Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1929-05-24
SUMMER is A GOOD TIME TO
PAINT
Mary Allen

Mary Alien
Many home owners don't wake up
to the fact that their property needs
repainting until the pitiless glare of
the summer sun reveals its neglect
ed appearance. Then, through the
mistaken idea that early spring and
fall are the only seasons for paint
ing they put off the job until Sep
TENDER. Meanwhile, the house is
left unprotected for several months
longer, not to speak of the incon-
gruous effect which it presents
against the fresh green landscape.
And when fall comes, the painter is
rushed with work-which means
several weeks more added to this
period of neglect. Such procrasti-
nation often costs the owner money.
Wood that needs paint is sure to de-
cay, metal that is devoid of pro-
tective coat is bound to rust. Tin
roofs will leak sooner or later I'M
less they are systematically painted.
In fact, many dollars which are
spent for repairs could easily be
saved by a little forethought.
When you come to think the mat
ter over, summer really has a great
many advantages as a painting sea-
son. Since this is a dull period for
the painter, he is not forced to hurry
the job through and with plenty of
time for attention to every detail,
his work is generally more satisfac-
tory. Good workmanship is just as
important as good paint, for a house
that is carelessly painted not only
presents an unattractive appearance
but soon needs repainting. In fact,
such a job as this is an actual mon
etary loss in more ways than one.
Unless every part of the exterior is
adequately protected by paint, the
house soon begins to suffer from
the ravaging effects of the sun and
the rain, with a consequent depreci-
alton in market value.
As for the claim that the weather
is likely to be more suitable for
painting in spring and fall-there
are always just as many clear days
in June and July as there are in
April and September. If the wea-
Their is not propitious, the job may
be postponed a few days until it
clears-but in the busy seasons this
may mean a conflict with the next
home owner on the painters sched-
ule. Dampness, of course, is the
greatest enemy of paint. 1t destroys
the gloss and is apt to cause wash
ing' or peeling. The ideal condi-
lions for painting are bright, clear
weather and a temperature of 40 de-
grees or over, and these features are
always to be found throughout the
summer.
And summer is just as desirable
a time for freshening up the inter-
ior as it is for repainting the ex- !
terror. The warm months bring
greater leisure for the home owner
as well as for the painter. Spring
cleaning is over, Housekeeping du-
ties are less exacting and there is a .
general let-down of social activities. .
Then, too, the inside of the house is ,
often deserted all day and some F
times even at night. The whole
family congregates on the porch; /
meals are served out of doors, and /
sleeping quarters are often trans
ferred to this outdoor living room. !
Even the porchless house is more
conveniently renovated at tnlS Time
of the year, for there is always a
period when some member of the
family is absent on vacation. This
means that the vacated bedroom
may be done over without disturb
ance or that it may be used by some
one else while on of the other bed ;
rooms is being painted.
But when fall comes, indoor act1v-
tiles start up once more. Summer
hangings must be taken down and
put away, the children's school
clothes need looking over, the usual
round of entertaining begins-ln /
fact, this is a very busy time for the
housewife, and to have the walls and
woodwork reprinted, or the floors
renovated, amid all this whirl and
hustle, is sure to be upsetting.
So, if you want careful workman
Ship and a job that will last-if you
would cut down the painting bill and
reduce the cost of repairs-summer
is a good time to paint. Then you
can face the strenuous fall season
with an easy conscience, secure in
the knowledge that, for once, you
are ahead of the game.