Spring painting

Spring is in the air....some days atleast. We have been lucky to enjoy a few days of nice weather lately. That might get some of you thinking about outdoor projects so I thought I cover a few basics of outdoor painting.
The first thing you need to think about is the temperature. Most exterior paints can be used if the temperature is above 40 degrees. However, you also need to take into account the actual surface temperature of what you are painting. For example, if you are painting a concrete patio, the temperature of the ground (the concrete) might be lower than the air temperature. One other factor that should be taken into account is the dry time of the paint. The temperature must stay above the minimum temperature until the paint is dry. Keep in mind that most dry times are listed at 70 degrees. A cooler temperature will slow the dry time.
Another major factor of spring painting is moisture. Moisture is a leading cause of exterior paint failure in any season. Any bare, porous surface(like wood or concrete) needs to dry for a minimum of two days after being exposed to moisture. The more moisture, the longer the surface should dry.
All this may prompt you to wonder if you can ever paint outside. The answer is yes, you just have to be ready. If you plan to tackle that exterior painting project, just plan an alternate date in case Mother Nature decides to rain on your parade.