Milford chronicle., 1929-04-12
WHEN TO PAINT
IN THE WINTER TIME
By Marie Hulser

It is an erroneous belief that
painting is necessarily seasonal. AS
successful job may often be accom-
plished in winter or summer, as in
the spring or fall. Good results de-
pend, to a large extent, upon GER
tain necessary weather conditions
which are apt to prevail at any time
of the year-and when you take ad-
vantage of these conditions in the
so-caIIed "off seasons" for painting,
it is possible to secure the services
of the best painters who can give
your work their undivided attention.
In the buster seasons it is often diff
ficult, even impossible to secure the
more skillful workmen. Too, be-
cause of the demand on the painters
time. the work is often rushed. I'm
der such circumstances, your WORK
is apt to suffer.
Therefore, if your house is in need
of paint, take advantage of the long
dry spells that occur in the winter
time when the atmosphere is not too
cold for exterior painting. Of course,
the necessary requirements must be
obseryed-such as dry weather,
which will Insure a dry surface. Hhe
thermometer should register at least
thirty-five degrees or over. If it is
colder, the moisture present in the
air condenses on the freshly painted
surface. Although the paint dries
eventually, it's durability and life are
impaired.
Exterior painting should never be
done during rainy weather, or while
the surface is wet. Fog and frost on
fresh paint kill the gloss and cause
washing" New wood that has pre-
yiously absorbed moisture must be
allowed to dry out thoroughly.
Otherwise, the moisture will force It's
way through to the painted surface
and by breaking the bond OF the
paint, cause it to peel.
Good materials will be just as es-
sential to a good paint job as good
workmanship. Inferior paint will
spoil the finished work. 1t does not
last-and it is apt to crack, peel and
discolor. Repainting will be neces-
sary in a short time. Cheap paint
will cost less per gallon, but it costs
more per square foot. A gallon of
good paint will ordinarily cover
from three to five hundred feet (two
coats), whereas an inferior product
cannot approach this standard.
It is unwise, too, to skimp in the
number of coats of paint applied to
your home. Sometimes ne coat is
sufficient, but it is generally agreed
that it is more economical to apply
two coats, say every four years,
than one coat every two years. Two
coats will guarantee a perfect finish
and more complete preservation, In
the end, two coats will be more
economical to you than one in that
it will last longer and look better for
a longer period of time. For an un-
painted house three coats are indis-
pensable.
In repainting a house, The unex-
posed places such as cutters, the
undersides of tin roofs, ETC., should
not be neglected. Because they are
out of sight does not mean that they
are out of the reach of the elements
which cause them to corrode and
decay.
It is naturally much easier to Gre
ate continually favorable conditions
for interior painting. The tempera-
ture, which should average from six
ty to seventy degrees, can be ar
ranged according to necessity, and
there is no danger of interruption
from snow or rain.
1t is to your advantage, then, to
plan your housepaintiny (both inter-
for and exterior) for the painters
dull season. As a rule you will find.
it possible to take advantage of a
favorable temperature and clear
weather for the exterior work and
it is within your own abilities to Gre
ate such circumstances for the in
terror work.