Possible mistakes when painting with enamels indoors during winter

Winter is not the best time for working with alkyd materials. But if circumstances require urgent painting, it’s better to minimize the inconveniences of working with enamels. How? The experts at “ZIP” will tell you.

What are the specifics of working with enamels in winter?

Alkyd enamels contain substances that have a specific smell and require work to be carried out in a well-ventilated area with respiratory protection. The second point is not an issue at any time of the year, but ventilation is difficult in winter. This is a drawback of working in the cold season. The second factor is drying time. At the recommended temperature of +20°C and humidity of 65%, enamels can take up to a day to dry. In winter, at low temperatures and high humidity, enamel drying takes much longer. That’s why experienced painters recommend not complicating things and doing the work during warmer months. But what if postponing the work is not possible?

• Paint non-residential premises with enamels in winter. After completing all painting work and leaving the area for a few days, you won’t experience any inconvenience.
• If you are painting in a residential house, try to leave for a few days. In poorly ventilated spaces, the specific odor of enamels can linger and irritate residents. In warm seasons with open windows, this problem is not critical, but in winter it becomes much more noticeable. So the best solution is to combine business with pleasure: paint and go visit friends or family.
• What about those who cannot leave their homes? Paint surfaces located outside the living area – for example, exterior window frames or balconies. For other surfaces inside the living space during winter, it’s safer to use water-based enamels – they are odorless and dry quickly.

Tested by experts: quality results are ensured by following a plan. And the best time for painting is just around the corner.