Fall Exterior Painting in the Lehigh Valley: A Guide

How Do Fall Temperatures Change Month to Month?

Month	Avg high	Avg low	Precip (in)	Days with 0.10 in+ rain
September	77.4°F	55.2°F	4.84	6.5
October	65.5°F	43.8°F	4.14	6.2
November	53.8°F	34.1°F	3.24	5.7

Source: NOAA 1991-2020 normals for Lehigh Valley International Airport. The median first 36°F night is October 12, the median first freeze is October 24, and the median first 28°F night is November 4. Fall averages 18 nights at or below freezing across September through November.

Which Fall Jobs Need the Most Warmth?

Anything with an alkyd primer or masonry product. Benjamin Moore lists 50°F minimums for its Fresh Start Deck and Siding Primer (used on cedar and redwood), its masonry sealer and high-build masonry primer, its block filler and its elastomeric coating. October's 43.8°F average low means those steps need mid-day scheduling and a warm forecast, or they move to spring.

What Can Still Be Done in Late Fall?

Topcoats with lower floors. Benjamin Moore's current Aura exterior sheet and Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior are rated down to 35°F, and Woodluxe water-based stains to 40°F. Siding that only needs a repaint over sound, previously painted surfaces is the most fall-friendly job.

Why Is Dew a Problem in Fall?

Long, cool nights leave walls wet in the morning, and paint makers require dry surfaces. Benjamin Moore's floor coating sheet, for example, says not to apply within 5°F of the dew point. Fall painting days start later, after the sun has dried the walls, and stop early enough that paint can dry before evening dew. Benjamin Moore also warns that cool, humid conditions lengthen dry and recoat times.

How Should Fall Prep Differ?

Gutters and leaves come first, since falling leaves stick to fresh paint and clogged gutters overflow onto siding. Washing has a temperature limit too: Benjamin Moore's Woodluxe cleaner should not be applied below 50°F. Allow longer drying after washing, because cool air dries siding slowly.

What Should Be Finished Before the First Freeze?

Anything that leaves bare wood or exposed masonry. Primed or scraped wood left unpainted through winter absorbs moisture and can need re-priming in spring. If a job cannot be finished before nights fall below the products' minimums, it is better to complete whole walls, including topcoats, and leave untouched walls for spring than to leave several walls primed but unfinished.

Where Do We Provide This Service?

Joseph Assise III Painting is based in Easton and serves towns across eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey, centered on the Lehigh Valley. Town pages:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it too late to paint my house in October?

Not necessarily. October's NOAA average high is 65.5°F, so many days are warm enough for 35°F-rated topcoats such as Benjamin Moore Aura exterior or Sherwin-Williams Duration. Primers and masonry products that need 50°F are harder, since the average low is 43.8°F and the median first freeze is October 24. Plan mid-day work and watch the 48-hour forecast.

Can you paint outside in November in Pennsylvania?

Rarely. NOAA normals for Lehigh Valley International Airport put the November average low at 34.1°F and the average high at 53.8°F, and the median first 28°F night is November 4. A topcoat rated to 35°F might be possible on a mild, dry afternoon, but primers and masonry products needing 50°F generally wait for spring.

How long should paint dry before a frost?

Paint needs to stay above its minimum temperature while it dries, and cool, humid conditions slow drying. Benjamin Moore lists 4 hours to recoat Aura exterior at 77°F and 50% humidity, and says lower temperatures lengthen dry and service times. In fall, finish painting early enough in the day that the coating can set before temperatures drop and dew forms.

Should I wait until spring to paint?

If the job needs cedar primer, masonry sealer or extensive scraping and priming of bare wood, spring or summer is safer because those products need 50°F. A straightforward repaint over sound paint can often be done in September or early October. The forecast, not the calendar, decides each day.

Fall Exterior Painting Guide