Power washing is a good way to remove old lacquer and dirt from your property, providing a clean base for exterior painting. Although you might want to do all the work in one swoop, the professionals at Sharper Edge Painting say there’s a grace period between cleaning surfaces and applying new paint. This will prevent cracks, patches, discoloration, and additional problems when the paint dries. 

Based in Minneapolis, MN, the company is known throughout the area for its high-quality house painting services. Below, the city’s premier residential painting contractor explains a few factors that determine how long to wait between power washing and exterior painting: 

• Moisture Content: Ideally, you should wait three to four days after the power wash before you begin exterior painting. This gives wood, brick, and additional porous materials time to dry. Painting on damp surfaces can lead to a host of problems. For example, if the wood under siding is soaked, the paint will start to bubble. When the siding gets hot, moisture exits the wood, resulting in the imperfections. 
• Weather Conditions: Humidity and frigid temperatures can influence waiting time between washing and painting. These conditions add more moisture to the air, which means it could take longer for surfaces to dry. If you power wash under these conditions, wait until the next dry spell to consider exterior painting. 
• Type of Paint: The type of paint you use should also be taken into account. When adding a fresh coat of latex-based paint to your home or office, you can successfully apply the color to slightly damp surfaces. If you power wash on a dry, sunny day, you should be able to paint within 24 hours. Oil-based paints need to be applied to completely dry surfaces, so you’ll need to wait longer after washing.   

To schedule an appointment for interior or exterior painting or deck staining for your Minneapolis area home, call (612) 850-5973 today. Sharper Edge Painting’s team has the skills, experience, and commitment to customer satisfaction to do a remarkable job. Visit the exterior painters online to see pictures of completed jobs.