If you are considering a housing painting project, you are likely asking yourself, “When is the best time of the year to paint the outside of my house if I live in Michigan?”
In this article, we are going to explore the best time to paint the exterior of your house. We will cover some of the pros and cons of each part of the year so you can pick the right time of the year that works for you, your budget, and your house painting project goals.
Best Time Of Year To Paint The Outside
Figuring out the best time of the year to paint the outside is a challenge. You have to consider the weather, precipitation, and the temperature during the day and the night. Let’s look at the various seasons and explore the benefits and disadvantages to having your Lansing house painted during those times.
Pros And Cons of Painting Exterior In Spring
Spring is roughly defined as April, May and June. The spring is hit or miss when it comes to painting your home’s exterior in Michigan.
In March and April it may not be warm enough to begin painting. For exterior paint to properly adhere to the house, it needs to be at least 50 degrees Fareinheit and should not drop below 32 degrees at night for several days. In April, it is possible for it to be warm enough during the day, but at night the temperature will drop too low. As a result, the paint will form a good film.
May is a warm enough month to paint, but projects are often setback by inclement weather and rain. Paint needs time to dry and for the best results, the paint should have tried at least 24 hours before it rains.
If you are hiring a professional painting company in Lansing, you may find your project getting pushed back or rescheduled in May. This is common and a natural occurrence when dealing with the rain.
Pros:
- Since the season is just starting, you have more scheduling options when working with a painting company.
- You can find discounts as painters look to put jobs on their books.
- The project is done and you can enjoy your new exterior throughout the summer and fall.
Cons:
- It may not be warm enough to paint the outside of your house in the early Spring months.
- Frequent delays or rescheduled because of inclement Spring weather that brings rain showers.
Painting the Exterior In Summer
The summer months are prime time for painting the outside of your house in Lansing and Metro Detroit. Summer is roughly defined as late June, July, August and early September.
In the Summer months, rain and low temperatures are not an issue at all. Most rain in the lower parts of Michigan like Lansing and Detroit are concentrated in May, June, and September.
Weather is still an issue in the summer months. Instead of low temperatures, professional painters have to monitor high temperatures. In the peak of the Summer, day time temperature is generally too hot to paint.
Instead, painting contractors need to start the job early in the morning, and depending on the size of the job, they come back in the late afternoon or evening to finish the project.
When exterior paint is applied in hot temperatures, the paint is baked. Too high temperatures cause the paint to dry too fast. The paint never gets a chance to properly adhere to the surface, which leaves a homeowner with a cracked, peeled or blistered exterior.
This tends to be more of a problem when trying to paint vinyl or aluminum siding than painting exterior brick house.
Pros:
- Fewer weather and temperature delays or setbacks when compared to Spring months.
- Still plenty of time to enjoy your painting project.
Cons:
- Prime season for Michigan painting contractors. Painting companies in Lansing or Detroit may be too busy to schedule you in.
- Painting in hot months causes the paint to crack, peel, or blister if the job is not done at the right time of the day.
Painting Your Exterior In The Fall
Fall months are another excellent time of the year to paint your house’s exterior. The Fall season is defined as late September, October and November.
Many of the same kinds of issues in Spring are found in the Fall months. For example, it can get too cold at night for paint to properly adhere and form a film. However, jobs can be completed during the day and do not need to be split if the project is too large.
The biggest downfall with the Fall months is that if you schedule too late into the season, it is possible for the weather to change and your project must get pushed off into the Spring. So, if you are thinking of having your exterior house painted in the Fall, consider trying to place it in September or early October.
Anything later and you run the risk of the project getting delayed until Spring.
Pros:
- Weather is rarely an issue and projects are completed in a single go.
- You may find discounts if painters try to book jobs into late fall.
Cons:
- You run the risk of your project being pushed into the Spring.
- You may find painters are too busy to schedule your project as they try to complete jobs booked in the Summer.
Painting Your Exterior In Winter
It is too cold to complete any painting jobs during the winter months. In many parts of Michigan, painting companies stop painting around the end of October.
This can vary any given year. Some years, painting contractors are able to complete painting jobs in November. Other years, doors are closed in early October.
Takeaway
The best time of the year to paint the exterior of your house is in the Summer and Fall. Specifically, during the months of May through September. This gives Michigan roughly a five to six month exterior painting season.
Since these are prime painting months, the only downside is making sure that you are able to get your project scheduled. Finding reliable painting contractors has been a challenge for most homeowners.
Robinson Painting Co is dedicated to helping homeowners complete their exterior painting projects by connecting them with a Lansing painting contractor that is part of our referral network.
