Late May to mid September is the practical exterior painting season in Fargo. Outside those months the nights are usually too cold for paint to cure. Interior painting goes on all year.
What is the best time of year to paint the outside of a house here?
The best months to paint outside in Fargo are June, July, August and the first half of September. Long-term climate normals for Fargo show average lows in the mid 40s in May and again in September, and in the mid 50s in June. In October the average high is in the mid 50s and the average low is close to freezing.
Most exterior paints need the air and the wall to stay above a minimum temperature for hours after the paint goes on, nights included. That is why late May and late September are the edges of the season here. June is, on average, Fargo's wettest month, so early summer needs more rain watching.
Can you paint outside when it is raining or about to rain?
No. Paint cannot go on in rain, and it should not go on when rain is due before the paint can dry. Wet paint washes off or dries blotchy.
We check the forecast and the radar each morning. Summer storms build quickly over the Red River Valley, so on doubtful days we do prep, or work on a side of the house that is under cover.
It rained a few hours after painting. Is it ruined?
Probably not. If the paint had a few hours to dry before the rain, it has usually formed a skin and will be fine. Paint that was rained on while still wet may run or spot or lose its even sheen.
Look at it once it is dry. Streaks or a rough, spotted surface mean that section needs a light sand and another coat. Tell your painter. A good one comes back and checks.
How long after rain before siding can be painted?
After rain, wait until the siding is dry, which is usually a full dry day for wood. Vinyl, steel and aluminum dry in hours once the sun and wind are on them. Wood and stucco hold water inside and need longer.
After pressure washing, wood siding should dry for a day or two before it is painted. Painting over damp wood traps the water, and the paint blisters later.
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 minimum is 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and some are made to go on down to 35 degrees. The temperature has to stay above the minimum while the paint dries, not just when it is brushed on.
The wall matters as much as the air. A north wall in shade can be much colder than the forecast. In Fargo, cold nights end the season by late September in most years, and a painter who offers to paint your siding in late October should be able to show you a label that allows it.
How hot is too hot, and is direct sun a problem?
Direct sun is a bigger problem than air temperature here. Paint on a hot, sunlit wall dries too fast, before it can level and bond, and that leaves lap marks and blisters. Most paint labels also give an upper temperature limit.
Fargo's average July high is in the low 80s, which is fine for painting. Dark siding in full sun gets far hotter than the air, though. We follow the shade around the house: east and south walls later in the day, west walls in the morning.
Does wind matter when painting outside?
Yes. Wind dries paint too fast, blows dust and cottonwood seed into wet paint and carries spray. Fargo sits in an open, flat valley with little to slow the wind, so this comes up often.
On windy days we do not spray. We brush and roll on the sheltered side, or do prep work, and wait for a calmer day for the open walls.
Does dew or humidity affect exterior paint?
Yes. Heavy dew on paint that has not dried can leave it dull, streaked or sticky. Late in the season, dew forms early in the evening and burns off late in the morning.
So in September the painting day is shorter. We start once the wall is dry and stop early enough for the paint to set before evening.
Can you paint inside in winter with the windows closed?
Yes. Interior painting works well in winter with the windows closed. Modern water-based paints have low odor, and a heated house is warm and dry enough for paint to cure. Dry winter air even helps paint dry.
We run fans and use the house's own ventilation. Winter is a good time to get interior work done in Fargo, because exterior jobs fill the calendar from late May to September.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (701) 502-6833.