How Long Between Coats Of Paint?
When you are painting your home, it is inevitable that you will need to use more than just one coat of paint. There is usually the primer, two layers of paint, and the finishing. But how long do you need to wait between your coats of paint?
To be safe, it is best to wait at least six hours after primer to apply the first coat of paint. For the second coat of paint, you should wait at least 24 hours for your paint to dry. However, you can quicken the process by applying fans, blow dryers, and humidifiers. Also, ensuring adequate airflow is important.
In this article, we will discuss paint drying times so that you know when the best time is to apply your additional coats of paint!
How Long Should I Wait Between Paint Layers If I’m Painting Indoors?
To determine how long you have to wait in between paint layers, you need to understand exactly how the painting process works.
Part of the painting process is understanding how long each layer takes to dry.
How Long Does It Take The First Coat Of Paint To Dry?
The base coat of paint can take up to two hours to dry on average. Depending on the paint kind and finish, the precise time will change. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the paint’s thickness.
It’s crucial to apply the initial coat of paint. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but since it’s the foundation coat, it needs to be done appropriately. Since this will serve as the base, the paint should be placed in an even layer that is not excessively thick.
It will take a very long time for the paint to cure if you apply too much on the wall. In addition, it could start running and become all splotchy and unsightly.
Use a paint roller to spread the paint across the surface. This will enable you to apply the base coat evenly. Additionally, it will guarantee that the wall dries uniformly.
You must wait for the first coat of paint to dry after applying it before putting on the second. This will help you observe how well the paint is setting on the surface and confirm that the coat is drying correctly. The areas you may want to focus on will then be more apparent.
Although some individuals believe that using fewer layers of paint is preferable, this isn’t always true. It is best to add an additional layer of paint rather than attempt to apply a layer that is excessively thick.
How Long Does It Take The Second Coat Of Paint To Dry?
You must wait until the paint is totally dry before applying the second layer, as we’ve already stated. One of the most crucial paint coats is the second one because this is where you’ll need to use even, precise roller strokes.
After two hours, the paint could have entirely dried, but you shouldn’t apply the second coat right away. First, you should allow the paint an opportunity to dry on the walls. The curing process is what we refer to as.
Giving the paint enough time to cure and dry thoroughly is crucial. Even though the paint may appear dry, it must be scratch-resistant before applying the second coat. The second layer of paint won’t properly adhere to the first coat until then.
After the first layer of paint has dried, you should ideally wait at least six hours. You can then safely apply the second layer by that time.
However, we wouldn’t advise doing this unless you have a lot of time. The best course of action is to wait for around 24 hours because, at that point, you will need to be sure that the first layer of paint has thoroughly dried.
This is particularly crucial for thicker paint types since they take longer to dry, especially oil-based paints. These will dry faster if you use water-based paint.
Does The Type Of Paint Matter When It Comes To Drying Times?
When determining how long it should be between coats, the kind of paint will play a significant role. Oil-based paints require at least six hours. It is recommended that you wait 24 hours before applying the second coat.
Latex paint dries far more quickly, often in just one hour. However, waiting at least four hours is a more tremendous promise that there won’t be any impacts. It’s essential to bear in mind that variables like moisture, warmth, and airflow can alter how long things take to dry.
If you live in a humid area, you should wait 24 hours before coatings. A dehumidifier will assist in removing moisture to enable the paint to dry more quickly if you are painting in a basement that frequently has higher humidity levels. Close the windows to keep the room from being inundated with wet outside air.
How Do You Check To See If The Paint Is Dry?
Your paint will appear and feel different when it is dried. See if the paint feels dry in various places on the wall, specifically in the corners. If the paint still has a tackiness to it after drying, the next layer is not yet appropriate.
Also, you can look at the color of the wall, if it is uniform in tone, with no darker or glossy patches, the wall is probably dry.
You will be able to determine when you can continue working on your project by combining both of these approaches.
How Long Will The Drying Process Take With Exterior Paint?
You will need to schedule the perfect day to paint outside because outdoor paints are more robust and designed to endure the environment.
