The best time to paint outside in Detroit is from about mid May to early October. Paint needs mild temperatures, dry surfaces and time to set before the evening dew. The National Weather Service normals for Detroit show why the season is that length.
| Month | Normal high | Normal low |
|---|---|---|
| April | 58.7 F | 39.1 F |
| May | 70.3 F | 50.2 F |
| June | 79.7 F | 60.2 F |
| July | 83.7 F | 64.4 F |
| August | 81.4 F | 63.2 F |
| September | 74.4 F | 55.5 F |
| October | 62.0 F | 44.0 F |
| November | 48.6 F | 33.9 F |
Figures are the 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Detroit published by the National Weather Service.
What is the best time of year to paint the outside of a house here?
Late spring and early fall are the best months. From mid May through June and again in September, days are warm, nights stay above the limits on most paint labels and the sun is less harsh than in July.
Summer works well too, with some planning around heat, humidity and thunderstorms. April and late October are possible in a mild year, but normal lows near 39 and 44 degrees leave little margin, so we watch the forecast day by day. Book early, because the season is short and fills up.
Can you paint outside when it is raining or about to rain?
No. Paint cannot go on in the rain or onto a wet wall, and it should not go on when rain is due before it can set. Water washes fresh latex paint off or leaves it streaked and blistered.
Detroit gets rain in every month, with May the wettest on average at 3.72 inches, and summer storms build fast in the afternoon. We check the forecast each morning and stop early on days that look doubtful.
It rained a few hours after painting. Is it ruined?
Usually not. If the paint had a few hours of dry weather after it went on, most quality latex paints will have set enough to shed a light rain.
Look the next day once the wall is dry. Runs, washed-out patches, a spotted surface or blisters mean that section needs sanding and another coat. Heavy rain within the first hour is the real risk. Ask the painter to check and put right any damage before the job is called done.
How long after rain before siding can be painted?
Wait until the siding is fully dry before painting, which usually means at least a full dry day after rain for wood. Brick, stucco and bare or checked wood hold water longer and can need several days.
Smooth aluminum and vinyl dry within hours in sun and wind. The same wait applies after power washing. Paint put on over damp wood traps the water, and it pushes the film off as it leaves. A moisture meter takes the guessing out of it.
How cold is too cold to paint outside?
It is too cold when the air or the wall is below the minimum on the paint label. For many exterior latex paints that is 50 degrees, and some are made for use down to 35 degrees.
The limit has to hold for hours after painting, not just at noon, and the wall is often colder than the air. In Detroit that rules out most of November through March, when normal highs run from the 30s to the 40s. Paint put on too cold does not form a proper film. It cracks, turns powdery and fails early.
How hot is too hot, and is direct sun a problem?
Most paint labels set an upper limit around 90 degrees, and direct sun is a problem well before that. A dark wall in full July sun is far hotter than the air.
Paint that dries too fast does not level or bond well. It shows lap marks and can blister. Painters work around the house with the shade: east walls later in the day, west walls in the morning. Detroit's normal July high is 83.7 degrees, so heat is a matter of a few days and a few walls, not the whole summer.
Do humidity and dew matter?
Yes. High humidity slows drying, and dew that settles on paint before it has set can leave it dull, streaked or sticky.
Detroit summers are humid and nights cool off, so dew is common, most of all in spring and fall. That is why exterior painting stops in mid afternoon late in the season, hours before sunset. It also means an early start has to wait until the morning dew has dried off the wall.
Can you paint inside in winter with the windows closed?
Yes. Interior painting goes on all winter with the windows closed. The house is heated, the air is dry and paint cures well. Winter is often the easiest time to book interior work.
Low-odor, low-VOC latex paints make closed-window painting practical. A fan and a window cracked open for a short while clear what smell there is. Paint, primer and caulk must be kept from freezing, and an unheated porch, garage or vacant house needs heat first.
Call or text (313) 209-8467 to get on the schedule for exterior work.