Paint to go

Climatic conditions in South Africa vary dramatically, from a Mediterranean climate in the country’s southwestern corner, to temperate conditions on the interior plateau, to subtropical in the northeast and desert-like in the northwest. These varying conditions make a difference to how paintwork endures.

The rule of thumb is to paint in the dry season: summer in the Cape (roughly October to May) and winter in Gauteng (April to October). In KwaZulu-Natal the summer humidity makes autumn and winter more suitable times to paint. It’s important to understand this when planning renovations and maintenance schedules.

Plascon imparts practical and sensible advice to those planning on painting exteriors, namely, that it’s best to hold out for that temperate weather – that sweet spot between anything too extreme in terms of heat, cold, wind, rain and storms.

While it may seem like stating the obvious, it is important to sidestep inclement days from a painting perspective. Wind speed presents a challenge if painting a high rise building; similarly, it makes no sense to paint during periods of seasonal rain, unless you’re prepared for the breaks caused by wet weather.

The best modus operandi is for any exterior and/or weather-exposed painting project to be tackled in moderately warm winter. When it’s icy cold, your paint will have its work cut out attempting to adhere to a surface in the way that the technical folk intended; plus, damp from rain and morning dew could cause an undesirable bubble effect.

There are coatings that can help mitigate against some of these factors. Plascon Professional Elastoshield, a flexible, durable and all-round weather-proofing water-based coating, is just one example of the direction in which the high-tech paint industry is moving. 

Special features include interlocking microfibres to cover hairline cracks; a high-build film that protects and weatherproofs exterior walls; a highly elastic coat to withstand repeated weather-dependent contractions and expansions; better-than-average flexibility and elongation when temperatures are cool; and crack resistance at temperatures as low as -5 °C.

This product, while not designed for application over a damp area, is an all-rounder for suitably primed new and previously painted plaster, concrete, exposed plastered walls, window sills, small ledges and the tops of plaster mouldings, plus exposed weather-facing or fair-faced brick walls.

From the Premium Range, select either Plascon Micatex with Weathertough™, for its in-built crack filler and the way its formulation offers sturdy protection across the majority of weather conditions; or Plascon Wall & All, which resists dirt and provides the type of exceptional durability that will help save homeowners the costs of any near-future repaints.

And, while a superior paint product will do the necessary over and above what’s generally expected, planning any painting project with the weather in mind remains a sensible approach.

So before you begin, ask yourself – and your maintenance team – these important questions. Are we experiencing abnormally high temperatures and/or levels of humidity? If so, rather postpone. Is the weather pleasingly mild? If so, go for it!

For more information on Plascon products, visit www.plascon.co.za or email advice@plascon.co.za for paint advice.