Home Projects in the Heat

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

10 Jul 2008 04:39 PM

Warm weather doesn't mean that you have to put an end to home improvement projects, but the heat can certainly affect anything you are doing yourself, from quality to safety. Here are some guidelines to working in the summer.

While it may not be the most pleasant job in the heat, summer is the perfect time for resealing a driveway. In the Fall or spring you might have to contend with pollen or leaf debris, and the winter is too cold for this project.

Painting can be iffy in the summer. Hight humidity will increase the time that your paint dries, indoors or out. Also, the sun and heat can cause some problems for your paint job. Paint will bubble, blister and crack in direct sun. You also need to be cautious about leaving paint cans in the sun or the heat. The cans can crack, leak or explode. Spray painting on a hot dry day can have the paint dry before it hits the surface, so you need to keep the nozzle close to the surface you are painting (but not so close that it drips).

Asphalt roofing is better done in warm weather than in cold where it can become brittle, but on a hot summer day the asphalt roofing material can research temperatures that are close to the melting point. If this is the case, you could deform the roof by walking on it.

When working with concrete or mortar, you want to make sure that it doesn't dry out too quickly, You might be tempted to add more water to the mix, but that is a bad ideas since it could cause extra shrinkage and cracking. Instead, mix everything in the shade and use a board that has been soaked in water so it won't pull moisture out of the mix.

Take precautions for yourself when doing home improvement projects in the summer. Make sure that you have plenty of ventilation, that you take frequent breaks and drink plenty of liquids.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don't miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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