One of the most important things to remember when conducting any paint job is to make sure that you are in the best position possible for the paint to dry without any problems. The last thing you want is for mold to take hold or other elements to undermine the integrity of your paint job.
This is precisely what can happen when you allow too much moisture to seep into your paint jobs.
Here is why that’s such a problem, as well as what you can do to prevent that.
Why it Matters
As stated, things such as mold are a big problem for paint jobs. They cause cracks, foul odor, and lasting damage to the structure as well as the paint itself. What’s more, paint does not kill mold, so if it takes up residence beneath your paint, it can unfortunately flourish and take over – and that’s especially true in high-moisture conditions, where mold flourishes.
Even in the absence of mold, however, moisture is simply bad news for paint. It seeps into the chemical mixture, causing problems with its integrity. For example, it can make it difficult for the paint to dry. Typically, paint requires warm, dry conditions to dry properly. Moisture can interfere with that to a great degree.
That’s why humidity is an especially big threat to paint jobs. It can slow or even stop large outdoor paint jobs from drying properly. This is due to the fact that humidity can cause water vapor and thus particles to settle on the surface.
How to Prevent it
So, how can you prevent this nightmare scenario from happening?
For starters, you want to do whatever possible to make sure that you are not painting during times when humidity will be that high. As such, you need to avoid “wet seasons.” Of course, if you are painting in an area which is naturally humid, this limits the time during which you can paint.
That being said, you can also take steps to make things easier on yourself. For example, you won’t want to paint when it is raining or has recently been wet outside, as that’s just a waste of time. Moisture will seep into the paint and spoil your job.
Check weather reports ahead of time to make sure that you are painting at the driest possible times that are not overwhelmingly hot.
Sun is your big ally when combatting moisture, as it can dry paint faster. You should thus always paint “ahead of the sun,” in shade. Not only is this a great way to make sure that you do not become overheated, but it can also make sure that the sun moves with your paint job and thus dries it as you go. By having constant heat on your new coat of paint, it should dry faster.
You might also want to consider tarping your finished paint job briefly in the event of high humidity or rain showers immediately after you have finished.
Doing this can ensure the integrity of your paint by keeping the moisture level as low as possible.