Are you longing for a new look in your home, but aren’t sure if it’s okay to paint inside in the winter? We hear a lot of concerns about indoor painting when the weather starts to turn. Clients want to freshen up walls or finish overdue projects, but they have questions: Is it safe? Will the paint dry properly? Are you even open in the winter?
We’re answering your top questions about indoor painting when the temps drop so you can decide for yourself if you want your interior glow-up now … or want to wait until the spring. Let’s get started!
1. Is it safe to paint indoors in winter?
Yes, it is entirely possible to paint your home interiors safely in the winter. However, that safety depends on several factors:
- Type of Paint: Modern interior paint formulas are designed to be safer than their predecessors, with almost all brands offering a low-VOC or zero-VOC option. VOCs are volatile organic compounds — gasses that evaporate from liquids like paint. We have a really helpful breakdown of the ingredients in your paint here. Low-VOC and zero-VOC ensure you can actually be in your house while the paint is drying without worrying about harmful chemicals impacting your air quality.
Ventilation: Speaking of air quality, it’s still a good idea to keep the painted area ventilated. Think of this step as an abundance of caution. We encourage homeowners to crack a window or turn on fans to improve airflow. And, while interior paints are not nearly as smelly as they used to be, there will be a little odor that ventilation can help dispel. - Temperature: Climate control is important. Painting the interior of a vacant house without heat is not going to yield the best results for the longevity and appearance of your paint. Fortunately for homeowners, the ideal temperatures for interior painting tend to align with the ideal temps for human comfort — 60-75 degrees.
Ventilation: Speaking of air quality, it’s still a good idea to keep the painted area ventilated. Think of this step as an abundance of caution. We encourage homeowners to crack a window or turn on fans to improve airflow. And, while interior paints are not nearly as smelly as they used to be, there will be a little odor that ventilation can help dispel. It’s worth noting that even if your selected paint is not specifically designated as low/no VOC, most new formulas are still well below the government-allowed number of 250 grams per leader. AMC Painting uses Sherwin-Williams brand paints, which tend to have low VOC across their interior latex brands and use ColorCast Eco Toners to avoid introducing more VOCs to the existing formula.
You can check out if a paint is ultra safe by checking the UL GREENGUARD Certification here.
2. Will interior paint dry properly during the winter months?
Yes, interior paint will dry properly if you paint during the winter months. The key is to maintain your home’s regular climate control. Keep the temperature over 60 degrees and under 85 degrees. If you can manage that, you’re doing great for ensuring a beautiful final product.
One cool fact you may not know is that winter painting can speed up and support a more effective curing process. Meaning, your paint may dry faster and adhere better. That’s because winters are typically very dry and a dry climate helps moisture evaporate from your paint faster. That brings up another important tip. If you use a humidifier for those dry winter months, you’ll want to turn it off while your walls are being painted and during the initial curing process.
3. Do painting companies work in the winter?
We don’t know about other painting companies, but AMC Painting keeps on trucking all winter long. We do slow down on exterior painting, but we complete quite a few interior projects between November and March. One thing that many home and business owners may not know is how much easier it is to get the dates and times you need when booking outside of peak scheduling.
Because so many people think you can’t paint in the winter, they tend to wait for warmer months. That means you can flex your newfound insider knowledge to book an ideal time based on your schedule. Once the warmer weather sets in, finding the right timing can get a bit more competitive. Exterior painting projects begin to pick back up, taking up more of your potential time slots. Another benefit is that our clients’ schedules tend to be a lot easier in the winter months, too. Instead of giving up a warm, sunny day to sit inside and watch paint dry, you can snuggle up with hot tea and your favorite streaming service.
Be sure to check for sales or discounts in the quieter season. We offer our customers winter specials and early bird discounts for booking in the “off” season. You may be able to save money and get a fresh new look.
4. Why doesn’t everyone book in the winter if it’s so much easier?
While we can’t answer for every one of our customers, what we can say is that most people just don’t know it’s actually doable. Legitimate concerns about air quality, curing and timing keep them from making the call. That’s why we take time to share just how easy it is to book, paint and get on with your life, even when the temperatures outside are more frigid than fun.
For Maximum Chill, Book Interior Painting in the Winter!
There’s really no reason not to paint your home interiors in the winter. Safer paint formulas take the fears about air quality out of the equation, climate control and dry winter weather offer premium curing conditions and, on top of those two benefits, you’ll also have plenty of appointments to choose from.
If you’re interested in booking a winter painting project with AMC Painting, give us a call! We offer complimentary estimates so you know what to expect, from cost and timing to materials and paint colors.