The ideal day is sunny with at minimum two hours of direct sunlight on the paint. Naturally, the drying process will take more time if the sky is foggy.
In the event of rain, the paint must be exposed to the sun for a total of six hours in order to dry.
How Can I Make The Paint Dry Faster?
If you want to hurry the drying process, there are a few things that you can do and some household items you can use, such as:
- Dehumidifier: Dehumidifiers are very beneficial in many ways. This will help pull the moisture out of the air, allowing the paint to dry more quickly.
- Box Fan: Having a good fan is crucial, especially in summer. Always purchase the best you can and add one oil drop to the oil slot at least once a year. If you run it frequently, more. The fan displayed is not the same as the one in the link just above.
- Portable Heater: Use portable heaters in conjunction with fans to maintain airflow. The warmer air will help the paint to dry.
What Is The Best Way To Paint The Wall If I’m Doing Multiple Layers?
You can always add an additive to the paint; with the help of this additive, you can hasten the drying process of latex paint. Three gallons of latex paint can be treated with a pint bottle.
Important pointers for painting rapidly without sacrificing quality and cutting down on the time between coats:
- Make sure the first coat is not sticky before you apply the second one.
- Use the dehumidifier to help the first layer dry.
Remember that thin coatings dry more quickly and provide better coverage. Additionally, three thin applications dry almost as rapidly as two thick ones. This is because it takes time to meticulously cover every area.
This is especially true when using dark colors over light ones or vice versa. It also applies to heavily pigmented paints that contain the feared reds and yellows. They employ artificial hues.
Tips To Cut Down On Paint Drying Time
- Spend the money on high-quality products. Budget rollers shed lint and muck up your work. If you spend more, you will also see why some instruments (brushes in particular) are less expensive. Picking bristles out of wet paint is highly annoying and can mess up your work big ime. For high-quality paints, the same is true: They are less expensive and last longer.
- Use a blow dryer. A blow dryer will help, but keep your distance so that you do not scorch the new paint. Paint stores employ this technique to facilitate quick paint drying to verify the shade they match.
- Prime your drywall. You can either buy 5 gallons of the #1 primer or read everything about it. Excellent bonding, free shipping, and quick drying. You can use this as frequently as you want, and by the time you complete the round of the room, it is ready for a fresh coat.. If you don’t need as much, you can get the primer in single-gallon buckets too.
- Keep the space heated.
- Use additives. This speedup expedites drying. Then there is Floetrol, which doesn’t hasten drying at all—in fact, it slows it down—but does make it easier to apply paint.
On humid days, we rely on our dehumidifier (especially in the spring and summer).
How Long Does It Take Paint To Cure?
This is not the same as drying time. In the summer, indoors or outdoors, latex and oil paints need weeks to cure; in the winter, they need months. A small amount of off-gassing persists for a while.
So be gentle with your paint at first. If you installed shelves, place a piece of paper under any objects to prevent them from adhering and ripping the soft paint off.
Does The Recoating Time For Paint Matter?
An excellent paint job can be ruined in a variety of ways. The final state of the paint can be impacted by humidity, temperature changes, a dirty or damp surface, and poor paint quality, among other things.
However, applying more coats before the prior coatings are completely dried is one of the surest ways to harm your paint.
There is a no-touch period between applications of paint. The paint is still moist, liquid, and malleable prior to that time. You can do so if additional paint is required, such as for touch-ups. More coats may be added once the paint has finished drying completely.
You run the danger of destroying an otherwise flawless paint job during the no-touch period, which comes before the recoat time. The soft, gel-like substance develops pulls and streaks when partially wet paint is painted over.
The highest layer of paint, or the “skin,” has dried, but then everything underneath it is still wet or gooey, which causes this issue. The dried skin is torn up and mixed with the wet paint when rolling or brushing the paint.
Heather is a passionate writer who loves anything DIY. Growing up, she learned everything from home repairs to design, and wants to share her tips with you. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project.
More by Heather Robbins
