There is a cooler breeze in the air and the temperatures aren’t nearly as high as they were only a few short weeks ago. Perhaps a few leaves at the tops of the trees have started changing color. Fall is on its way. This is that time of year when people start finishing up their do-it-yourself projects. They pack it in for the season almost like a bear collecting food before he begins hibernation. Yet, for some homeowners, they see autumn as the ideal time to accomplish a few household projects. These do-it-yourselfers’ take advantage of the cooler temperatures and the fact that the kids are back in school to get some things done!
Related: 7 Smart Tips for Painting the Outside of Your House
Many of us at Workman’s Friend welcome autumn too. As proud do-it-yourselfers’, we take every opportunity to fix and update our home and property. Autumn is one of our favorite times to get those painting projects accomplished. We know what you’re thinking, fall for painting? The answer is, yes. Once you apply a layer of our barrier skin cream, you can start attacking those painting tasks on your to-do list. The following are a few of our tips.
Exterior House Painting
With the extreme heat and intense sun associated with summer gone, autumn is a great time to give your home’s exterior a new coat of paint. As a general rule of thumb you should paint the outside of your home between the hours of 10:00 am-3:00 pm. These are considered the best hours of application. We recommend that you start painting on the sunny side of your home and follow the sun. This is just the opposite of what is recommended in the summer.
You should never paint in temperatures that are lower than 50F. Though there are paints specifically designed for temperatures as low as 35F, it is generally inadvisable to apply color in those conditions. Remember, the cooler the temperature the longer it takes to dry and cure. Don’t forget to allow for at least 24 hours between coats of paint.
Additionally, don’t overlook the dew point when you’re painting in the fall. It is the temperature at which moisture will condense on a surface. With that in mind, paint, stains and primers should never be applied if the surface temperature is the same as the dew point or lower. If this isn’t the case, you’ll end up with water spotting and bubbles on your colored surface.
And finally, before you start any exterior paint job, make sure you apply a dime-size portion of our barrier skin cream to protect your hands from the paint and to make clean-up a cinch.
Interior House Painting
In most of the country, by late September and into October though the temperatures have gotten cooler, it is still relatively warm. But what is gone is the humidity which can often be a painter’s worst enemy in the summer. Painting the inside of your home during the fall is ideal because it’s just that-inside. You’re not fighting any of the elements including bugs, the intensity of the sun, wind and the potential for rain. You can paint with the windows open, when you want, and how you want indoors. The cooler temperatures mean your paint can dry quickly. The lack of humidity means it will also dry properly, no cracking and peeling which is often associated with paint drying in humidity.
Start Rolling
Let’s be honest, there are certain do-it-yourself projects that can only be done in the summer. That’s why taking your time in the autumn to freshen up your home’s exterior or change a room color on the inside is a great thing to do when the temperature starts to drop. Remember don’t start any paint job until you’ve applied a layer of Workman’s Friend barrier skin cream to your hands. Once that’s accomplished, start rolling. There’s lots of painting to do.
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Workman’s Friend Barrier Skin Cream is light-weight and odorless product. A simple application of our non-greasy, formula means your hands will be moisturized and protected from common irritants.