It doesn’t matter if you’re painting a figurine, furniture, or a car, there will always be questions. What if you’re painting a piece of furniture that you intend to place outside? There’s a big difference and, depending on where you live, your art project may be exposed to swift changes in climate. Rain, thunder, sunshine, and strong winds will do their best to challenge the quality of the paint, as well as the paint job.
If you are harboring even the slightest concern regarding the lifespan of spray paint in rain, I hope to give you the answer to your questions one by one and hopefully make your paint last for as long as you had intended it to. Here we go.
While spray paint can be waterproof, all types of spray paint aren’t. If you are looking for waterproof spray paint you should look for “outdoor spray paint” as it’s made to withstand water in even the harshest circumstances and will provide much better protection than regular spray paint. The paint can’s label should indicate if the paint is designed for outdoor use or not.
That’s the answer to the question in its most simple form. It’s best to gather more knowledge on the topic to get a better understanding of what you should be on the lookout for and to prevent yourself from spending money on the wrong product. This article contains what I’ve learned over the years in combination with general knowledge and tips.
Painting in itself is something that requires a bit of thought, and spray painting even more so. I’m not talking about the art of painting abstract objects, which I imagine is quite peaceful and free. I’m talking about strategically planning a painting project and then executing it with the right type of equipment to get the most out of it, as well as the best possible results.
So, Does Spray Paint Come off In Water?
Sometimes it doesn’t even have to be an outside object that must withstand water. Think about a shower ceiling or walls, they’ll be exposed to either water or vaporized water a lot and if the paint isn’t made to handle water very well it will come off relatively quickly. That’s a waste of both money and time. It may even kill off the initial motivation you had going when you decided to paint the shower. Don’t let it.
So, you’re in search of the perfect paint for your project and you’re asking yourself what type of questions you should ask. We’re looking at a couple of things that must be taken into consideration.
It’s worth noting that many spray paints actually are water-resistant and handle exposure to water quite well, but there are still alternatives and some are better than others. It’s important that you purchase spray paint that’s made specifically for outdoor use, that’s the one you’re looking for in order to get the best protection against water.
Even with the outdoor spray paint in hand, you’re no entirely in the safe zone yet. While the waterproof spray paint is designed to withstand water, the protection it provides won’t be anywhere near its full potential if the process of applying the paint isn’t executed correctly. Water will make its way in under the paint and damage it if it’s allowed to. That’s what we must prevent by applying the paint strategically with caution.
Here’s what you must take into consideration when painting objects that will be exposed to water on a frequent basis.
Prepare The Object’s Surface
It’s imperative that you invest as much time as needed to ensure that the object you’re painting has a smooth surface, failing to do so will results in cracks and bubbles which will make it easy for water to penetrate the paint’s film and get in under it. Therefore, you must make sure that the surface is as smooth as possible before applying the paint.
Smoothing a surface is done a little differently depending on the material but the essence of it is the same.
- Start by filling out any cracks or holes in the surface using painter’s putty.
- Sand down the surface’s rough spots, including the putty, using an 80-120 grit paper and then finish it with a finer 180-grit paper until you have an even, smooth surface.
- Vacuum the surface and wipe it down using a damp cloth to remove all the dust.
- If the surface feels smooth to the touch, you’re good to go.
Apply The Paint Coat By Coat
Your paint could also fail to be waterproof if the project was rushed when painted. Perhaps the paint was given too little time to dry before another coat was applied on top of it?
These are things we want to avoid and that’s done by applying one coat a time and giving it sufficient time to dry before applying the next. By rushing this phase of the process you have only ensured that it’s going to come back to bite you in the future.
I recommend adding 2-3 coats of paint, with more than enough time for the paint to dry in order to create adequate protection against water. With 3 layers of paint stacked on each other, it should be quite hard for water to penetrate it.
Perform a Final Inspection
Lastly, when everything has been smoothed, applied and dried, there’s only one thing left to do – carefully inspecting the paint. What we’re looking for is uneven paint, spots, bubbles, cracks or areas where we’ve missed when spraying paint. The entire object should be painted and sealed when you’re finished.
Keep these things in mind and you should be fine.
It may be a more time-consuming endeavor now but in the long run you will save so much time as you will extend the lifetime of said paint by years. If prepared and executed correctly, the finish on spray painted outdoor wood furniture can last 4-5 years before you notice any tearing.
The one thing that most spray paints have in common that makes them attractive when painting is that they don’t require as much time to dry as other paints may need.
The aerosol can’s mechanism applies a fine layer of paint with every burst. The thickness of the coat is generally not as thick as it would have been if it were applied using a brush, which reduces the time it takes to dry.
What is the Best Spray For Outdoor Furniture?
