Living in Denver CO. provides an optimum climate condition painting exterior homes throughout the year. Never having to worry about extreme hot conditions, we included some information for our Southern neighbors in Arizona. As we follow the Sun painting exteriors, they avoid it.
Several factors make up this optimization, as we will describe in depth.
A. Weather Conditions:
1. Temperature: Is an important factor that affects drying and evaporation of paint’s liquids content. 50 degrees is generally an ideal temperature allowing for a somewhat slower drying transition than temperatures that offer a much quicker drying time. Following the sun around the home offers about 10 degrees warmer substrate surface temperature than the ambient temperatures. In the shade, this is reversed, offering approx. 10 degrees cooler surface temperatures than ambient ones. Knowing this offers painting exteriors in and around Denver many days even throughout the winter months. Painting times are shorter during winter, normally shutting down painting around 2:30 pm. This allows paint to dry properly before the sun goes down, and the thermometer drops. Different temperatures is one variable which contributes to touch-up problems.
2. Humidity: Very high humidity slows the drying times and evaporation of liquids, but usually never have to worry about this living in Denver CO. where having some of the lowest humidity in our nation. Colorado being a very aired dry climate, one way to prove this is ice in ice chests lasts days not hours outside say while camping. Important not to paint with humidity at 85% or more, as while spraying, this can trap moisture behind paint film, which can cause blistering within weeks.
3. Wind: Is another factor which assists drying and paint’s evaporation of liquids, leaving solids as paint’s film. Chicago is known as the “Windy City”, but feel Painting Denver and the Front Range gives Chicago a run for it’s money and the term on this one, having many days of excessive winds above 30 mph. Naturally during high winds, spray application looses more paint in the air. Being airborne, latex paints do not go far distances as Alkyds taking much longer dry times. Some wind is ok, helping drying times, as paint’s instructions specified assuming little to no air movement. With a light breeze, and 50 degree days, 100% Acrylic Paints usually dry within an hour, also helping painting exteriors throughout the winter months very possible, in lower non-mountainous elevations.
B. Different Application Methods:
1. Spray Application: Used throughout the painting industry as the most useful means of applying paint coatings with the introduction of the airless spray machines. Before the invention of the airless sprayer, the Conventional Sprayer having a pot attached to the spray gun, air assisted with compressor was the machine of choice. Running paint through either type sprayer assist drying rates, as air is mixed into paints chemical properties, allowing for a quicker dry time than brush. A misnomer from “Old School” ideology being “Hand Brushed” is better is false. Does not matter Sprayed or Brushed, a vertical substrate can only handle so much wet paint film, before it sags, runs, or drips. Ideally, applying two (2) coats Wet on Dry method is the best, which all Paint Manufactures list in application instructions for warranty purposes. Therefore, spraying is a more frugal means of application, having less labor hours doing so, but getting just as much mill thickness on substrate.
2. Roller Method: One of the most common applications for paint applications especially when back rolling is prescribe in combination with spraying. This does slow down dry times, applying more mills of paint, but recommended by most paint manufactures applying many elastomeric paints used for Stucco. Henceforth, elasomeric paints generally have a flat finish which dries much quicker than ordinary Satin finishes. Buying the best Lambs Wool roller skin will insure proper coverage, and cleaning after each use, will undoubtedly last twice as long as conventional synthetic ones.
3. Brush Method: Used in most professional painting applications. Either hand brushing the exterior trim, cutting in trim to body in either interior painting, or exterior painting, the brush is a painters best friend. Drying rates for brush methods are similar to roller methods, applying an even uniform, thick coat. Brushing metal doors is not recommended during cooler temperatures, as hanging adequate mills will sag or run before having time to set up, being dry to touch. Not scrimping on quality with brush either, having either a Sherwin-Williams or Prudy Brush will provide the best smoothest brush painting job possible. These brushes are constructed with the maximum number of bristles per square inch, all being tapered to a point. This construction provides the maximum amount of paint “Loaded” in brush, while tapered ends allow for a smooth (no brush mark) finish.
Using a quality roller and brush will minimize drying rates, having a smooth and uniform finish, like spray methods provide.
DRYING RATES;
Chart below considers humidity and wind being at optimum house painting conditions, considering all else being the same, in an ideal settings;
Temp: Spray: Brush: Roller:
35°
Spray. 92 minutes
Brush. 110 minutes
Roller. 110 minutes
40°
S. 82 minutes
B. 100 minutes
R. 100 minutes
45°
S. 72 minutes
B. 90 minutes
R. 90 minutes
50°
S. 62 minutes
B. 80 minutes
R. 80 minutes
55°
S. 52 minutes
B. 70 minutes
R. 70 minutes
60°
S. 42 minutes
B. 60 minutes
R. 60 minutes
65°
S. 32 minutes
B. 50 minutes
R. 50 minutes
70°
S. 22 minutes
B. 40 minutes
R. 40 minutes
75°
S. 18 minutes
B. 36 minutes
R. 36 minutes
80°
S. 14 minutes
B. 32 minutes
R. 32 minutes
85°
S. 10 minutes
B. 28 minutes
R. 28 minutes
90°
S. 6 minutes
B. 24 minutes
R. 24 minutes
95°
S. 5 minutes
B. 20 minutes
R. 20 minutes
100° S. 4 minutes
B. 18 minutes
R. 18 minutes
Any warmer, too hot to paint!
105°
S. 3 minutes
B. 14 minutes
R. 14 minutes
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Tags: Exterior Paint, Exterior Painting, House Painting, Paint Drying Rates
