Salinas has no harsh season. It rarely freezes hard and it is rarely hot. What it has is moisture: fog and low cloud from Monterey Bay, dew most nights and rain in winter. Then there is the wind that blows down the valley most afternoons. Exterior painting here is planned around damp and wind more than temperature.
What is the best time of year to paint the outside of a house here?
The best months are roughly May through October, when rain is unlikely. Most of our rain falls between November and March, and the summer is close to rainless.
Summer is not dry in every sense, though. June, July and August bring the most fog, so mornings start damp. September and October are often the clearest and warmest weeks of the year in Salinas and are excellent for painting. Dry, mild spells in late fall and spring can also be used. Inland, around Gonzales and Soledad, there is less fog and more heat, so early starts matter more there.
Can you paint outside when it is raining or about to rain?
No. Paint cannot go on in the rain or on a wet wall, and it should not go on when rain is due within a few hours. Fresh acrylic paint needs time to set before water touches it, and the can gives the minimum.
Heavy fog and drizzle count as wet weather for this purpose. We watch the forecast each day and move exterior work when rain is coming.
It rained a few hours after painting. Is it ruined?
Probably not. If the paint had a few hours to set before the rain, it is usually fine. Acrylic paint forms a skin quickly in mild weather, and light rain after that does little harm.
Rain on paint that was still wet can wash it thin, leave streaks or cause white surfactant marks. Check the wall once it has dried. Marks often rinse off. Areas that washed out need another coat. Heavy dew and fog settling on late-afternoon paint can leave the same marks, which is why we stop early.
How long after rain before siding can be painted?
Siding needs at least a full dry day after rain, and often longer. Stucco and painted wood that only got wet on the surface may be ready in a day or two of dry, breezy weather. Bare wood, shaded walls and deep cracks hold water for several days.
In winter here, walls dry out slowly because nights are damp. When there is doubt we use a moisture meter on wood, since paint over damp wood blisters and peels.
How cold is too cold to paint outside?
Most exterior acrylic paints need the air and the wall to be at least 50 degrees, and some are made for use down to about 35 degrees. The label on the product gives its limit. Below that the paint does not form a proper film.
Daytime cold is seldom the problem in Salinas. Winter afternoons are usually mild enough. The issue is that winter nights are cool and wet, so the wall is cold and damp in the morning and the paint must be dry before the temperature drops again. That leaves a short window in the middle of the day.
How hot is too hot, and is direct sun a problem?
Above about 90 degrees is too hot for most paints, and direct sun on the wall is a problem at much lower air temperatures. A wall in full sun can be far hotter than the air. Paint dries on it before it can level and bond, which leads to lap marks and early peeling.
Salinas itself seldom gets that hot, but the afternoon sun is strong and the wind dries paint quickly. We work around the house with the shade. In the south valley, where summer days are much hotter, we start early and finish the sunny sides before the heat builds.
Can you paint inside in winter with the windows closed?
Yes. Interior painting goes on all year, in winter too, and the windows do not have to be wide open. Modern waterborne paints are low in odor. Some air movement helps them dry, so a cracked window, a fan or the heating system is enough.
Winters in Salinas are mild, so a little ventilation is easy to manage. On damp days we allow more drying time between coats. Winter is a good season for interior work, since painters are less busy with exteriors.
Does fog stop exterior painting?
Fog delays the start but does not stop the day. We wait until the wall is dry to the touch and the dew has gone, which is often mid to late morning in summer. Painting onto a damp surface traps moisture under the film.
We also finish early enough for the paint to set before the evening fog returns. On the Monterey Peninsula and in Marina and Castroville, the damp hours are longer and the working window is shorter.
How does the valley wind affect painting?
Wind affects painting in three ways. It carries overspray, it dries paint too fast and it blows dust onto wet surfaces. The Salinas Valley wind usually builds from late morning and is strongest in the afternoon.
We spray in the calmer morning hours when spraying is the right method, and brush and roll when the wind is up. Cars, windows and neighboring property are covered or moved. In Gonzales and Soledad the wind is stronger still.
To plan an exterior job for the right season, call or text (831) 257-0052.