5 Safety Tips for Painting in the Summer Heat
When doing an outdoor project of any kind, you need to be prepared for whatever unseen circumstances may come your way. In the summer months, it is especially important to stay ahead of the game and know how to keep safe and cool. Here are 5 safety tips for outdoor painters.
Wear the right clothing.
Make sure to choose lightweight and loose clothing that breathes really well. Tight clothing will hold the heat from your skin in and can possibly cause you to overheat. Linen and cotton blends are excellent choices for outdoor work. These fabrics wick away sweat very well.
Stay hydrated.
Drinking enough fluids is super important to healthily perform any outdoor task. Adding electrolytes to your water is also helpful in replacing the sodium you lose when you sweat, keeping you hydrated and headache free.
Work in the shade and choose the right time of day.
Mornings or evenings are the best options for working outdoors. Painting in the middle of the day is not only too hot for you, but is often too hot for the paint itself and the surface you are painting. Chasing the shade will help maintain the integrity of the paint and keep you painting!
Take short breaks.
Try to take a five to ten-minute break every hour to rest and drink. Step out of the sun and into the AC. Not only will it keep you cool, but this will keep your energy up throughout the day.
Watch the weather. You want to make sure it’s not too humid or wet outside when you paint. That is a disaster waiting to happen. Wet weather prevents the paint from properly adhering to the surface and can create cracks and peel when the paint dries.
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