Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

July, 2005

Painting Acrylic Emulsion in Rainy Seasons

Q. Can acrylic emulsion paint be applied on walls during the rainy season . Are there any disadvantages of the same?

A. You can apply acrylic emulsions during the rainy seasons, BUT you should not apply them when the humidity is high. There is a difference! The humidity during the rainy season is not always high, and high humidity occurs even on non-rainy days. The goal is to apply the acrylic emulsion on a day when the water in the coating can evaporate before the cosolvent in the coating. On humid days the cosolvent might evaporate before the water can get out, and this will lead to an improperly cured coating. On dry days the water evaporates faster than the cosolvent, and this is good. If you absolutely need to apply the acrylic emulsion on a humid day, then blow lots and lots of air over the surface, using fans or blowers, to speed up the evaporation of the water.

Best wishes,

Ron Joseph