Paint Manual - Dove-Medows Marine Coatings Ltd

Temperature and humidity
Our paints are very tolerant to varying
conditions. The drying/curing and
re-coating times we give in this guide
are (unless otherwise stated) based
on:
• temperatures of 10 o C and 20 o C
• relative humidity (RH) of 60–65%
• a well ventilated working area.
Temperature
You may need to adjust these drying/
curing times depending on the
conditions. As a guide:
• double drying/curing times for
a drop of 10 o C
• halve drying/curing times for
a rise of 10 o C
• adjust accordingly between
these temperatures.
Remember that paint properties
change with temperature variation.
At lower temperatures, paint thickens
so may need thinning. Always note
correct/maximum thinner ratios,
and take care not to add more than
is recommended.
Avoid painting above recommended
maximum temperatures, as the faster
drying/curing rates reduce the paint’s
flowing properties, and this can result
in visible application marks. This can
also happen if you paint in direct
sunlight, where the surface has a
much higher temperature than the
surrounding (ambient) temperature.
Check minimum application
temperature of the paint you are
using as the paint will not cure below
it, resulting in poor film formation,
poor adhesion between coats and
unsatisfactory gloss finishes.
Relative humidity
Ideally, relative humidity should not
be above 65%. (You can measure
humidity with a hygrometer.)
A good test is to moisten the surface
to be painted. If it dries within 10–15
minutes it should be okay to paint.
Key Advice:
Do not paint outdoors too early or too
late in the day, when there’s a risk of
condensation or dew.
7
Preparing to paint