A quick google search for “When is the best time to schedule interior painting?” will most likely bring up a result that says that the best time for an interior paint job is sometime during the Fall or Winter. In any other year, the best time to paint the interior of your home or business would generally be during cooler months. That is mainly true because painters must utilize the warmer weather to paint exteriors, and also because interior paint dries best during times of lower humidity, especially if windows can be left open even a little.
However, these days some of our clients have found themselves with buildings that have reduced foot traffic, minimal staff, shortened hours, or are completely empty for a few months.
With all the unknowns surrounding COVID-19, now may actually be a good time to schedule an interior painting project for your building. Here are a few factors to consider as you think about having the interior of your building painted this year.
Why Interior Painting?
Interior painting is one of the most simple and affordable ways to improve your building and make it look great. The amount of life and vitality that a coat of paint can bring to any space is unmatched. Not to mention painting is one of the least expensive ways to transform a space. If you are a new building owner or are utilizing a space that has been used for a different purpose, painting is a great way to make the space your own and put your personal touch into your business or building.
Weather Considerations – Humidity and Temperature
Choosing to set up your interior painting project now has benefits that outweigh waiting for cooler months. As you know, Houston’s weather stays warm and humid through August and beyond, with showers possible throughout the day. With the weather outside being somewhat unpredictable, many businesses and building owners have taken this opportunity to focus on interior updates.
Humidity outside can slow down the paint drying process. Too much moisture in the air can also shorten the lifespan of your paint with cracking and bubbling. When it comes to humidity, the most uniform drying occurs when the range is between 40-70%. This is why most professionals recommend waiting until there is less humidity in the air to help your paint last longer.
Temperature is another factor to consider in the timing of your interior painting. Oil-based paints dry best between 40-90°F while latex-based paints typically do best between 50-85°F.
These factors may seem like they make it too difficult to paint now but in reality, waiting until the fall actually poses more of a challenge. Houston’s average humidity year-round sits right around 75%. January, September, and November have the highest humidity on average while March, April, and July have the lowest.
Details to Keep in Mind
When you decide to paint your interior, not only will you get a beautiful result, if the job is done right; you will also have had maintenance and preparation done to areas that may have shown signs and of wear and tear. During a consultation with a painting professional, you will be able to walk through each area of your building and learn what recommendations they may have, insofar as caulking, repairing, and other prep.
Ceilings can sometimes be difficult to paint but are a necessary update if your contractor is painting other parts of your interior. Painting contractors typically inspect ceilings for water damage and other weak points during the estimate process. Taking care of any issues as soon as they are discovered will prevent future expenses and repairs. Contractors will also typically recommend repainting a ceiling to brighten up any room.
Also, during the estimate, your building’s trim and windowsills need to be inspected for leaks and water damage. Professional contractors typically identify these areas and have the tools and experience to make repairs quickly and affordably. While repairs are the main structural focus, aesthetically adjusting the color of your trim and windowsills may be necessary to compliment the new colors of your space.
Door and door casings are a final touch to making a room look complete. If you are drastically changing the color of your building’s interior, you will want to make sure your color choice is complementary to both the other colors, as well as to the work your company does. For example, an attorney’s office may have wood stained doors or neutral color doors, whereas a pediatrician’s office may opt for brightly-colored doors and door casings. Your painting contractor will work with you through the process of choosing colors that are representative of your business during your consultation to ensure your color scheme is exactly what you want.
Plan for the Holidays
One of the downsides to waiting until the Fall or Winter to repaint your interior is that the holidays seemingly sneak up on many building and business owners. With other details to keep in mind, interior painting is best done before the hustle and bustle that typically occurs at the end of the year.
While the future may seem hard to plan for at this time, making any improvements now while things are slow or, for some, at a standstill may be a step in the right direction for your business or building for long-term success.
Safety Measures for Indoor Painting
The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) is a professional painting association that sets industry guidelines and standards for painting contractors to follow. These standards are created to protect you, your property, employees, customers, and the contractors you hire.
The PDCA safety measures cover a wide array of standards including materials, respiratory protection, tools, and of course paints that are not harmful. With safety as our highest priority, we follow, and in many cases exceed, their guidelines to ensure everyone near the interior paint project site will be safe. Additional measures for safety and your concerns during this time should be discussed with your estimator or painting contractor during your consultation.
Projects We Complete
Not only can Streamline Painting & More give you the quality of work you deserve, but we can also do it in a short amount of time. Our professional painters have years of experience in revitalizing commercial and business spaces. Our interior painting services include Baseboards, bathrooms, trim & molding, ceilings, doors, break rooms, lobbies, conference rooms, offices, and more.
Streamline Paint & More has been serving the Houston, Spring, The Woodlands, and Conroe Communities since 1948. Our dedication to quality service goes beyond our paint. We prioritize quality, value, timeliness, and the best customer experience and satisfaction. Let our licensed professionals take care of your business or commercial space during this downtime.
Reach out for your complimentary building assessment and interior or exterior paint estimate. We’ll discuss your questions and provide you with a quote so you can get your project done.
