As a homeowner, you have many decisions to make prior to listing your home for sale. One of those decisions may be whether or not to paint the exterior of your home. While it may seem like a big task to paint your home it is worth the extra time and money spent. Painting the exterior of your home will cost around $3,000. However, it will add over $7,500 to your home’s value. That’s a return on investment of 152%! With such a high return on investment exterior painting should be at the top of your list of repairs before listing your home.
A fresh coat of paint will only increase your home’s value if it is done correctly. Painting the exterior of a home is not as easy as slapping on a coat of paint whenever you feel like it. Exterior paint can be difficult to apply or will dry unevenly in the wrong environment. So when is the best time to paint your home’s exterior? According to professionals, the best season to paint is during the fall. Here are the top factors that make fall the best season to paint the exterior of your home.
Average Temperatures
Some would assume that painting when it is very hot out will cause the paint to dry quicker and make exterior painting less time consuming. However, excess heat is actually a downside to painting in the summer. Excessively high temperatures (those above 90 degrees Fahrenheit) can cause paint to cure improperly. This can result in visible brush strokes or blisters in the coating of paint. In addition, paint may not even stick properly in excess heat and will cause flaking at a later date.
Fall temperatures are perfect for exterior painting. There are fewer temperature spikes and daytime temperatures average between 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This range is the best for proper curing and for accurate drying time.
Moisture and Humidity in the Air
Summers are known for high humidity, especially in the South Atlantic region. While high humidity may make this region feel like a tropical paradise, it is less than ideal weather for exterior painting. Too much humidity can interfere with the paint’s curing process. If humidity levels reach 85% or above the paint will turn tacky and will not solidify after applied. Since some degree of moisture in the air helps slow the drying rate which allows the paint to dry while preventing brush marks, it is best to find a day when humidity is around 40% to 50%.
Direct Sunlight
Beautiful sunny days are perfect for sunbathing and relaxing by the pool. But when it comes to painting the outside of your home, excess sun can work against your painting efforts. Direct sunlight will prematurely cure paint and cause it to dry too quickly. Direct sunlight will also make the siding very hot which will make applying paint very tricky. While the sun is still shining during the fall season it is not nearly as strong as during the spring and summer. This means you can still work during the height of the afternoon but worry less about the direct rays affecting your paint.
Less Chance of Extreme Weather
There is nothing worse than preparing to paint your home and suddenly the sound of thunder rolls in the distance. Obviously you can’t paint your house when it is raining, but did you know you should wait 4 hours or longer after it rains before painting. Paint is generally waterproof within 2 to 4 hours. Rain isn’t the only weather that can ruin your fresh coat of paint. High winds can blow leaves and debris onto wet paint and completely ruin the finish. The fall has less extreme weather, which means less chance for wind and rain to damage or deter exterior painting.
Cost of Painting
The cost of painting a house probably won’t change that much from season to season. However, the cost of labor will change. Pricing falls as painters move into a slower season due to fewer customers. Painters are more than willing to allow for discounts and deals when they are running low on customers.
Before you call a professional painter or bust out your paint rollers, talk to a top rated real estate agent. He or she can assist you in choosing the most popular home color among buyers in your area as well as direct you toward reputable painters. With a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of your home, you will be one step closer to selling your home quickly and for a great price when spring arrives.
