Cold Weather Tips for Product Application and Storage
We always try to give our customers and contacts tips on the best practices for product application. As we enter the cold-weather months of late fall and winter, here are key tips to keep in mind.
As noted in earlier newsletters, all contractors spraying liquid applied materials must be aware of the effect of ambient temperatures on products. Elastomeric coatings will thicken if left exposed to cold temperatures.
Aldo considers the impact of lower temperatures when scheduling and shipping orders during cold-weather months. As part of our logistics program, we avoid shipping product on a Friday if at all possible. Whenever shipments depart our facility on a Friday, they are guaranteed to sit at a trucking terminal over the weekend in non-climate-controlled storage areas. We suggest to all contractors to keep this in mind when ordering products.
Acrylic Coating Practices
Water-borne materials will begin to crystalize when the ambient temperatures falls below 40°. If exposed to freezing temperatures for an extended period of time (i.e., overnight), the product may freeze and become unusable. For best results:
- Keep all products stored at room temperature prior to use.
- Don't leave pails or drums outside when the ambient temperature is expected to fall below 40° overnight. Store the products in protected environments when cold temperatures prevail.
- Don't attempt to spray material when the ambient temperature is below 40.
Thinning of Product
During the winter months, we are frequently asked how to thin or "cut" a product so that it can be easily applied. We do not recommend thinning coatings under any circumstances. Never introduce a foreign material into any of our products. Doing so will compromise the solid content and adversely affect product performance. If you follow our instructions for product storage discussed above, you will have no problem in spraying.
