Where Michigan City sits, and the figures used here
The county seat of La Porte County is La Porte, and Michigan City is described as the largest city in La Porte County. The weather figures on this page are the ones NOAA lists for South Bend, as the fact below names them. In an average year at South Bend, about 35 miles from Michigan City, NOAA counts about 294 hours with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F and about 1,110 hours above 67°F.
Wet-bulb temperature combines heat and moisture in the air. Hours with a high wet-bulb reading are muggy hours. Moist air slows how fast water leaves a fresh coat of latex paint, which affects when the next coat can go on and how soon a surface can be touched. Below is a surface-by-surface look at what to ask for.
Body siding
Siding takes sun, wind and rain over the largest area of the house. A good acrylic exterior paint, applied over a clean, sound and primed surface, is the common base. Sheen is a balance: flatter finishes hide surface flaws in old clapboards, while a satin sheds dirt more readily. On muggy days, ask the painter how long they wait before a second coat, and how they keep dew off fresh paint late in the afternoon.
Trim and fascia
Trim is where water collects and where paint is most visible. Semi-gloss or gloss trim paint is easier to clean and sheds water. Before painting, joints should be caulked and bare spots primed. Fascia boards behind gutters often hide rot; ask whether the crew will probe and replace soft wood before painting.
Entry doors
A front door takes hands, keys and sun. Doors are usually painted in a harder enamel, sometimes taken off and painted flat. A door painted on a humid day may feel dry and still be soft enough to stick to weatherstripping overnight; ask how they'll handle that.
Porches and steps
Painted porch floors need a floor paint made for foot traffic. They're slippery when wet unless a texture additive is used. Porch ceilings are often painted in a flat or satin finish. Rails and balusters take time because of their many sides; that shows up in the labor.
Interior walls and ceilings
Inside, the humid hours matter less once the house is closed up and the air conditioning or heat is running. Walls are usually done in eggshell or satin for washability; ceilings in flat. See our guide to paint sheens and finishes for the tradeoffs.
Bathrooms and laundry rooms
These rooms make their own humidity. Look for a paint labeled for high-moisture rooms, and clean any mildew before painting. A crew should also leave the fan running or a window cracked while the paint dries.
Indiana's statement, and one practical step
Indiana's Business Owner's Guide says the only construction contractors the State of Indiana licenses are plumbers; licensing for other contractors is a local option. That's the State's wording; we don't extend it. The practical step is a written proposal naming every surface, its preparation and the product and sheen for each, so you can compare bids on substance.
Your short list of product questions
- What product and sheen for siding, trim, doors and floors?
- What primer goes where, and why?
- How long between coats on a muggy day?
- Will doors be removed or painted in place?
- What does the label say about temperature and dew?