You’re going to want high-quality spray paints when painting outdoor furniture, as they’re more exposed to different elements than indoor furniture. I’ve always considered it a one-time expense that can be justified by the difference it makes in the end.
Aside from the paint, which I will talk about in a second, I’ve achieved great results by using a liquid deglosser. It’s a product that’s used to remove old residue and provide a fine surface for you to add paint to. You may not need this if you have sanded the surface but either way, it doesn’t hurt and it gives you a really nice smooth surface to start painting on.
When adding liquid deglosser, wear rubber gloves and add two layers of deglosser (and give each layer time to dry before adding the next) to every piece you are painting. When the final coat has dried up, it’s time to start spray painting.
Knowing the conditions that a piece is going to be exposed to will help us filter out paints that don’t fit the bill, leaving only our true candidates. In addition to the climate that the paint is going to be kept in, it’s also important to take the material of the piece into consideration.
The most durable choice when spray painting wood isn’t always going to be the best pick when painting metal and so forth.
Best Spray Paint for Wooden Outdoor Furniture
The last couple of years I have gone with one product over and over when painting outdoor furniture. It hasn’t failed me a single time so far and I’ve grown to like the brand because of that product. It’s a 2-in-1 solution from Rustoleum, meaning it’s both a primer and paint in the same can. Here’s a link to the product on Amazon.
By combining the paint and primer in one product, adding primer is completely removed from the process, which saves quite a lot of time. Furthermore, this specific paint from Rustoleum has a great top coat which, according to me, takes away the need for a sealant.
As compelling as that sounds, it isn’t the only reason why I like this paint in particular. I live in an area where storms frequently hit, not large ones but still powerful enough to cause minor damage to property, and so far, it seems like they can’t get through the paint.
I don’t have enough data to claim that the durability is unmatched but I do feel I have the right to say that it’s one of the best paints that I’ve tried.
Best Spray Paint for Metal Outdoor Furniture
Metal, unlike wood, can and will rust if it doesn’t receive proper care for long enough. The key to painting metal outdoor furniture is to focus on a durable spray that will protect against rust as well. I seem to get the best results when using something more durable with a strong top coat and sealant.
I’ve found Rustoleum’s protective enamel spray paint to be a really good choice for outdoor furniture as it has everything that I’m looking for and so far it has produced a flawless finish on all of my projects.
It doesn’t take more than two coats (applied with sufficient dry-time between them) to get a durable finish that will last for years.
If your piece is already rusted from the start, I’m worried that Rustoleum’s protective enamel won’t do the job (initially). Instead, you will have to combine it with Rust Reformer, which stops the formation of rust, seals it in and creates a perfectly smooth surface for you to paint on.
How Long Must Spray Paint Dry Before It Can Handle Rain?
Once you’re done painting your furniture or accessory, it’s time to find a good spot to place it outside. Right? No!
Rain will ruin fresh paint with very little effort. It’s important that your paint gets sufficient time to dry and cure before the piece is placed outside, where there may be risk of rain.
To get a greater understanding of what “sufficient” time is, we must look at the variables, such as the type of paint used and the temperature that the piece is left to dry and cure in.
Both acrylic and oil-based paints need to dry and cure before they’re exposed to rain or splashing. Generally speaking, acrylics need 2-6 hours in the sun in order for the paint to dry enough to protect it against the rain. Oil-based paints, on the other hand, can benefit from drying for as long as 24 hours before getting wet.
These numbers are estimates and should be treated as such. Inspect the piece carefully to make sure it’s gotten the time it needs.
Keep your drying pieces in an environment that offers at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit while they’re drying. Make sure the temperature doesn’t dip below 50 degrees as it may cause the paint to crack. The optimal conditions will surely provide a better finish but also dry the pieces much quicker.
There are certain things that can be done to speed up the drying process.
- Decrease humidity.
- Make sure that there’s proper air ventilation surrounding the piece you’re painting. Placing a fan facing towards it is a very good idea.
- Place a heater close to the object.
- Apply thin coats of paint. The thinner the coats the faster they will dry and cure.
If you don’t own a garage and plan on painting outside you must depend on mother nature to be gentle, sometimes you may even find yourself looking at the weather forecast in order to find a gap of 2-3 subsequent days of constant sunlight in order to avoid rainfall.
The more information you can pin-point, the better you will be able to adjust accordingly, and, ultimately, get the best possible results that will last long enough for you to forget all of the information you just devoured and hopefully revisit my blog.
Is Rustoleum Spray Paint Waterproof?
Outdoor spray paint is almost always waterproof, be it Rustoleum or any other brand. However, some paints do handle water and moist better than others. Generally speaking,
Rustoleum paints hold up against rain and splashing just fine, but their collection of products designed specifically for outdoor-use are more suitable. You should be able to find a lot of information regarding the paint by reading the label on the can or online product specifications.