When you are residential or commercial painting in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, you can get overheated very quickly due to the heat and humidity. Exterior painting can take its toll on you, and you need to be conscientious of your surroundings and how you are handling the heat. In this short guide, you will be informed of the top four ways to cope with painting outdoors in the heat.
- Drink plenty of water
The most imperative rule when dealing with exterior painting in the heat is to stay hydrated. Residential or commercial painting of a building is hard work, and it takes a long time to complete. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, as you will be sweating when you are in the hot and humid weather. It may also assist you to have a helper that is constantly coming to refill your water for you. When working, especially in a hot environment, your focus is to get the job done quickly, and you may forget to be drinking. If you have an assistant that is filling up your water jug, you can stay hydrated and alert to finish the job. In addition, if you are sweating, it may be beneficial to drink a liquid with electrolytes in it to replace some of the minerals you are losing through your sweat.
- Apply sunscreen
The next most essential tip in coping with exterior painting in the heat is to wear sunscreen. Even if you are not directly in the sunlight, you can be burned. If you think the tree cover is enough to keep you from burning, you are wrong. UV light can still reach you, and if you have no sunscreen on, you will burn and may not realize it until later that evening. Always wear sunscreen when outdoors.
- Take needed breaks
Another important point when painting outdoors in the heat is to take a break when needed. Your body knows best, and if you are feeling fatigued, sluggish, nauseated, or are no longer sweating anymore, you could be suffering from heat exhaustion. It is pertinent you get indoors to cool air conditioning immediately. If you do not have the knowledge or the time to complete residential or commercial painting on your own, it may be wise to seek help from a professional handyman or painting company. Just like with HVAC maintenance, roofing fixes, power washing, cleaning of the gutters, simple remodeling, and chimney repairs, make sure to investigate the company thoroughly to determine if they are respectable, accountable and insured before hiring them to perform any work for you!
- Wear comfortable and breathable clothing
The last essential way to cope with painting outdoors in the heat is to wear breathable and comfortable clothing. Make sure it is light in color and can absorb and wick away your sweat to help keep you cool. You also want to ensure the clothing is not too baggy to catch on items when you are up on a ladder performing exterior painting. The last thing you want is to experience an injury from falling.
As you can see, there are multiple items to be aware of when performing residential or commercial painting in Cincinnati heat. Whether it is water intake, applying sunscreen, or resting as needed, you need to be aware of what your body is telling you. If you follow our advice on the top four ways to cope with exterior painting in the heat, you will not only have a beautiful new color on your house, but you will be hydrated and safe as well!