How commercial painting contractors prepare for the weather
With all the information about the drawbacks of exterior commercial and industrial painting, it may seem like there’s never a good time for the job. However, an experienced commercial painting contractor knows how to work with weather conditions, rather than in spite of them, to ensure an excellent finished project.
The right time of the day
The ideal weather conditions for exterior commercial painting are cool to warm days with a light breeze and low humidity. Unfortunately, these perfect conditions don’t occur too often. A good commercial painting contractor will keep the job schedule flexible enough to take advantage of the best possible weather—which can often mean working after hours or on weekends.
In California, commercial painting is often disrupted by fog. These wet, humid conditions make exterior painting risky and should be avoided. Fortunately, a typical California fog will lift later in the morning, allowing work to start for the day. The work area should be dried after fog, rain, or other wet conditions as much as possible before new painting begins.
For hot weather, one way to ensure the best possible job is to “follow the shade.” Ideally, the commercial painting contractor will work on surfaces that have already received sunlight that day, but are no longer directly exposed to the sun. Working in shade is beneficial at any point during the day. When exposure to heat and sunlight is unavoidable, a contractor may add more thinner to the paint mixture in order to prevent it from drying too fast.
The right paint for the job
Choosing the best type of paint is important, especially when factoring in the weather conditions. A skilled commercial painting contractor will understand which types of paint are the best for the exterior environment of your building, and will plan the job accordingly.
For example, in much of California, UV damage is a serious potential problem. Most commercial and industrial buildings will benefit from the application of a clear polyurethane or UV-resistant top coat, which preserves the finish longer and helps to prevent bleaching, fading, and cracking.
Elastomerics are also a popular choice for commercial painting contractors when considering environmental conditions. This type of paint is 100 percent elastic, and has the ability to expand or contract along with the substrate in extreme temperatures, while retaining its original shape.
