Does rainy weather affect car paint touch-ups?
2 Answers
It is best to avoid performing vehicle painting on rainy days because the humid weather makes it difficult for the paint to dry thoroughly. Additionally, prolonged baking for drying can lead to gloss degradation over time. Therefore, repair shops generally prefer to carry out painting during dry or sunny weather. The extent of impact from painting on rainy days depends on the drying interval. Generally, under standard procedures, the painted surface can be touched after 2 hours, and the paint hardness reaches 80% after 24 hours. The car can be driven after 24 hours, but it is recommended to avoid washing for 2-3 days, as this depends on factors like paint quality and technique. Precautions: 1. If the car has been recently painted, avoid exposing the newly painted areas to water and dust. 2. It's best not to drive the car out in the rain shortly after painting, as the fresh paint is still delicate and may develop marks from rainwater, which can be unsightly and sometimes impossible to remove even with polishing. Parking in a garage overnight is advisable. 3. Sunlight is not a concern—it only speeds up the drying process, which is beneficial. 4. Avoid contact between the newly painted areas and chemicals or oil stains.
Repainting on rainy days definitely has an impact. When humidity is too high, the paint doesn't dry properly and may bubble or remain sticky, with dust easily adhering to it, affecting the smoothness of the paint surface. As a long-time auto repair worker, I advise everyone to avoid doing this job on rainy days. The damp environment also makes work surfaces slippery, increasing the risk of accidents—hurting your hand from a slip just isn't worth it. It's best to choose a dry, sunny day for the job or use a heat gun for assistance in a ventilated shed. Otherwise, the paint may start peeling not long after the repair, making rework time-consuming and costly—hardly worth the trouble. My accumulated experience tells me that patiently waiting for good weather is the safest bet.
