When to Schedule Exterior Painting

Interior painting can happen any month of the year. Exterior painting can't. In the Quad Cities, cold, rain and humidity decide when paint will go on and cure properly, and the good weeks fill up fast. The owners whose buildings get painted on time are the ones who plan it in the off-season.

What the paint needs

• Temperature. Every exterior coating lists a minimum application temperature on its label, and it usually applies to the surface as well as the air. Many products want it warmer than you'd expect, and the temperature needs to stay up overnight while the paint cures, not just at noon.
• Dry surfaces and dry hours. Paint needs a dry surface going on and dry hours afterward. Rain, heavy dew or fog on fresh paint can leave marks or keep it from bonding.
• Sun and wind in moderation. A wall baking in direct afternoon sun can dry paint too fast. Crews often follow the shade around the building for that reason.

Put together, that means late spring through early fall is the dependable window here, with the shoulder months workable on the right days and the right products.

A simple calendar for owners

• Winter: walk it and get the scope. This is the best time to have a painter look at the building. Peeling, chalking, failed caulk and bare wood are easy to see, and you get a written scope with no pressure.
• Late winter: book the dates. Getting on the schedule early is how you get the weeks you want instead of whatever is left in August.
• Spring: wash and prep. Pressure washing and repairs come first. Paint over dirt, mildew or chalk and it won't hold.
• Late spring to early fall: paint. The crew works the building in sections, around weather and around your hours.
• Fall: touch-ups and inspection. Walk the building before winter and fix anything small before it turns into a bigger repair.

Prep decides how long it lasts

Most early paint failures come from skipped prep, not bad paint. A proper exterior job usually includes:

• Washing off dirt, chalk and mildew, and letting the surface dry fully.
• Scraping and sanding loose or peeling paint.
• Replacing failed caulk around windows, doors and joints.
• Priming bare wood, metal and patched areas with the right primer for each surface.
• Protecting walkways, landscaping, vehicles and signage.

Signs the exterior is due

• Paint that's peeling, cracking or flaking, especially on the sunny side.
• A chalky residue that rubs off on your hand.
• Faded color that makes the building look older than it is.
• Rust bleeding through on metal doors, rails or canopies.
• Caulk that's cracked or pulling away.

Keeping the business open

Exterior work doesn't have to close anything. Entrances get done in sections, early or late, with a clear path kept open. Lifts and ladders are staged around your traffic, and customers and tenants get notice before work near their doors.

Fortis paints building exteriors with our own crew, and we pressure wash first, so the prep and the paint come from the same people. If your building is due next season, a walkthrough this winter gets you a written scope and a spot on the calendar.