formulated to perform well in colder
temperatures. That means not only paints, but also caulks and primers.
These products must be compatible, to lessen any chance of poor
intercoat adhesion and reduce the risk of performance failure.
5. Cold weather coatings are specifically
designed to be used at lower temperatures without thinning, so never add
anything to the paint such as antifreeze or other foreign substances.
And make sure the product you choose to paint that apartment or store
exterior is formulated to adhere to the surface being painted. It should
also have the hiding characteristics you need to make application easy
and fast.
6. Drying times are also critical. Among
the paints, stains and primers developed for low temperature
application, there are a wide range of times for given temperature
levels. Use a product that has a drying schedule adequate to meet the
needs of your residential or commercial job. Look for products that
offer a fast drying time, especially considering the changeability of
cold weather.
7. Be aware that new cold weather products
can extend your scope services beyond the job of painting house siding
to staining new and existing wood for homes or commercial buildings.
With these new cold-weather products, you can take on more general
contracting tasks such as caulking and preparatory work on concrete and
other masonry surfaces, increasing your productivity and profit
potential.
8. A note about storage: to preserve their
performance and aesthetic integrity, store paints and related materials
in a protected, heated environment, such as a cellar or basement, where
they won’t be subject to freezing. While these materials are made to
withstand a few freeze/thaw cycles, the products could have gone through
some of these cycles while being transported, and too much cold can
ruin paint.
By using these tips, painting contractors
can take advantage of cold weather paint, prep and finish technologies.
And by using cold-weather coating systems, contractors have a greatly
extended painting season, with ease of application to reduce the
workload. That helps meet deadlines — and improves bottom lines.