Summer heat can make refinishing work uncomfortable—and even worse, it can seriously impact the quality of your results. Whether you're working on bathtub refinishing, countertop refinishing, or cabinet refinishing, high temperatures can lead to common product failures like solvent popping, uneven finishes, and wasted materials.

At NAPCO, we’re committed to helping you deliver consistent, professional, and problem-free results—no matter the season.

Why Heat Matters in Refinishing

Excessive heat accelerates solvent evaporation, which can cause finish issues across all types of refinishing projects:

♦ Solvent popping: Tiny bubbles form as the solvent evaporates too quickly, leaving a rough texture.

♦ Orange peel: A bumpy, uneven surface caused by coatings drying too fast and not leveling out.

♦ Dry spray: Spraying at higher-than-ambient temperatures can cause solvents to flash off too quickly, leading to dull, uneven finishes.

Whether you're working on refinishing a bathtub, restoring kitchen cabinets, or updating countertops, these issues not only affect the final look but can also damage your professional reputation. Follow the below listed best practices to avoid heat related refinishing problems.

Bathtub Refinishing Before & After Shots—And How They Help Get More Customers

Store Smart: Protect Your Products

Heat can damage your materials before the refinishing job even begins. Leaving resins, reducers, or coatings in a hot vehicle or garage can cause separation or premature evaporation—resulting in poor performance.

Best practices include:

✔ Always check product labels for correct storage temperatures.

✔ Store all NAPCO products indoors, between 50°–90°F, and away from direct sunlight.

✔ Seal containers tightly when not in use to prevent solvent evaporation.

Proper storage is key to ensuring great outcomes—whether you're preparing for cabinet refinishing, countertop refinishing, or bathtub reglazing.

NAPCO Kitchen Refinishing

Control Your Work Environment

To prevent heat-related finish problems:

✔ Avoid refinishing in non-temperature-controlled areas.

✔ Ask customers or property managers to run HVAC overnight prior to the job.

✔ If HVAC isn’t available, adjust your schedule to cooler hours, like early mornings or evenings.

These small adjustments can make a big difference, especially for high-gloss bathtub refinishing or precision countertop refinishing.

Product Tip: Use a Retarder When You Can’t Avoid the Heat

Sometimes you can't reschedule the job. When you must work in high temperatures, be sure to have a NAPCO Retarder on hand. Combined with our Mega-Fast coatings, it slows solvent evaporation and reduces the risk of orange peel or solvent popping.

A retarder helps coatings flow out smoothly—crucial for flawless cabinet refinishing, kitchen countertops, or even tubs in less-than-ideal conditions.

Kitchen and Bath Refinishing Demand at All-Time High

Keep Humidity in Check

Humidity impacts spray quality just like heat. Excess moisture and open containers may require additional reducers, extending cure times and creating inconsistent finishes.

To prevent this:

✔ Keep products sealed when not in use.

✔ Follow label guidelines for best humidity handling across bathtub, countertop, and cabinet refinishing projects.

Stay Cool, Stay Professional

Don’t let summer heat jeopardize your work. With proper product storage, environmental controls, and the right refinishing solutions, you can continue delivering flawless bathtub refinishing, countertop refinishing, and cabinet refinishing jobs—even in the heat of summer.

Have questions about which NAPCO products to use in summer conditions? Call Steve Zamborsky at 1-800-888-1081 ext. 4003 for expert advice and product recommendations.