Spray Painting Tips For Humid Weather

Regardless of what material you are spray painting, you want to make sure it comes out looking amazing and the finish is nice and smooth. You should be able to show off your work and be proud of what you accomplished, not try to hide it because you didn’t follow a few simple precautions to make sure your spray painting job turned out the way you wanted. It doesn’t matter what technique you are using. The key is following these simple spray painting tips below to make sure you end up with the results you desire in the shortest amount of time possible.

Spray Painting In Humid Weather

Spray painting in general needs to done correctly, but what happens when the weather is humid and the job still needs to get done? It is important to realize what kind of humidity you are faced with. Mild to moderate, excessively low or high humidity, all of these temperatures will affect the overall quality of your paintwork.

Spray painting in relative humidity means you would be painting when the humidity is for example at 33% then the air is approximately one third full. Same goes if the relative humidity is 100%, then the air is completed saturated. Ideally, the best time to spray paint is when the relative humidity is between 40-50%. High humidity can be very problematic because as the humidity rises,the longer it will take for the paint to dry. With that in mind, when the humidity is under control follow the steps below to get a good spray paint job done.

Maintain A Clean Surface

Before you can begin spray painting, you need to make sure the surface that you are planning on spray painting is clean and dry. Typically, all you need are some mineral spirits or household detergents to clean the surface of your item. You want to go through any hard or glossy surfaces and scrape or sand the surface down to help improve the adhesion of the paint. If at all possible, use a primer. A wire brush works great for removing the rust from the surface.

Apply The Paint During Proper Weather Conditions

When spray painting your vehicle, you need to make sure you are doing so during the right weather conditions. Aim for anywhere between 50-90 degrees Fahrenheit when applying the spray paint. Humidity levels should be anywhere from 85 percent or less. If the humidity is too high, it will make it difficult for the paint to stick to the surface of what you are painting. Don’t paint in direct sunlight and during extremely hot and humid weather conditions. The drier the weather is outside, the better it is going to be for you.

Pay Attention To Recoating Times

Many people want to apply a second coat to their surface to help improve the color and overall appearance of their walls or anything else they are painting. If you are going to apply a second coat, you need to check on the can to determine what the manufacturer recommends. Recoating time is going to vary from one manufacturer to another. You don’t want to apply the second coat too quickly or it could end up causing more problems for the surface of the wall.

Test The Paint And Technique Beforehand

When painting any surface, you want to make sure you are using smooth, even strokes. You don’t want to apply a lot of paint in one area. If you do, it will end up causing a large bubble to form that is going to look extremely unsightly. Test another area before you begin working on the main project.

Motion Is Important

Many people don’t realize how important their motion is to the overall results of their painting job. Use an even motion from one side to the other. Each pass should end up overlapping the pass before it by about one-third. This will prevent any spots not having color and ensure you get a nice, even finish when all is said and done.

Don’t Rush The Process

Regardless of how quickly you might want to get the project done, you need to take your time to make sure the job is done right. You are better off using multiple coats of a thinner paint than you are using one coat that is extremely thick. While you might think you are saving time using a thicker coat, the surface isn’t going to look nearly as good as it would if you were to use a couple of thinner coats. Drying time will also be far less as well.

By following these simple spray painting tips above, you can save yourself a lot of stress and hassle. In the event you don’t want to take the time to go through everything on your own, you can always turn to a professional painter to come in and get the job done for you.