We have read many articles with helpful tips about painting the exterior of your home during the warm summer months. And since we live in Arizona, we are far too familiar with the heat. In fact, we are already seeing triple digits!

So, what should you do if you need to update your home’s exterior paint in the Arizona heat?

Prep!

Just like with any paint job, preparation is key. Start by washing off and dirt and dust that is on the surface of the exterior of your home. Once that is clean, it is time to scrape off any old paint that is flaking and peeling off. This is best done by sanding the surface. After the surface is completely clean and ready, always use the primer of your choice. Primer is a must before applying any coat of paint.

Paint!

There are different types of paint to choose from and you should always look at the paint performance properties like the color fade, gloss loss, adhesion and more that will play a factor in your choice. Certain paints work better on specific types of surfaces, but 100 percent acrylic paint works best on many different types of exterior surfaces.

Choosing the color is a crucial choice, especially living in sunny Arizona. Keep in mind that dark colors with end up absorbing more heat and energy. That is why lighter colors are more popular in Arizona. Lighter color paints reflect light, which helps with the durability of the paint film and might even be considered energy efficient since it absorbs much less energy than darker paint colors.

Weather Conditions

Before starting your exterior paint job, there are some weather conditions you need to take into consideration.

Especially on extremely warm days, start your paint job in the early morning. You want to try and not paint when it gets over 100 degrees, which isn’t always possible in Arizona. Also, avoid painting when the exterior is getting exposure to direct sunlight. This is another reason to start painting earlier in the day, the sunniest part of the day tends to be between 12-4 and could cause issues while painting. Windy and breezy conditions are never ideal for any paint job. So, when Arizona is experiencing their famous monsoons and haboobs, avoid updating your exterior’s paint.

Want to update the exterior and interior paint of your home? Hire residential painters you can trust! East Valley Painters offers a 10-year warranty and we also provide free estimates!