The monsoon season in Arizona is wet and active. In 2021, nearly 8 inches of rain fell, along with more than 2.3 million lightning strikes. The monsoon runs from June 15th through September 30th, according to the National Weather Service. While there are often dry spells during the season, the weather can be unpredictable. Besides intense rains, dust storms called haboobs can kick up and reduce visibility to nearly zero.
All of these conditions are poor for commercial painting in Phoenix AZ.
Rain and Paint Do Not Mix Well
Rain can wash the paint away before it has time to dry. Even if it feels dry to the touch, it can still wash off. Wet surfaces also do not provide for proper adherence, which can cause problems during the curing process, and the paint will wear quickly.
If you paint on a wet surface, you risk mold and mildew growing beneath the finish. If you paint on a wood surface, moisture can make it swell. This can lead to cracks or chips in the coating.
Even light rains can cause paint to run and spread to other parts of your commercial building and just plain make a mess.
If it is dry when you paint, but rains right afterward, you can also have problems. Because of the unpredictable weather conditions during the monsoon season, you may not have enough time for the paint to dry completely. This can quickly ruin a paint job and force you to repaint.
When the humidity hits, or there is moisture in the air, the water in the paint may not evaporate more quickly than the solvents. This can lead to poor bonding, uneven finishes, or inconsistent texture. High humidity also requires thinner coats of paint to be applied to make sure they dry properly. This likely means it will take additional coats and more time to complete.
Dust Storms Can Cause Problems Too
Haboobs can bring exceptionally high winds and lots of dust and debris. You do not want to paint when it is very windy since it increases the chances of overspray or literally blowing the paint away before it has time to dry. At the same time, the dust and sand can get mixed into the paint and create a rough, uneven, and less-than-beautiful result.
Monsoons Can Be Dangerous
Besides painting problems, working outdoors during rain, thunderstorms, or wind storms can be dangerous. Slippery surfaces increase the odds of accidents even if safety procedures are followed. Crews will not be able to work in dust storms or when lightning is present.
Monsoons Can Also Impact Interior Commercial Painting
It is not just exterior commercial painting in Phoenix AZ that is impacted by monsoons. While you can do interior painting when it is raining outside, you do have to be careful.
Interior painting requires proper ventilation. This may be challenging when it is raining outside or there are high winds. During dust storms, it is hard enough to keep the dust from coming into your building. If crews need to enter and exit regularly or open windows or doors for ventilation, this can create a mess.
Protecting the inside from the outside may require additional work, which can increase the time it takes to complete the job and may impact the cost.
The Best Time for Commercial Painting in Phoenix AZ
Your best bet is to schedule your Phoenix Arizona commercial painting project before the monsoon season starts. While you may get lucky and find windows between mid-June and the end of September when the weather holds so that you can get the work done, you are taking a risk.
Fortunately, in Arizona, we have warm temperatures almost all year-round. Even if you avoid monsoon season altogether, you still have eight and a half months of the year to get your commercial painting work scheduled.
Work with Experienced Commercial Painting Contractors
No matter what time of year you choose to schedule commercial painting in Phoenix AZ, always make sure you choose experienced commercial painters. Experience teaches you when you should and when you should not paint and how to work around poor weather conditions.
At Ghaster Painting & Coatings, we have 50+ years of experience handling some of the toughest commercial painting projects in Arizona.
If possible, you want to plan your commercial painting job before the monsoons strike. However, if you need to schedule your paint job during monsoon season, we can work with you to figure out the best way to get it done.
For professional, efficient, safe, and affordable commercial painting in Phoenix AZ, contact the commercial painting pros at Ghaster Painting & Coatings today.
