Summer certainly hasn’t waited to raise temperatures, which may mean you find yourself painting in extreme heat. When weather raises high enough temperatures, you need to stay aware of your own safety. Heat exhaustion affects everyone, and can lead to some serious health concerns when not taken seriously.
At Van Tuinen Painting, we make sure our painters stay safe when working in the heat. We have worked on projects in a variety of outdoor conditions. So, we know how to provide exterior painting services, even in extreme weather.
Tips for painting in extreme heat
- Choose work hours wisely: At the end of the day, paint needs to make it to the wall. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t carefully choose when you paint. Temperatures are at their peak during midday and afternoon. So, plan out your painting for the early morning or late afternoon/evening. This should help to reduce the amount of extreme heat you and your paint face.
- Drink plenty of water: While working, you may lose track of time and how often you are drinking water. Staying hydrated is essential to staying cool in the heat. So, make sure to schedule breaks with plenty of water to ensure no one faces dehydration.
- Bring shade on the job: Through setting up a shade tent or canopy, you create a space to assist with cooling down during breaks. Staying out in direct sunlight keeps you much warmer than when you are in the shade. Keep this space by your work area for an easy-to-access cooldown area.
- Dress for the job: By staying in lightweight clothing, you stay cooler for longer. Other types of clothing that work great for outdoor jobs include either loose or breathable clothing. To better protect from direct sunlight, you can also wear long-sleeved shirts or hats.
- Sunscreen protection: High SPF sunscreen helps to prevent sunburn and harmful UV rays. Even days that are hot and cloudy may have a high UV index. When painting outside in the summer, always consider wearing sunscreen for the best protection.
- Utilize cooling accessories: If you need additional ways to stay cool, department stores often carry a variety of cooling accessories for that very purpose. Whether cooling bandanas, towels, or even vests are your preference, each helps to cool you down during excessive heat.
- Don’t overexert yourself: Any physical labor during intense heat quickly leads to exhaustion. Take frequent breaks as necessary to ensure you maintain a healthy amount of energy. This also helps to regulate your internal temperature from rising too high.
- Bring a painting partner: By working with a partner, you both have another person looking after your health. You may not notice signs of heat-related problems on your own. So, by having more than one person working at the same time, you have another pair of eyes to count on to know when to take breaks, keep an eye on the last time you had water, etc.
Van Tuinen Painting always strives to provide safe painting, especially during summer heat waves. If you are working on your own home, keep these tips in mind to stay safe while you paint. And, if you want to avoid any potential risks of painting in extreme heat, contact us and let a team of professional painters do the work for you! We’ll help you beat the heat and provide your home with an unmatched exterior paint job.
