In our line of work, winter represents a period of time when some of our most ambitious and technical projects are undertaken. This is mostly due to the fact that poor weather hinders most exterior restorations, meaning that the professionals at Atlas Painting & Restorations Ltd. end up tackling indoor tasks such as fixing up concrete parking garages or doing detail work on prized heritage sites such as Vancouver’s Christ Church Cathedral.
When spring rolls around however, we wheel our business in a different direction, instead focusing on exterior maintenance and repairs for properties throughout the lower mainland. One of our premier services revolves around exterior painting, a way of adding freshness and colour to commercial and residential buildings just in time for the sunny season. Although we have compiled a decent list of chores and tasks that we recommend our readers undertake when spring arrives, we usually advocate tackling paint jobs before anything else. Why you ask? It is because these projects are typically the largest and most time consuming elements of any seasonal restorative practice. By handling exterior painting first the rest of the chores seem considerably easier.
Working outside during this time period is generally quite pleasant (aside from the occasional ‘Vancouver signature’ rain shower), and also gives you plenty of time to take care of any yard work, such as trampled plants or unwanted mud patches, prior to the summer season, when you will want your yard to offer its highest level of aesthetic appeal. Simply put, the summer should be for gardening, barbeques, and frolicking in the sun, not painting!
Furthermore, by painting during the spring, you can work towards other types of essential maintenance. Applying a coating to every part of the exterior of a property will help one expose and assess pieces of structural damage that could result in the aftermath of the wet season. Things such as rotting wood, mold and mildew, or ingrown vines can all jeopardize the structural integrity of your building, and should certainly be addressed immediately. Taking care of these issues is something that should always precede the painting process, of course.
Something that many people aren’t aware of are the underlying conditions required for a painted surface to dry in a equitable fashion. The hot, dry conditions of summertime can lead to coatings drying up too quickly, leading to unsightly cracks and eddies and generally poor paint film formation. This is another reason why spring is a preferred season for this variety of maintenance, as the more moderate weather will ensure higher quality outcomes. Windy conditions are another thing to watch out for, as dust particles picked up by ensuing gusts can irrevocably damage fresh coatings.
Our years of experience in the restoration field has taught Atlas Painting & Restorations Lt. that springtime is certainly the best season to undergo any sort of ambitious exterior painting project. The moderate weather conditions, combined with the ongoing need to perform other types of property maintenance, certainly offer the perfect window of opportunity for any homeowner. If you are looking to freshen up your property, whether it is commercial or residential, just in time for the summer months, or simply feel that a painting project is beyond your capabilities, then feel free to give us a shout, and we can offer a free quote!
