Can You Paint Your Home’s Exterior in the Winter?

When the outside of your home needs a touch-up, it’s tempting to get started right away, no matter the season. But can you paint in the winter? Before you dive in, consider the external circumstances, like temperature and precipitation. If the temps are very low and the forecast predicts snow, flurries, or the like, you might be better off waiting until a more opportune moment to add a new coat of paint to your home’s exterior. For the painters prepared to brave the chill, or those that don’t have the option to wait for better days, this guide provides tips for success in painting your home during the winter.

Is It Possible to Paint Your Home’s Exterior During the Winter? 

Technically, it is possible to paint the outside of your home in the winter months. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should. While there are some tricks to beat the cold temps and inclement conditions, in most cases you’ll have more success by waiting for the weather to warm up. Factors like reduced hours of sunlight and icy conditions can prevent paint from drying as quickly as it should and lead to a less-than-professional paint job. 

Pros and Cons of Painting Your Home in Winter

If you’re not sure, these downsides and benefits of exterior painting during the colder months will help you decide if it’s worth it. 

Pros

There are a handful of reasons why you actually might prefer to paint or have your house painted by a local exterior painter during winter.

• You’ll have less work to do in summer. If you’d rather have more free time in warmer months for fun projects, painting your home during the winter will keep your planner clear for anything that may inspire you. It’s also advantageous to utilize the winter when you know you won’t have much time for the project once the temps start to turn.

• Painting services might be less expensive. The cost to paint a home exterior can be hefty, but you may be able to save a few bucks by taking care of this task during winter. That’s because exterior painters are typically less booked up by other clients during this time of the year. This free time may motivate them to offer you a deal or discount in order to keep their schedule full while demand is low. 

• The paint may actually dry faster. Depending on where you live, you may actually get better results from painting your home exterior in winter. That’s especially true if you live somewhere where summers are particularly humid. In those cases, the dry, winter air is more likely to cure exterior paint faster. 

Cons

While it’s true that there are some benefits to painting your home in the winter, the cons typically outweigh the pros. Here are all the reasons you might be better off waiting. 

• You can’t paint below a certain temperature. Paint shouldn’t be applied to home exteriors below temperatures of 35 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, paint is more likely to freeze before it dries, which can prevent it from curing properly and produce uneven results. 

• In most cases, paint won’t dry as quickly. Although it’s true that you may have a better experience painting your home during winter if you struggle with muggy summers, the amount of sun you’ll see in warmer seasons makes for much better painting conditions.

• Winter weather can wreck your progress. Even if you’re diligent about checking the forecast, rain or snow can strike at a moment’s notice and destroy your new coat of paint and all your progress. 

3 Tips for Successfully Painting Your Home in Winter

If you’ve given it some thought and decided that you’re going to paint your home’s exterior during the big chill, use these exterior painting tips to ensure your work turns out as it should. 

1. Use Specialty Paint

The best paint for exterior painting in cold weather is one that will dry quickly and won’t be too affected by lower temperatures. Look for an option that’s made from a mix of acrylic and oil-based paints and, when in doubt, ask the paint expert at your local hardware store to point you in the right direction. 

2. Always Check the Forecast

Several days (or even a week) before beginning your painting project, make sure that the weather will be suitable on the day you plan to start working. Blue sky and limited cloud coverage are the most ideal conditions. 

3. Start Painting Earlier Than You Normally Would

Sunlight is limited during the winter, so you have to rise early to take advantage of every daylight hour at your disposal. Aim to set everything up in the early morning while the sun is still low, then start applying paint when the sun is high enough in the sky to provide some warmth. Stop painting around midday to ensure your new coat has as much time to dry before sunset as possible.