Summer offers the warmest, most reliable painting weather, but it brings its own limits: maximum surface temperatures, afternoon storms and humidity. NOAA normals show July averaging 86.4°F highs and 5.30 inches of rain, so summer painters follow the shade and watch the radar.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precip (in) | Days with 0.10 in+ rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 81.9°F | 59.9°F | 4.40 | 7.2 |
| July | 86.4°F | 64.7°F | 5.30 | 8.0 |
| August | 84.3°F | 62.8°F | 4.56 | 7.1 |
Source: NOAA 1991-2020 normals for Lehigh Valley International Airport. July is the wettest month of the year on average.
Yes. Benjamin Moore lists maximum surface temperatures of 100°F for Aura exterior and its elastomeric, and 90°F for many primers, masonry sealers and Woodluxe stains. Dark siding and south and west walls in direct sun can exceed those even on an 85°F day. Portola says its lime wash should not be applied in direct sun or extreme heat.
Paint applied to a sun-heated wall dries too fast, which can cause lap marks and poor flow, and the surface may be above the product's maximum. Working the east side in the morning and the west side in the afternoon keeps paint on cooler surfaces.
Afternoon thunderstorms can wash off fresh paint. Benjamin Moore lists Aura exterior at 1 hour to dry to the touch and 4 hours to recoat at 77°F and 50% humidity; Woodluxe stains need 48 hours before decks return to service, and its garage floor coating says not to apply if rain is expected within 12 hours. Summer work is planned around the forecast each day.
It can. Every Benjamin Moore data sheet lists dry times at 50% relative humidity and warns that high humidity lengthens dry, recoat and service times. Humid, still summer days can make paint stay soft longer even though it is warm.
Summer is the safest season for the jobs with the strictest temperature floors: alkyd primers on cedar and redwood (50°F), masonry sealers, block filler and elastomeric coatings (50°F), and limewash, which Portola says should not be applied below 55°F. June and September, with average lows of 59.9°F and 55.2°F, give warm nights without July's heaviest rain.
On pre-1978 homes, the EPA rule requires closing doors and windows within 20 feet of exterior work that disturbs paint and covering the ground with sheeting 10 feet beyond the work area. In summer, when neighbors and occupants have windows open, coordinating those closures is part of planning. Wind and storms also make ground containment harder to keep in place.
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:
Local guides with housing-age and climate data: Lafayette College, Easton | St. Luke's Easton Campus | Lehigh University, Bethlehem | SteelStacks, Bethlehem | Wind Creek, Bethlehem | Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest | Dorney Park, South Whitehall.
Morning and late afternoon on surfaces out of direct sun. Benjamin Moore lists a 100°F maximum surface temperature for Aura exterior and 90°F for many primers and stains, and sun-heated walls can exceed that. Following the shade around the house keeps paint flowing and drying evenly.
It is better not to. Direct sun can push surface temperatures above a product's listed maximum and make paint dry too quickly, leaving lap marks. Benjamin Moore's floor coating sheet says not to apply in direct sunlight, and Portola says not to apply its lime wash in direct sun or extreme heat.
It depends on the product and conditions. Benjamin Moore lists Aura exterior as dry to the touch in 1 hour and recoatable in 4 hours at 77°F and 50% humidity, and humidity lengthens those times. Its garage floor coating says not to apply if rain is expected within 12 hours. Summer storms are the main reason crews pause.
Early summer and late summer are good, with dry weather and warm wood. Benjamin Moore's Woodluxe stains are listed from 40°F to 90°F surface temperature, so midday sun on a dark deck can be too hot. Staining in the morning or late afternoon and allowing 48 hours before furniture returns works best.
Sources: NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Lehigh Valley International Airport (USW00014737); Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Exterior Soft Gloss (N632) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Masonry Elastomeric Waterproofing Coating (359) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Water-Based Deck + Siding Solid Stain (694) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Masonry 100% Acrylic Sealer (608) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Fresh Start Deck & Siding Primer (094) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Hi-Build Masonry Block Filler (571) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore INSL-X GarageGuard 1-Part Garage Floor Paint (CG-3XXX) technical data sheet; Portola Paints Lime Wash technical data sheet (rev. 02.28.25); EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart E; Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Water-Based Semi-Transparent Stain + Sealer (692) technical data sheet. Figures checked October 2026.
Licensed PA126039. $1M insured. Free written estimates after an on-site visit.
Book Free Estimate Call (610) 252-1815