Exterior painting in Detroit has a season. National Weather Service normals for Detroit show average highs of about 70 degrees in May, 80 to 84 from June to August, 74 in September and 62 in October. Average lows fall to about 44 in October and 34 in November. Paint needs warm, dry surfaces, so that is the window we work in.
What is the best time of year to paint the outside of a house here?
The best months to paint outside in Detroit are late May through September. Early October often works too. Days are warm, nights stay above the limits on the paint can and surfaces dry out between rains.
April and early May can be fine on warm days, but nights are still cold, with a normal low near 39 in April, and spring rain keeps wood wet. By late October the days are short, dew is heavy and nights are too cold for most paints. If you want a summer slot, ask for a quote in late winter or spring.
Can you paint outside when it is raining or about to rain?
No. We do not paint outside in the rain, or when rain is due before the paint can dry. Rain washes fresh latex paint off the wall and leaves streaks and bare patches.
Detroit gets rain in every month, and summer brings afternoon thunderstorms. A careful painter watches the forecast, starts on the side of the house that dries first and stops early when storms are building. Prep work such as scraping can sometimes go ahead on a damp day. Painting cannot.
It rained a few hours after painting. Is it ruined?
Probably not. If the paint had a few hours to dry before it rained, it has usually formed a skin that light rain will not harm.
Heavy rain within the first hour or two is the real risk. Look for runs, streaks, a blotchy sheen or spots where the color has washed thin. Those areas need to be cleaned, allowed to dry and repainted. If we painted it, call us.
How long after rain before siding can be painted?
Wait at least a full dry day after rain before painting siding, and longer for bare or weathered wood. The surface must be dry, and so must the wood under it.
Sun and wind dry a south wall in hours. A shaded north wall, wood near the ground and spots under leaking gutters can stay damp for days. Bare wood soaks up water and holds it, so it needs the longest wait. After pressure washing, allow at least a day or two of dry weather before priming.
How cold is too cold to paint outside?
It is too cold when the air or the surface drops below the minimum on the paint label. For many exterior latex paints that is 50 degrees. Some are made to be applied down to 35 degrees.
The temperature has to stay above that limit while the paint dries, not only when it goes on. That means the overnight low counts. Surfaces in shade are colder than the air. In Detroit this rules out most of the time from November to March, and it makes April and late October day-by-day calls.
How hot is too hot, and is direct sun a problem?
Paint labels usually set an upper limit near 90 degrees, and direct sun is a bigger problem than the air temperature. A dark wall in full sun can be far hotter than the air.
Paint that dries too fast does not level or bond well. It can blister, show lap marks and wear out early. On hot days painters follow the shade around the house: the west side in the morning and the east side in the afternoon. Detroit summers are warm more than extreme, so heat rarely stops a job for long.
Does morning dew or humidity affect exterior paint in Detroit?
Yes. Dew and high humidity slow drying, and paint that is still wet when dew forms can lose its sheen or leave a sticky residue on the surface.
This matters most in late summer and fall, and near Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River, where mornings are damp. Painting should start once the dew has burned off and stop early enough in the afternoon for the paint to dry before evening.
Can you paint inside in winter with the windows closed?
Yes. Interior painting works well in winter, with the windows closed. Modern interior paints are low in odor, and a heated house gives steady drying conditions.
Heated winter air in Michigan is dry, which helps paint dry quickly. A fan in the room and the furnace fan running are normally enough for air movement. Winter is a practical time to book interior work, because exterior painting has stopped for the season.
To plan an exterior job for next season, call or text (313) 251-3869.