Are you tired of your paint drying too quickly when you're painting in hot weather? Well, fear not, I have good news for you! Instead of feeling you must retreat to the coolest part of the house with a wet flannel on your head. I’m here to help you by revealing the secret to successfully painting in the scorching summer heat. Yes, even in the UK we get a handful of those days!
Painting in hot weather can be challenging, but you can easily achieve professional-looking results with the right techniques and products. My tried and tested tips will guide you through choosing the perfect paint for hot weather conditions, preparing your surface for optimal adhesion, and adjusting your painting technique to accommodate the heat. I will also share how to prevent your paint from drying out too fast and maintain a smooth and consistent finish.
So, if you're ready to take on the summer heat and elevate your painting game, dive in and I will reveal the secrets to painting in hot weather. No matter how much that mercury rises, you can keep your motivation equally high to beat the heat and elevate your productivity and creativity in a breeze.
Effects of hot weather on paint
Hot weather can have a significant impact on the quality of the finish and the performance of your paint. High temperatures can cause the paint to dry too quickly, leading to a range of issues such as unsightly brush marks, dragging, uneven coverage, and poor adhesion to the surface. Additionally, heat can cause the paint to become thicker, making it difficult to work with and achieve a smooth finish.
When exposed to extreme heat, the liquid in the paint evaporates at a faster rate, resulting in a shorter open time. This means that you have less time to work with the paint before it starts to dry. As a result, it becomes more challenging to apply your paint, so to overcome these challenges, you just need to apply a few simple steps to mitigate these effects.
Use good quality paint
These days most of furniture is painted using eco-friendly water-based paints, such as Fusion Mineral Paint, Fusion Milk Paint, or Chalk Paint, all of these can be applied in hot weather with the addition of just a few tricks.
Sometimes a Shellac-based primer such as Zinsser Bin is required for stain-blocking. This can be applied when the air and surface temperature is up to 32°C and the relative humidity is less than 70%. This is a fantastic product, but it dries extremely fast at the best of times. I would suggest applying this in the coolest part of the day because, unlike water-based paints, there is nothing you can do to ease the application process.
Preparing the surface for painting in hot weather
The correct preparation is vital for achieving optimal adhesion and a long-lasting finish, especially when painting in hot weather. The extreme heat can cause the paint to struggle to adhere to improperly prepared surfaces.
Before starting your painting project, ensure the surface is clean, dry, and free from any contaminants such as dirt, dust, or grease. Clean the surface with a good degreaser such as Fusion’s TSP to clean the surface thoroughly, and allow it to dry completely before applying the paint. If there is any loose or flaking paint, scrape it off and sand the area lightly to create a smooth and even surface.
Tips for hot weather painting
Painting in hot weather requires some adjustments to your usual painting routine. Here are some tips and tricks to help you navigate those heated challenges and achieve hot results:
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Plan your painting schedule
Avoid painting during the hottest part of the day when the sun is at its peak. Instead, plan your painting sessions for the early morning or late afternoon when the temperatures are slightly cooler. -
Work in the shade
If you have to paint outside make sure you position your project in a shaded area. Do not paint in direct sunlight, not only will your paint dry far too fast, it’s also difficult to see in glaring sunlight and most importantly of all it isn’t good for you. Painting outside runs the risk of attracting insects, dust and pollen particles to your wet paint. -
Working indoors
Open windows and doors whenever possible to reduce the room temperature and get the air flowing. Make sure the area is as free from dust as possible and use an electric fan to cool the air, but don’t have it too close to your work as this can speed up the drying process. Make sure you have good light, but again don’t work in direct sunlight -
Keep your materials cool
Extreme heat can affect the quality and performance of your paint and brushes. Store them in a cool, shaded area.
Top Tip: store your paint brushes in a zip bag in the fridge, before painting, and between coats -
Keep everything you need close to hand
When time is against you there is nothing worse than having to search for something, and make sure you know where everything is in an instant, it’s no good looking for that spray bottle when you have laid your paint down and it's showing signs of dragging. -
Keep your paint covered
When not in use, cover your paint containers with plastic wrap or airtight lids to minimize exposure to the air and slow down the drying process. This will help preserve the quality and consistency of the paint. -
Paint in lighter colours
Dark colours absorb more heat, exacerbating the drying time and making it more challenging to work with the paint. -
Self care: ventilation and hydration
Remember to take breaks and stay hydrated during your painting sessions in hot weather. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, sugary and caffeinated drinks, as they contribute to dehydration. Take advantage of the shade to prevent heat exhaustion or dehydration. Wear comfortable summer clothes, ensure you have plenty of fresh air and don’t try to work in tight confined spaces.
Top Tip: If you’re starting to feel the heat, spritz your head and face with the water in your mister bottle: it's so lovely, cool and refreshing.
Must haves: the essential supplies for painting in hot weather
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Paint brushes
Use a good quality paintbrush with soft synthetic filaments, use an appropriate size for your project, I highly recommend Cling On! paint brushes. These work well with self-levelling paints, and their smooth bristles prevent friction from building up so there is less of a change of your paint dragging.
Top Tip: work with a slightly damp brush and if you find your brush is dragging the paint, swap it out immediately for a paint roller and the drag marks will disappear -
Rollers
Use a microfibre paint roller for large flat areas, these will allow you to apply the paint much quicker than you can with a brush, take a look at my selection of Two Fussy Blokes roller sleeves and Staalmeester roller sleeves. Smooth rollers are ideal for normal-sized flat surfaces and semi-smooth rollers are perfect for larger flat surfaces such as table tops and long sideboards.
Top Tip: slightly dampen your paint roller with water, this will ease the paint application. -
Paint extender
Adding a few drops of Fusion Paint Extender to your paint will give it a longer open time, meaning your paint will stay wet for longer, giving you more time to work with your paint -
Water mister bottle
Cool down the surface by spritzing it with water using a Fusion continuous spray Mister Bottle. You can also mist your brushes and rollers. This will help cool everything down and ease the flow and application of your paint
Common mistakes to avoid when painting in hot weather
Painting in hot weather requires a few adjustments to prevent common mistakes that can compromise the quality of your work. Here are some examples of what to avoid when painting in hot weather:
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Overworking the paint
In hot weather, the paint dries quickly, so it's important not to overwork it, but to work quickly because time is of the essence. Avoid excessive brushing this will cause the paint to drag and become patchy and uneven.
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Applying thick layers of paint
Thick layers of paint take longer to dry and are more prone to cracking, sagging, or running in hot weather. Apply thin layers of paint and allow them to dry completely before adding additional coats.
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Don’t panic
It’s easy to become tense and start to overthink the process, it just takes a little practice to see how the paint reacts to the heat and the timescale you have to work with it and your confidence will soon grow.
With these few simple steps, you can embrace painting on a gorgeous sunny day, confident in the knowledge of achieving great results, so no matter how high that thermometer rises you will remain as cool as a cucumber.
