Putting a fresh coat of paint on the wall is a great way to refresh your living space and bring a little extra charm to it. While anyone can repaint their walls, it takes a bit of skill and know-how to do it properly and avoid making a mess. Many Australian homeowners start moving furniture or hanging photos on the wall before the paint is dry, which leaves stains and ruins the paint job.
It's crucial that you get the timing right before you start decorating your room again. Since the process may require multiple coats and primers, you have to figure out when each layer is dry before you can apply the next one.
Watching paint dry won't do you any good, which is why we're going to cover the basics of applying paint and how to tell if the process is complete.
How long does it take for wall paint to fully dry?
There's no simple answer to this question, as it depends on the primer or paint involved, as well as the conditions of the room.
If you use an oil-based paint, the wall will be dry to the touch within six to eight hours. However, you can only recoat it after a full day has passed. Latex paints set faster, becoming dry to the touch within an hour or so. You can safely recoat this type of paint within four hours.
Since there are many different brands and types of paint out there, your safest bet would be to read the instructions on the can itself. It should give you a rough timeline for how long it takes to dry and when you can add another coat.
Does paint dry better in heat or cold?
Using instructions on the paint can won't give you a definitive answer for drying time, as it also depends on the conditions in the room. The temperature and humidity will influence how long it takes and how well the paint will dry.
The temperature of the room has to be at least 10 degrees Celsius for the paint to dry properly. If it drops below this threshold, there's a chance that the paint will start cracking and that the layer will be compromised. If the temperature is well above 30 degrees Celsius, the paint won't bind to the surface well, leading to flaking and cracks within a few months.
Make sure that you avoid rainy days when applying a coat of paint, or try to keep the windows closed during this process. The optimal humidity for painting a wall is between 40 and 70 per cent.
How can I make my wall paint dry faster?
If you want to speed up the process, there are several ways to make the paint dry faster.
Don't apply heavy coats of paint on the wall immediately. Instead, use multiple light coats to cover the wall. Each individual light coat will dry faster than a single heavy coating.
Try to paint your room one wall at a time. Once you've finished the last wall, the first one will already be ready for a second coat, especially if you've only used light coats.
You can also use a hairdryer to take care of areas of the wall that seem to be setting too slow. As long as you set the dryer on a cold setting and keep it at least two inches away from the wall, it will speed up the process significantly.
What happens if you recoat paint too soon?
Plenty of Australian homeowners make the mistake of recoating paint before the previous layer has dried completely. If you're in a rush or aren't paying attention, the coat will become sticky once you apply another layer. In these cases, the layer below won't dry and you'll have what is known as “blocking.”
If both layers aren't too thick, you can wait a few weeks to see if the paint will dry properly on its own. Should the paint remain sticky after this time, you might have to start over. Instead of waiting it out and hoping for the best, you should consult professional house painters in Sydney to get the job done quickly. Those with experience will complete the paint job within days and make sure that the walls are fresh and ready for decoration as soon as possible.
Why is my paint not drying?
There are lots of reasons why your paint might not dry correctly. You might have added a few too many layers to the wall or used coats that were too thick and created a sticky layer. If the weather isn't optimal and you opened the windows too soon, the humidity or temperature might have affected the drying process. In Sydney, you have to watch out for weather changes before you start your paint job.
If the wall stays sticky or mushy after you've completed the paint job, you should probably start over anew. There's no reason to wait for the wall to crack or lose its colour over the next few months if you know that the paint hasn't set correctly.
When you start painting the wall again, make sure you follow the exact instructions on the can and work with a little more patience. Rushing the job will only increase the risk of mistakes while taking your time will guarantee that you'll create the perfect paint job.
Conclusion
While painting a wall might seem like a simple and straightforward task, the reality is far from it. You have to pay attention to a myriad of factors that can make or break your paint job. If you aren't careful, you can end up with a mushy layer of paint that will crack after only a few months. It's a job that you might be able to DIY with some care and luck, but it's recommended that you hire professionals. They can complete the process without hassle and produce near-perfect results every time. To save yourself the trouble of worrying about ruining your furniture or walls, consider using professional painters for your home.
Author Bio
My name is Grace Wilson. I’m a 27-year-old biotechnologist and kind of a bookish girl. Surfing the Internet is my favorite, that’s why I’ve turned into blogging. Following the healthy mindset and lifestyle is what I consider as my life principle. If interested, follow my twitter.
