Killeen and the base
Killeen became a military boomtown after 1942, when Camp Hood (recommissioned as Fort Hood in 1950) was created as a World War II training base. The humidity figures on this page come from NOAA's engineering weather data for its Fort Hood/Gray AAF station.
Below are the questions homeowners most often ask a painter, with answers that apply here.
How humid does it get, in numbers?
In an average year at Fort Hood/Gray AAF, about 6 miles from Killeen, NOAA counts about 1,309 hours with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F and about 3,373 hours above 67°F. The wet-bulb temperature tracks how much moisture is in the air; the higher it is, the harder it is for water to evaporate, from your skin or from a fresh coat of paint.
Those are station figures, not readings at your house, but they show that muggy hours are a regular part of the year.
Why does my paint stay tacky so long?
Water-based paints dry as the water leaves the film. In humid air that happens more slowly, so a coat that would be ready for recoating by lunchtime on a dry day may still be soft hours later. Cool, still air and poor ventilation make it worse indoors.
What helps:
- Run air conditioning or a dehumidifier in the room, and keep air moving.
- Apply thinner, even coats rather than heavy ones.
- Follow the label's recoat time as a minimum, and add time when the air is sticky.
- Leave doors and windows slightly open while trim cures so they don't stick shut.
Why is my exterior paint blistering?
Blisters usually mean moisture or heat got under the film. Paint applied over a damp surface, or in direct hot sun, can trap water or solvent that later pushes up a bubble. Moisture coming from inside the wall, through a leaking gutter or an open joint, does the same. Cutting a blister open tells you something: water or bare wood underneath points to moisture; another layer of paint points to heat.
The fix is to find and stop the moisture, scrape the blistered area back to sound paint, let it dry, prime and repaint. Our exterior painting page covers the steps.
When is the best time of day to paint outside?
Late morning to mid-afternoon on most days: after any dew has dried and before it returns in the evening. On hot days, follow the shade around the house so you're not painting walls in full sun. Check the label's minimum temperature and its time to be rain-ready, and look at the forecast before starting a side.
Which finish holds up best with kids and pets?
Flat paint hides wall flaws but scuffs and marks easily. A matte or eggshell labeled washable is a common compromise for living rooms and bedrooms. Satin or semi-gloss is tougher for hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, trim and doors. The paint sheens and finishes guide goes through them, and in bathrooms a paint made for high-humidity rooms is worth the cost.
Do I need to prime?
Prime bare wood, new drywall, patched spots, stains, glossy surfaces and big color changes. Sound, clean paint of a similar color often doesn't need it. Our guide to drywall repair and surface preparation explains how.
My house is older. What about lead?
If the house was built before 1978, older layers may contain lead. Under EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in homes, childcare facilities and preschools built before 1978 must hold RRP certification, firms included, even sole proprietorships, and their workers must be trained in lead-safe work practices. You can ask a painter whether their firm holds RRP certification, and how they'll keep dust out of the rest of the house.
How do I compare painters' prices?
Give each painter the same scope and ask for a written proposal listing the surfaces, prep, primer, products and coats. The pricing guide explains what moves the number, and the interior painting page covers indoor work in more depth.