Pros to Painting Interior Common Spaces at Your HOA During the Winter

September 30, 2021

When you’re scheduling professional painting services for the common areas of your managed property or HOA , waiting until the winter to do your interior painting can be a great way to avoid the commotion of the rest of the year. It can also make for a smoother project execution that leaves your spaces looking fresh and ready for the warmer months.

Benefits of Waiting Until Winter to Complete Interior Painting

Avoiding High Traffic Times

Painting during the summer can be difficult when people enjoy the season in common areas like clubhouses, pools, and recreational rooms. The transition from summer to fall has its scheduling difficulties as well since people will want to make the most of the end of the warm weather before the cold settles in.

Before you know it, the rush of the holiday season is upon us, which is not an ideal time to section off areas for painting, or worse, having residents, members, or visitors have their festivities dampened by the hazard and smell of wet paint in the hallways.

Interior Painting in the Winter

After the rush of the holidays subsides and winter settles in, activities tend to slow down, and people settle inside for the duration. This is a good time to schedule your property’s interior painting needs, which is actually supported by the cold weather.

The ideal temperature for paint to dry is 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, about the temperature at which buildings are kept in the winter. The lack of temperature variation indoors during this period also supports the painting process since temperature fluctuations in spring and fall, like the heat of summer, can throw off the paint’s curing.

Paint Curing

The paint cures as it dries; it hardens and bonds to the surface it’s applied to, usually needing a full couple of days to dry. When temperatures are too high, the paint will stay wet longer. This gives more time for dust and other particles in the air to stick to the paint, but it also might not dry evenly. The low-humidity air in winter provides a nice, dry environment for the paint.

On the other hand, when temperatures are too low, and paint dries too fast, it won’t adhere to the surface and will easily crack and peel. The right drying atmosphere will result in the longest-lasting application in the best condition.

Painting Services in Rhode Island

Scheduling Painting Services in Winter

Since it’s too cold to do any exterior painting in the winter, take advantage of the slower season by scheduling your interior work with ELCO. A new coat of paint will bring a fresh look to a building’s interior during the darker period of the year when people are inside more and things outside aren’t changing very much.

By painting during the coldest months, you’re also ensuring that the events of the upcoming year will have attractive spaces that welcome the year’s activities with well-maintained interiors. At ELCO , we understand that keeping common areas of your property in the best condition for the residents, members, and visitors is a priority for your management company. ELCO Painting is proud to provide high-quality services to HOA and property management companies in Rhode Island and Southeastern MA. Schedule an interior painting estimate with us today!

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Project Spotlight: Sandblasting a Historic Mill Building in Chelsea, MA

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Like many historic mills in New England , this building carried the weight of decades: peeling paint, dust, grime, and coatings that had long since lost their integrity. Ceilings, brick walls, and wood columns were all hidden beneath layers of paint that dulled the building’s original character. Simply painting over the old surfaces wasn’t an option. To get it ready for renovation, and its next phase of life as modern apartments, the space needed to be stripped back to its bones, restored, and sealed. That’s where our specialized sandblasting services came in. The Process: Sandblasting, Step by Step Sandblasting is as much about precision as it is about power. For this project, we worked floor by floor over three levels, using specialized equipment to remove years of buildup. Protecting the space. Before blasting, we set up containment to control dust and debris, ensuring the process stayed safe and efficient. Stripping surfaces. Using the right abrasive medium and calibrated pressure, we blasted away paint from the ceilings, brick, and wooden support columns. The goal wasn’t to erase history but to reveal it; to uncover the original materials while preserving their integrity. Revealing character. Once stripped, the natural beauty of the brick and timber shone through, showing off the craftsmanship that had been hidden for years. It never gets old!

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By Christine Lekberg • June 30, 2025

When it comes to sprucing up your deck , you’ll eventually run into The Question. You know the one: “Should I stain my deck… or paint it?” It’s a tough call. Both options offer protection. Both can look great. And both come with their own baggage. In this post, we’re unpacking the pros, cons, and all the murky in-between so you can confidently choose the finish that fits your deck and your sanity. No deep YouTube rabbit holes required. The Basics: What’s the Real Difference? Before you can pick sides, you’ve gotta know the players. Stain and paint may both live in the same aisle at the hardware store, but they’re totally different animals when it comes to how they treat your wood. Let’s break down what each one actually does. Staining soaks into the wood, enhancing its natural beauty, letting the wood grain shine through. Painting, on the other hand, coats the surface, covering blemishes and adding color. Want a white deck? Navy blue? Go for it. Just remember: you’re covering the wood grain entirely. Durability: Does Paint or Stain Last Longer On a Deck? Let’s not sugarcoat it: paint is more durable, especially the high-quality exterior kind. It forms a thick barrier that helps repel UV rays, moisture, and other deck-destroying villains. Stain isn’t as robust, but it’s no slouch either. Oil-based stains offer solid protection and tend to wear away gradually, which sounds bad, but it’s actually easier to manage. So who wins? If your deck gets a lot of sun or moisture, paint does last longer. But that doesn’t mean it’s always the better choice…

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