Wondering When Is the Best Time to Have your House Painted? Tips From Painting Pros

If you’re wondering when is the best time of year to paint your house, you may be experiencing a bit of “analysis paralysis.” 

Sometimes your house will tell you when it needs to be painted. (For real. See our post on 5 Signs It’s Time to Repaint Your House.) If you’re painting your home’s exterior, the forecast may be a significant factor. If you’re painting your kitchen or your bedrooms, your family’s routine (or even vacation schedule) may influence when you schedule a refresh. A freshly painted home is a beautiful reward for potentially a small bit of adjustment. Narrowing down the best window of time to paint can help the process go more seamlessly for everyone.

Is There a Best Time of Year to Paint Your House?

when is a good time to paint your house

If you’re planning to paint the exterior of your home there are weather considerations to keep in mind. The good news, however, is that Memphis weather is favorable for painting about 80% of the year. 

For everything you need to know when it comes to your painting forecast, check out our post on why weather should determine the best time to paint your house exterior. In the meantime, here’s a quick recap:

Temperature range: 

The general rule of thumb for outdoor painting is that you should apply paint when it’s between 50-90 degrees out. 

If it’s too hot: Your paint may dry too quickly leading to heat bubbles and cracked paint. (Remember the surface may be hotter than the ambient air temperature.)

If it’s too cold: Your paint will dry too slowly leaving the wet surface more vulnerable the surface will be to insects or debris adhering to it. (Don’t forget to consider overnight low temperatures when you check the forecast.)

The good news is that several manufacturers have created paints for use in temperatures as low as 35°. Check the label on your paint can to know the ideal temperature for that variety to cure.

Humidity:

We recommend painting when humidity levels are below 70% as much as possible as humidity can affect drying time causing the paint to become gummy.

It’s also best to wait until morning dew dries to get started. Moisture on your painting service can also contribute to mildew growth and cause the water in latex paint to evaporate too slowly, potentially causing cracking.

Good news: weather in the Memphis area is favorable for painting about 80% of the year.

Pollen:

April showers aside, the favorable temperatures mean that spring can be a great time of year to paint your home. Memphis is a U.S. Allergy Capital, which means that pesky pollen will not only find its way into your nose but may coat your home’s siding. If you’re painting in pollen season, power washing is non-negotiable to ensure you’re starting with a clean surface.

(Fun fact: Looking for a peach paint color? Sherwin Williams actually has one called Pollen Powder. Benjamin Moore has a more subtly named hue called Spring Dust that skews more greenish gold. Achoo!) 

Life Happens: Determining the Best Season to Paint Your House Interior

best season to paint house interior

Let’s face it, seasons are sometimes more about life than the weather, especially if you’re painting spaces your family spends a lot of time in.

Whether your concerns are practical (like not having children underfoot when your house is being painted) or financial, circumstances within your home’s four walls may be the most important factor in deciding when is a good time to paint your house. 

  1. Moving In or Moving Out

A whopping 63% of real estate agents suggest painting your home’s interior walls before listing, according to the National Association of REALTORS 2021 Profile of Home Staging. Preparing your home to sell is often a motivator for freshening your home’s look and is proven to increase your home’s value.

On the flip side, if you’ve purchased a new home and the grape hue in the hall bath is “not your jam,” there are several advantages to building in time to paint between when you close on the house and when you move in. Benefits include allowing the paint to dry and vapors to dissipate while the home is unoccupied, and not having to move furniture.

  1. School’s In or School’s Out

If you have little ones, you may prefer to have your home painted when they’re at school or camp just to reduce the stress that may come with wet paint, ladders, and kids in a crowded house. 

Or many families opt to have their homes painted when they are on vacation to allow painters uninterrupted time and space to work, and the paint time to dry. Always choose a licensed and insured painter (which you should do anyway!) to give you peace of mind while you’re away. A staycation with family or at a local hotel is an option if you’re tackling a more extensive project and want to check in periodically. 

While the holidays may be a tempting time to have your house painted if you have time off work, consider how having extra guests or needing to prep a big meal in your kitchen may impact your timeline.

  1. Cash In (Bonuses, Tax Returns)

Finances can have an impact on deciding the best time of year to paint your house. If you’re budgeting for a large interior project you may decide to set aside money from a holiday bonus or tax return. Regardless of the time of year, it’s always wise to have multiple painters bid on a home painting project. (And the cheapest option may cost more in the long run if the job isn’t done well.) 

(Read: 9 Must-Ask Questions Before Hiring Residential Painters)

When Is a Good Time to Paint Your House?

You don’t have to get overwhelmed by the thought of preparing and painting your own walls. There are many reasons homeowners hire a painter, rather than do it themselves. “Weather” it is working around the forecast or your family’s schedule, a professional painter can take the stress out of a painting project by delivering a flawless finish that pays off.

We serve home and business owners in the Greater Memphis area and would love to give you a free estimate on your painting project.

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Our team of professional painting craftsmen helps people just like you turn dreams into reality every week. We look forward to speaking with you about your project soon!