How To Plan an Exterior Painting Project in Winter
How To Plan an Exterior Painting Project in Winter
As the temperatures start to drop and we start to spend more and more time indoors, it’s common for us to put a pause on our home renovation plans. But, believe it or not, winter is actually one of the best seasons for taking care of all your remodeling and repair needs. From installing a new set of windows to replacing your entry doors to even repainting, these tasks can all still be completed despite the cold. So, don’t let this time go to waste simply because it’s a little chilly outside. This is how to plan an exterior painting project in winter and get it done just in time for the holidays.
Establish the Scope of Work
The first step for any successful home project is to map out exactly what work you want done and to what scale it’ll need to be. For instance, you may choose to get your entire home repainted or just your patio or deck space. Depending on which you choose, you’ll have to customize the rest of your plan to accommodate these foundational needs. So, determining this from the start will be critical in the rest of your efforts moving forward. This step also gives you an opportunity to anticipate any potential setbacks in the process and what you can do to better streamline its success.
Set Your Project Budget
Once you have a clear picture of the work you want completed, it’s time to figure out if it can realistically fit into your budget. There are a lot of additional household expenses in the winter, such as heating and gifts for loved ones. Therefore, it’s important that you aren’t overspending on your painting efforts. If you’re unsure of how to begin pricing your project, consider reaching out to some local contractors for quotes. These initial price estimates will let you know just how much you can expect to pay on average for your particular job without locking you into an official contract.
Fortunately, it’s also common for contractors to offer special deals on projects that take place during the winter months. This is because business tends to be slower as we near the holidays and lowered prices is one method used to draw up business.
Determine a Timeline
Planning an exterior painting project in winter should also involve developing a timeline for when you want the work completed. This means setting a desired start and end date to the work as well as leaving wiggle-room for potential issues to arise. Your time frame may also need to be adjusted to accommodate your contractor’s schedule, and you might have to start sooner than anticipated to finish by the holidays. This is especially the case if your chosen business is closed on or near these dates, so always run your timeline by them prior to booking. Additionally, be patient when creating this portion of your plan as things will be prone to change during this hectic time of year.
Choose the Right Painters
As previously stated, certain house painters will provide you with specialized deals for winter projects. However, this doesn’t automatically make them qualified for the job. As you’re researching different painting companies in your area, make sure that they have experience working during the winter months and are familiar with the challenges it presents. Otherwise, you could end up with some results you didn’t expect. Quality companies will be very forthright with this information and will even encourage that you read their past client reviews for reference.
This search might require you to check out several different companies before you make your decision. But this is just fine as long as you’re being thorough. After all, if you’re going to put in the resources, you want to ensure that the job is getting done just the way you want it.
Purchase the Proper Painting Products
After finding the right professionals for your project, it’s time to acquire the proper materials. This involves choosing a color and picking up a paint product suited for winter conditions. If you haven’t yet decided on a color, it’s encouraged that you reach out to your hired professionals for advice on the matter. They can help you weigh your options and inform you of the pros and cons of using certain hues on the exterior of your home. These individuals can also help guide you through the process of choosing the right types of products for winter painting.
Unfortunately, using standard paint during winter causes the mixture to congeal and become difficult to spread. In fact, these paints will rarely dry properly in the cold and will flake off before the season is over. As such, it’s crucial that you’re using specialized winter paint, which is mixed with additional substances to help it bond to the home’s surface. In your research, pay extra attention to how the paint is rated. Most will be effective above 50 degrees, but you might need to find something else if you expect even colder weather.
Keep Track of the Weather
Most importantly, make sure you’re tracking the weather in the days prior to and during your painting project. While exterior paint will dry much quicker due to the dryness in the air, you don’t want your efforts to be thwarted by a sudden storm or below-freezing day. Therefore, you’ll want to keep an eye out for sudden dips or spikes in temperature and adjust your timeline accordingly. As a general rule, you’ll want to do the work towards the middle of the day and skip any days that are stormy or fall below 40 degrees.
On the plus side, since many contracting businesses will have less work during the winter, it’ll be easier to change your workdays to accommodate the weather. Just be sure you’re openly communicating these decisions with your professionals.
If you’re looking to paint the exterior of your home during this upcoming winter season, feel free to give Bear Mountain Custom Painting a call. Our exterior home painting experts in Cumming, GA have experience with painting in these colder conditions and, as such, know how to get you the best results this time of year. We can also assist you with choosing the perfect color for your home’s needs and we’ll answer any questions you have about our winter scheduling.