Painting is one of the most cost effective ways to completely rejuvenate the look of your interior home. You have a seemingly endless array of colors to choose from, which can take your drab living room and turn it into an elegant parlor. Despite it’s relatively easy application, however, there are several things you will need to consider before painting your room.
Things such as the type of paint, color, and roller are considered common knowledge when thinking about interior painting. But did you know that the indoor temperature is another issue that you should be concerned with?
Temperature plays a huge role in the application of paint. Temperatures that are too hot can cause the paint to dry too quick, which can lead to a film forming on the surface or the paint cracking. If it is too cold the paint takes longer to dry and cure, and won’t properly bond to the surface.
Most experts recommend applying paint when indoor temperatures are between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit for oil-based paints and 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit for latex paints. Maintaining this temperature for 2 to 3 days afterwards will ensure the paint has had proper drying and curing times.
Temperature, however, is not the only factor that you need to consider when applying indoor paint. Humidity and ventilation are equally just as important and should not be overlooked.
While the humidity indoors may not seem like that big of a deal for interior painting, it can greatly slow down the drying and curing times if too high. Humidity is essentially the amount of water in the air. And too much water can have a negative effect on drying times. It can also cause brownish discoloration to appear on the surface of the paint, as well as compromise the protective qualities of the paint. A good general rule of thumb for interior painting is to paint when the indoor humidity is around 40 to 65 percent.
Since paint gives off an abundance of VOCs and fumes, especially when trapped indoors, proper ventilation is a must for interior painting. Paint fumes can cause an increase in headaches, dizziness, and an overall tired or sick feeling. It can also trigger asthma symptoms. This is why it is important to keep windows open in the rooms where you are painting, as well as having fans running to circulate the air in the room.
Tips and Tricks for Indoor Painting
- Box fans are an inexpensive way to help keep the air flowing when painting indoors.
- Opening windows will also allow for the fumes to flow out of the room while circulating the air.
- Plan out the painting project beforehand, making sure to pay attention to the indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity level for the days you decided to tackle the job.
- Make sure to research the best painting applications for the type of paint you have purchased. Each type of paint has their own set of specific application instructions that you should follow for best results.
- Don’t be afraid to seek help. Professional painting companies have the knowledge and skills to ensure the paint job looks immaculate, and hiring a trusted company can eliminate the stress of tackling a home improvement project.
While painting is generally considered one of the easier DIY home improvement jobs, it is not a task that you can do without proper consideration and preparation. If you’re looking for help with your indoor painting project, call us today at 831-269-2837. We can get you on the right track for your home painting needs.