Exterior paint has two requirements that the Pacific Northwest does not always provide: a dry surface to stick to, and enough dry, mild weather afterward to cure.
That is why most exterior painting around Portland happens from late spring through early fall. The summer months are the most dependable, with long dry stretches that give siding time to dry out after washing and give each coat time to cure.
Temperature matters as well as rain. Every paint lists a minimum application temperature on its label, and the surface has to stay above it while the paint dries, including overnight. Morning dew can spoil a coat that was applied too late in the day.
Spring and fall can still work. The key is watching the forecast, starting later in the morning once surfaces have dried, and stopping early enough in the afternoon. Jobs in these seasons simply take more planning and sometimes more days.
Preparation is the part of the job that does not depend on the calendar, and it is what makes paint last through wet winters: washing off dirt, moss and mildew, scraping and sanding failing paint, replacing damaged wood, caulking gaps and priming bare areas.
The dry season fills up, so it pays to ask for an estimate early. Elite Painting Inc paints exteriors across the Portland metro area. Call (503) 330-8754 for a free estimate.