Seattle is known for excessive amounts of rain. In fact, the town experiences an average of 38 inches of rain per year, and not everyone enjoys this. However, one man and his friend found a way to get people excited about frequent downpours, and they got it on video.
The whole project rides on hydrophobic sprays. These liquids are substances that repel water. This means that applying a hydrophobic spray to a normally porous surface, like concrete, essentially waterproofs the material. Many homeowners go through this process when they seal their backyard deck to protect the wood.
While hydrophobic sprays generally fill a practical purpose, this young man and his friend showed that they can also be used for fun and to make people smile.
After a little experimentation, he discovered that a hydrophobic spray called Always Dry would dry clear on concrete. This invisible quality was critical so that the message would remain hidden when it wasn’t raining.
After finding just the right hydrophobic spray, he designed some stencils on his computer. Then, he and his friend went to the bus stop in the middle of the night to not draw attention to themselves. Using the stencils and Always Dry, they created a hidden message that only appears when it rains.
Now, visitors to this bus stop on a raining day are surprised to see “Stay Dry Out There” coupled with extra-large rain drops. Once the sun comes out, the message disappears again.