for Cold Climate Housing and much more

Last Updated: , Created: Tuesday, April 8th, 2008

Weather Restrictions: Acrylic Latex Paint

Connect to your favourite weather forecaster and look for the following conditions:

 

Category: Finishes     Product: Acrylic Latex Paint

Temperature Limitations: Use above +10 C (+50 F) and below +32 C (+90 F)

Rain Limitations: No rain for 24 hours

Wind Limitations:  low to moderate to avoid too rapid drying

Humidity Limitations: Less than 80% RH

Continuous Conditions: 24 hours

 

Comments: 100% Acrylic Latex paint has become our primary exterior house paint.  Latex paint must not freeze before setting, and must not be applied to a freezing surface.  If it is too hot it will not bond.  That is why it is recommended to paint between +10 and 32 C (+50 & 90F).  Do not paint in direct sunlight.   Too much wind will dry the paint right on the brush, or in the air if using a spray machine.  It takes latex paint about 4 minutes to form a protective skin, about 2 hours to set properly, although it is not fully cured for about one month.  All conditions should be moderate with no rain for 24 hours for a lasting paint job.

Weather limitations on most renovation products can be located on the WEATHER tab above.

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 APPLICATION / INSTALLATION DETAILS

100% Acrylic Latex Paint is probably the most versatile and most used house paint on the market today.

Lead based paint was the standard for most of the 1900's but when lead was found to be toxic and legislation in many areas, particularly California, began to ban solvent based paints, it was the 100% Acrylic Latex paint that was finally developed to give us something as resistant to the sun and the expansion and contraction of outdoor materials as the old lead paint.

Having the right paint is only half the task. Getting it on properly is the other half.

Aside from the weather details listed above, Tustin-Fuchs from Dulux paints puts it well:  "Fall not summer is the best time to paint outdoors.  If it is too hot, the paint can dry to fast leaving brush marks.  In the fall, to guard against potential night-time temperature drops, you should complete painting by mid-afternoon to allow the paint ample time to dry and reduce the chance of early moisture causing condensation on the surface.  Similarly, when starting to paint early in the day, make sure to wipe all surfaces with a rag or towel immediately before painting to remove any moisturwe that may have sttled on the surface overnight, even if it may not be visible."

For cool weather painting, temperature limits vary from manufacturer.  Most say to paint above 10 C (50 F) but some now allow painting all the way down to 2C (35F), under the condition that there is no rain or dew for 4 hours and the temperature does not reach freezing for 24 hours. For painting a second coat, temperature changes the game as well   Generally at 25C (77F) you can paint a second coat in 2 to 4 hours after the first coat.  Below that warm temperature, and right down to 2C, you must wait 24 hours for that second coat, and again not have rain or dew for at least 4 hours and ideally no heavy rain for 24 hours.  Always read the cans carefully. 

By the way, the best way to read that fine print is to snap a photo and then blow the photo up in your cell.  You can do that right in the store without a problem.

One of the cardinal rules of painting to avoid lap marks or colour stripes where your painting efforts overlap is to paint wet-on-wet. The technique to accomplish this when working outdoors is not very intuitive as it doesn't match the way we work on large flat surfaces indoors. Click here for details.

Click here for tips on using brushes.

Can I Paint Over Stain? Remember that you can paint solvent based paints over latex, but a special super adherent primer is necessary to paint latex over Oil or Alkyd Resin paints.

You may need to know Which Paint Is It - Latex or Oil?

And here is specific information on sidings: painting Vinyl & Aluminum Siding and Board & Batten Siding.

Or you may want to know about how to block pine sap from constantly creeping through your finish.

You may need some help in Removing latex paint from hardware.


Keywords: Finishes, Vinyl, Aluminum, Brushes, Primer, Siding, Outdoors, Renovation, Colour, Products, Acrylic, Techniques, House, Paint, Weather

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