What and when are paints and rain safe?
As a painting contractor, your reputation is not just a word, it’s a commitment. Ensuring the job looks impeccable and endures the test of time is not just a task, it’s a responsibility. We understand the need to complete the job promptly, but we also know that rain delays are not an option when it comes to maintaining our professional integrity.
Our customers’ expectations are not just demands; they are a testament to our dedication. We understand the importance of sticking to a tight schedule, not just for us, but for the trust our customers have placed in us.
Furthermore, we are aware that there’s only a limited period when outdoor painting is feasible due to weather conditions. This adds another layer of urgency to our work.
We know we can’t paint when the surface is damp or has a moisture content above 16%, but how long can we paint when rain is expected?
I’ve tested paints from all the prominent manufacturers so that you can have a cheat sheet of a particular paint and when it is safe to paint in the rain.
One Hour & Rain Safe
Two Hours and Rain Safe
No Mercy Test
The test is to apply one coat of paint on Hardboard and wait either 1 or 2 hours, depending on the paint, and then spray it with a hose.
Other factors that can influence a paint being rain-safe.
Humidity can affect drying time. I’ve noted the humidity at the time the paint was tested.
Color – deep base paint colors have a lot more pigment than white base paints or mid-tone base paints. Tint slows down the drying time and can extend the time a paint needs to be rain-safe. In other words, Sherwin-Williams Duration white can rain in as little as 1 hour. However, the same paint in a bright red would take longer.
Wind – will speed up the drying time, while a lack of wind will prolong the drying time.
Substrate – masonry surfaces can quickly absorb paint while surfaces such as vinyl and aluminum siding can take longer. Wood surfaces can also affect the time itt take paints to dry and therefore when they can be rain safe after painting. Rough wood surfaces will dry quicker
Time Table for when paints are rain-safe.
I tested mismatched paint with an assortment of bases. I included the bases because, regardless of the drying time, whatever results you see from a deep base paint, a mid-tone or white base paint would do as good or better, but not necessarily the other way around. In other words, the base of the paint can influence whether paints are rain-safe—the darker, or more brilliant the color, the slower the dry time.
Behr
Ultra-deep base dries to the touch in 14 minutes despite 85% humidity and no wind. Behr Ultra is rain-safe in 60 minutes.
Behr Marquee –
Benjamin Moore
Element Guard – Satin white base paint dried to the touch in 10 minutes with 80% humidity and no wind. Benjamin Moore Element Guard is rain-safe in 60 minutes.
Rhino Cryl – Satin deep base paint dried to the touch in 10 minutes with 80% humidity and no wind. Benjamin Moore Rhino Cryl is rain-safe in 60 minutes.
Ultra Spec – Satin white base paint dried to the touch in 10 minutes with 80% humidity and no wind. Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec is rain-safe in 2 hours.
PPG
Manor Hall Urethane Satin – PPG Manor Hall Exterior mid tone base dried to the touch in 10 minutes when the humidity was 80%. The Manor Hall paint was rain-resistant in 60 minutes.
Sherwin Williams
Superpaint – SuperPaint deep base, dries to the touch in about 15 minutes when the humidity is 90%. After two hours, SuperPaint was rain-safe.
Duration deep base – dries to the touch in 10 minutes when the humidity is 80%. Duration is rain-safe in 60 minutes.
Latitude white base – dries to the touch in 10 minutes when the humidity is 80%. Latitude is rain-safe in 60 minutes.
Take a second and read the labels before you buy the paint. Many of these paints are excellent regardless of their drying time. It wasn’t long ago that paint took 8 hours to be rain-safe, and even then, it was a bit risky.
