Painted Colorbond gate then it rained after 2 days

[gene]

I spray painted with dulux weathersheild which has a primer added ,  I washed and sanded gate first, I only used a separate primer on bare steel patches of gate, it went well but two days later it has rained for 3 days, my dog jumped on fence and scratched some paint off. Do you think the gate will be fine? I'd like to do a second coat. I thought the gate would be fine in rain after two whole days of drying, now I've researched that I should have coveted the gate for 1 week to allow proper curing time and adhesion. I don't want to have to sand whole gate and redo.

[MitchellMc · Accepted solution]

Hi @gene,

It sounds like your paint job might still be okay despite the rain, but it's always best to allow as much time as possible for the paint to cure. I am not aware that Dulux Weathershield requires a full week of curing, but as you’ve found, it’s important to let the paint dry thoroughly before exposing it to moisture. After two days, the paint may have dried on the surface, but it may not be fully cured deep within, which is why it's advisable to avoid rain, if possible, during this stage.

In your case, since the first coat seems to have adhered well, I don’t think the gate will be ruined, but it's a good idea to go ahead and apply a second coat once it's fully dry. Be sure to give the gate a few more days to cure before applying this second coat, just to ensure the surface is ready.

One thing to note, though, is that Weathershield, being a water-based paint, isn’t as scratch-resistant as epoxy paints. So, while the paint may look fine after your second coat, there's a chance your dog could still scratch it if they’re jumping against the gate frequently. If that becomes an issue, you might want to consider adding a protective layer, like a sheet of perspex, along the lower part of the gate where the dog is likely to scratch.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell