30 | Sector Focus: Coatings & Finishes


SUMMARY


■ Low temperatures and high humidity make coating application and curing more challenging


■ Paint can become cold, or freeze during storage


■ Modern water-based coatings dry and cure in two stages


■ Storage areas should be well ventilated and not subject to extremes of temperature


WISE UP TO WINTER Teknos shares expert advice for painting during the winter months


As temperatures drop, factory-finished joinery faces one of its biggest annual challenges, winter.


Low temperatures and high humidity


make coating application and curing more challenging and have a potential impact on timber stability. To help, Teknos has put together some simple, practical steps you can follow, that minimise cold weather disruption and avoid expensive rework.


THE HIDDEN RISKS OF WINTER PRODUCTION


Cold weather introduces several risks:


• Paint can become cold / freeze during storage


• Joinery may be delivered before coatings are fully cured


• High humidity can contribute to excessive dimensional movement in


standard species, opening joints to moisture and generally causing door sets and windows to “stick”, and effect operating parameters.


Rectifying these issues on site adds cost and frustration for everyone involved, but some simple steps on distribution, storage, during joinery manufacture and on site during the construction and installation process can greatly reduce, and often avoid completely, the problems associated with winter conditions.


Top: Maintain a minimum temperature of 15-22°C in the spray booth and drying area Above: Joinery may be delivered before coatings are fully cured


TTJ | Spring 2026 | www.ttjonline.com


UNDERSTANDING HOW PAINT CURES Modern water-based coatings dry and cure in two stages. First, water and solvent evaporate from the wet film, and the system cross-links – a stage known as coalescence. At this point, the surface may appear dry, but it can still be moisture-sensitive and some components, such as stain blockers, may not


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