Even on the oldest homes, when a new paint job is done, the house seems to breathe new air. In temperate climates, it’s easy to add fresh paint to the outside of a house, to a fence, or to the walls inside, but when you’re in a tropical climate like Thailand’s, paint jobs can get a little tricky.
While the ideal temperature for painting is 21 degrees with humidity around 50%, the hot weather, humidity and monsoon-style rains that frequent Thailand’s atmosphere don’t usually allow for those kind of conditions. This does not mean that you should let your house slowly deteriorate in front of your eyes or neglect to groom it ever few years. You should still paint! Just know these things first:
Picking the right paint
The paint that you buy in Thailand will generally be suitable for the local weather, however it is important to check that the paint you are using is mostly latex or water-based. The right paint will allow for consistent evaporation so the colour will be even and flat.
Check the forecast
This may sound obvious, however in tropical climates where the weather is generally consistent on a daily basis, it may not be so obvious to check the forecast for the following week before you begin painting. You do not want all of your hard work to get washed away or dirty in a monsoon that happens two days after you’ve finished the job. Rains that come too soon after the paint job may also cause the paint to splash onto other items that you don’t want to match your house. If there’s even a chance of rain, you may want to consider delaying your plans or investing in a very large tarp to go over the painted area.
Save it for January
From December to February, the weather in Thailand is dry and less hot than the rest of the year. If you can plan for it, this is the best time to paint your house in Thailand. Not only does it not rain much during these months, but they’re less humid which means less drying time.
Stay safe and healthy
When you are painting outside in Thailand, you can become dehydrated in the heat. Make sure you’ve got lots of water accessible to you before you begin. Muscle strains are also common to a dehydrated body.
Ladders are often needed for painting, but not all ladders are created equal. You may need multiple ones to reach certain areas, and it’s not safe to use a ladder that’s too tall or too short and this could lead you to stretch and lose balance. Ladders might also become slippery in wet weather, which can lead to serious injuries from falling. Make sure that if you are using a ladder it’s properly positioned, secure and dry.
Wear sunscreen, as working with a sunburn will be most uncomfortable. It’s especially important to do when you’re painting a house because you may need to climb on the roof to reach areas of the building. Wear protective clothing when you do, because roofing is very hot in the sun and minor burns can result from contact.