Exterior paint costs in Bakersfield

Bakersfield sees so little rain, about six inches in a normal year, that weather rarely stops a paint job here. Heat does. Highs near 99°F are normal for July and near 97°F for August, and even a July night only cools to about 69°F.

One paint maker's guidance lists what makes exterior latex dry too fast to form a good film: air above 95°F, bright direct sun (worse with dark colors), very low humidity, wind and a hot surface. It says to avoid more than two or three of those at once. On a July afternoon here, most of that list shows up together.

That's why a careful crew starts early, works the shady side of the house when the sun is high, and keeps the west wall for the morning. A dark body color makes that timing matter even more.

Most homes here are young: close to six in ten are 1980 or newer, and about three in ten went up after 2000. For many owners, the real question is timing: getting a good coat on during the right hours.

If you can choose, April and October are the sweet spots, with highs near 76°F and 80°F and nights close to or above 50°F.