Abstract: This invention relates to the synthesis of a latex which can be formulated into coatings having improved flexibility and good water resistance. Coatings of this type are particularly useful in roof coating applications because they offer excellent flexibility, excellent ultra-violet light resistance, and good water resistance. The subject invention more specifically discloses a process for producing a neutralized latex that is useful in the manufacture of water reducible coatings which comprises:(1) free radical aqueous emulsion polymerizing, at a pH of less than about 3.5, a monomer mixture which comprises, based on 100 weight percent monomers: (a) from about 30 to about 70 weight percent vinyl aromatic monomers, (b) from about 25 to about 65 weight percent of at least one alkyl acrylate monomer, (c) from about 1 to about 5 weight percent of acrylic acid, and (d) about 0.4 to about 3 weight percent methacrylic acid, in the presence of about 0.2 to 0.