What is the best season for exterior painting?

Why the season makes such a difference

Paint needs three things to bond and cure properly: a dry surface, a suitable temperature and time without rain or dew. In spring and summer those conditions are easiest to find. After the winter the timber has had time to dry out, the days are long and the nights mild enough. Read on painting in winter why the cold months are so difficult outside.

Month by month

• April: possible on dry, mild days, but watch out for night frost and cold mornings.
• May and June: often ideal, with long days and moderate temperatures.
• July and August: good, but avoid bright sunlight on dark woodwork in the middle of the day.
• September: fine, although the mornings are damper and it takes longer for the dew to lift.

October can still work in a mild autumn, but the days get short and the chance of a wet week grows. For small jobs that is sometimes fine; for all the exterior woodwork in one go you would rather not take the risk.

Planning well within the season too

A good painter follows the sun around the house. In the morning he works on the west side and in the afternoon on the east side, so the paint is not applied in bright sunshine. After a rainy day he waits until the timber is dry again, and towards the end of the afternoon he stops exterior glossing in time, so the coat can start to dry before the evening dew. In Haarlem, where the sea wind plays a part, and in the Zaanstreek with plenty of water all around, that counts even more. Take a look, for example, at exterior painting in Amsterdam for the situation in the city.

Start planning in good time

Many homeowners only realise in spring that the frames are due, which means painters get booked up quickly at that point. So have your paintwork looked at in winter and request a quote, so your job can be scheduled at a favourable moment. See exterior painting for how Oranje Kwast works, or request a no-obligation quote straight away.