Stay Safe, Even as the Temperature Rises

When working on your house in hot weather, take these precautions to protect your health and get better results.

· Keep your cool. Working in the heat puts stress on the body's cooling system. When heat is combined with other stresses -- such as hard physical work, loss of fluids and fatigue -- it may lead to heat-related illness or even death.

People older than 40 need to take extra care when the weather is hot, because the ability to sweat declines with age. However, heat stress can also affect individuals who are young and fit.

Water is crucial to helping the body adjust to high temperatures. The rate of water intake must equal the increased rate of water loss by perspiration to keep body temperature normal. When it's hot, drink plenty of water.

· Paint with care. Your painting project can turn into a disaster if the weather is too hot or humid. Most exterior paint is formulated to perform best when applied at temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees.

Any hotter, and the proper formation of the paint film can be seriously affected. Pinholing (tiny surface craters) can occur during application, and direct sun on fresh paint can cause the film to blister. In addition, when the temperature of the surface is above 80 degrees, it can significantly affect the drying and curing process. Lap marks may result when the coating is applied to a hot surface.

Wait until it cools down in the evening. If you're working indoors, run the air conditioner.

· Work quickly with concrete. Concrete is also affected by temperature -- too hot and it dries with cracks; too cold and it takes forever to set. Most small concrete projects should be poured when temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees. The concrete will begin to set up in a reasonable time but not before you have a chance to touch it up.

Wet all shaping forms and substrate just before you pour in the concrete. This will reduce the rate of evaporation from the concrete mix.