How Long Does Exterior Painting Take in Arizona?

Exterior painting in Arizona typically takes 2 to 7 days, depending on home size, prep needs, and weather. With early starts and heat-rated products, professional crews like ProSmart Painting deliver lasting results even in extreme Arizona conditions. Proper timing ensures a flawless finish.

Arizona homeowners face a unique set of challenges when it comes to painting the exterior of their homes, intense sun, rapid heat build-up, HOA repaint demands, and fast-drying conditions that can make or break your finish. Whether you're planning to DIY or hire a crew, knowing the full scope of what impacts your timeline is key.

ProSmart Painting specializes in navigating Arizona’s extremes. From using surface thermometers and premium paints to offering early-morning scheduling that beats the heat, we’ve built a process around results that last.

Want the full breakdown? Keep reading. We’ll cover timelines for DIY vs. pros, weather considerations, common mistakes to avoid, and why our approach delivers better finishes, and fewer callbacks, in the Arizona sun.

It Depends on These 6 Arizona-Specific Factors

If you’re looking for a quick timeline, here’s the truth: it depends. But not in a vague, throwaway kind of way. There are six specific Arizona-based variables that can add, or subtract, days from your exterior paint job.

1. Size and Number of Stories

A smaller one-story home can be knocked out in 2–3 days. Add a second story, custom trim, or textured stucco, and you’re looking at closer to 5–7 days.

2. Amount of Prep Work

Prep is the foundation of a quality paint job. Power washing, scraping, caulking, and masking often take 1–2 full days on their own. Skip it, and you’ll be repainting in a year or two.

3. Crew Size vs. DIY

A crew of 2–3 painters working together can move quickly and keep a wet edge for consistent finish quality. A DIYer, even a capable one, might take twice as long due to limited daylight hours and slower prep.

4. HOA Mandates

Here in Arizona, many homeowners repaint not because they want to, but because they have to. HOAs often enforce strict repaint schedules when color fading becomes visible, especially on sun-facing walls.

5. Surface Types

Stucco, wood siding, brick, composite, you name it, we’ve painted it. Each one demands a different approach, which adds time. Stucco alone requires specific primers and longer dry times.

6. Seasonal Weather

It's about surface temperature. Even when the air reads 85°F, the surface of your home can hit 130°F. We use infrared thermometers to check the wall temperature before applying any product.

How Long It Really Takes (Crew vs. DIY)

With a Professional Crew

Here’s what we typically see on Arizona homes:

• Small 1-story home: 2–3 days

• Medium 2-story home: 3–5 days

• Large or custom home: 5–7 days

Our crews operate with precision. We don’t waste time, but we don’t cut corners either. By starting at 5 a.m. and wrapping up by 11 a.m., we work while surfaces are still within the safe temperature range for proper paint adhesion. If you want professional help, give us a call for immediate assistance.

Doing It Yourself

If you’re thinking of going DIY, plan for 1 to 2 weeks, minimum. And that’s if everything goes right. Arizona’s heat dries paint faster than most homeowners realize, which can lead to:

• Rollers drying mid-application

• Lap lines where the paint overlaps

• Peeling from poor surface bonding

• Lost time due to touch-ups and corrections

And yes, paint can fail even if it looks good at first. We’ve fixed too many DIY jobs where heat caused adhesion issues that didn’t show up for months.

Timing Around the Weather: Arizona’s Unforgiving Heat

We don’t just paint houses, we paint in a climate where a perfect job can be ruined by an extra 30 minutes in the sun. Timing matters more here than in almost any other state.

Best Time to Paint

• Fall (September to November) is ideal, mild temps, minimal wind, low UV index

• Spring (March to May) is also good, though pollen can be a concern

• Summer (June to August) requires strict scheduling and proper materials

Why Summer Is Tricky

Surface temperature matters more than air temp. We’ve measured south-facing stucco walls at 130°F by 11 a.m. That’s why we shut down painting operations early. Even premium paints like Sherwin-Williams Latitude have limits.

Is It Safe to Paint Before Rain?

Yes, if you’re using the right product. Our team uses paints that cure in 24 to 48 hours, meaning light rain after two days won’t wash your investment away. Just don’t guess, read the data sheet or ask a pro.

What Slows You Down: The Hidden Time Traps

Every job has surprises, but in Arizona, there are a few common time-killers that you’ll want to plan around:

• Masking intricate trim or stucco lines

• Power washing and waiting for surfaces to dry

• Discovering wood rot or stucco damage during prep

• Waiting on HOA color approvals

• Working with mixed materials like wood + brick

Some homeowners try to save time by cutting corners in prep. A shortcut today leads to a do-over tomorrow. We’ve had to strip and repaint homes just weeks after someone else finished because the surface wasn’t properly cleaned or primed.

Why Arizona Homeowners Trust ProSmart Painting

We’re Arizona’s exterior painting specialist, and everything about our process was built with this climate, and our clients, in mind.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• No deposits. Period. We don’t take a penny until the job is done and you’re thrilled.

• Infrared Surface Checks. If your wall’s too hot, we wait. We don’t gamble with your investment.

• Undiluted, premium products. We don’t water down paints to save a buck, ever.

• Crew scheduling designed for Arizona. We start early and finish before the heat ruins your finish.

• HOA-savvy and homeowner-friendly. We’ve worked with hundreds of HOAs across the Valley, let us handle the paperwork.

And most of all, we take pride in doing what others won’t, like painting in 100°F weather without compromising quality. How? Because we know how to do it right.

The Right Timing, The Right Crew = Perfect Paint

Your home is your biggest investment, and Arizona doesn’t go easy on it. Between the relentless sun, HOA demands, and the challenges of DIY painting in 110°F weather, it’s easy to underestimate what a quality exterior paint job really takes.

We don’t just show up and slap on paint. We prepare your surfaces the right way. We paint when the conditions are ideal. We use products engineered for this desert. And we back every job with Arizona’s only no-exclusions warranty, because we believe in doing things right.

Whether you're repainting due to HOA pressure, prepping for a sale, or just ready to refresh your curb appeal, trust the team that knows Arizona better than anyone.

Let’s paint your home the right way. Schedule your estimate now.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I know when it’s too hot to paint my house in Arizona?

Don’t go by air temperature alone. Once surface temps exceed 100–110°F, paint may dry too fast to properly adhere. We use infrared thermometers to measure wall temperatures and only apply paint when it’s within the manufacturer’s safe range, usually before 11 a.m.

Can I paint during the monsoon season if I use fast-drying paint?

You can, but it’s risky without professional timing and prep. Fast-drying paints help, but Arizona monsoons bring unpredictable wind and dust that can ruin a finish in seconds. We monitor weather hour by hour and only paint when drying time and conditions are truly safe.

What type of paint works best in extreme Arizona heat?

We recommend heat-rated acrylic latex paints, specifically Sherwin-Williams Latitude, which is rated for temps up to 120°F. These formulas resist blistering, cracking, and fading far better than generic big-box products. Cheaper paints may save you today but will cost you in early repaints.

Is it better to paint in fall, spring, or winter in Arizona?

Fall (September–November) is ideal, moderate temps, low winds, and fewer bugs. Spring is a close second, but pollen can interfere with finishes. Winter painting is possible, but only during midday when temps consistently stay above 50°F.

How long should I wait after power washing before painting?

We recommend waiting 24–48 hours, depending on humidity, surface type, and sun exposure. Stucco and porous materials retain moisture longer, so it’s better to wait than risk trapping water beneath the paint. We always check moisture levels before moving to primer or color.