Letting paint dry completely before putting furniture back is a must. Otherwise, you increase the chances of staining your furniture and ruining the paint job. When to return your furniture depends on a lot of things. But no worries! We gathered every information you need so you can tell quickly when the paint is 100 percent dry and ready.
You must wait at least 1 to 3 weeks before putting the furniture back. The drying and curing times of paints vary and, therefore, your choice of paint matters. Furthermore, the drying and curing times also depend on temperature, ventilation, and humidity.
Just because the paint is dry to the touch does not mean it has cured completely. So, how do you tell when exactly it's ideal to place furniture back, considering many factors play a role? Continue reading to learn more.
How Long Should Paint Dry Before Putting Furniture Back?
Three weeks sounds like a long wait. Isn't it? You can put your furniture back just a few days after painting the room. But unless you can commit to never touching the walls, which requires a lot of precautions, then it is best to wait until the paint is fully cured.
Paints contain different types of chemicals. These chemicals react to environmental conditions differently. Below, you will find information on how paints' drying and curing processes work.
Drying and Curing Times of Paints
You can tell when the paint is dry when it no longer feels sticky to the touch. This should not be difficult to tell since you can just run your fingers on the paint's surface and feel it.
We guess it is worth mentioning, too, that while the paint is dry to the touch, it does not mean that it is ready for a second coat. For example, oil-based paints dry in 6 to 8 hours but are only ready for another coat after 24 hours.
Once the paint is dry, it does not mean it has entirely adhered to the wall's surface. This is why it is essential to wait for the paint to cure.
The curing process involves the days that you allow water in the paint to evaporate completely. During the process, the chemicals also react, causing the paint to stick to the surface. Letting the paint fully cure results in a more durable finish.
The curing time is different for every type of paint. Some paints take less than an hour to dry but take a while to cure. Others take longer to dry but are fully cured in no time. This is why it is recommended to wait 1-3 weeks before putting furniture and decor back.
How to Tell If Paint is Fully Cured
Performing the fingernail test is the easiest way to tell if the paint is fully cured. To do this, press a fingernail onto a hidden area of the coating. When a visible indent appears, this means that the paint is not yet cured. You should not see any trace after doing a fingernail test.
Why Humidity, Ventilation, and Temperature Matter
Humidity and temperature affect the drying and curing times of all types of paint. Humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air, whereas temperature is the degree of hotness present in the surrounding area. Therefore, it is obvious why it takes longer to dry and cure paint on a rainy day than on a sunny day.
But don't think about adjusting the room temperature more than the recommended setting. Too much heat will dry paint fast, but this can also cause cracks and peeling.
The ideal temperature should range from 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for oil-based paint and between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for latex.
Now, how about paint applications on a rainy day? Applying paint on a rainy day is not recommended, but it is possible. Besides a longer drying time due to low humidity, the drop in temperature also affects the paint. This is true for oil-based paints, which thicken in cold temperatures. You may click here to get tips on how to keep paint from freezing.
Ventilation is also important. Paint dries faster when the air flows freely. At the same time, proper ventilation helps push fumes out of the room.
Oil-Based Paint Vs. Latex
People have two standard choices for painting the exterior or the interior—oil-based paints and latex. Oil-based paints are waterproof, thick, and durable. They also provide a smooth, glossy finish.
On the other hand, Latex paints are water-based, thinner, and less durable. They usually provide a matte finish.
So, which paint dries faster?
Latex paint dries in just 1 hour. It is ready for a second coat after 3-4 hours. It is fully cured in 4 weeks.
Oil-based paint dries in 6-8 hours. You can recoat after 24 hours. The curing time of oil-based paint is one week under ideal conditions.
Note also that the thickness of every coat affects the drying and curing times of paint. A roller brush provides a thinner coat than a paintbrush.
Tips to Dry Paint Faster
Who doesn't want to speed things up a little? Regardless of the type of paint you are going to use, you can use these tips to dry paint faster and finally put furniture back.
Apply thinner coats
Whether you are using a roller brush or a paintbrush, the thickness of every coat will impact the drying time of the paint. Apply light coats for the paint to dry faster.
Let air circulate properly
Open the windows and doorway or use an electric fan to keep the air moving. This not only speeds up the drying time but also helps remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the room.
Paint on sunny days
Rainy days and the cold climate can delay the drying process of paints. Choose dry days not only to dry the paint fast but to achieve a smoother, more durable finish.
Build a bubble
If you just can't wait for the sun to shine, you can still proceed by building a bubble. Build a bubble around the area you are working on, and ensure that you maintain an ideal temperature. You may use a heater inside the bubble to achieve the correct temperature based on the type of paint you're using.
Click here to see this space tower heater on Amazon.
Use a dehumidifier
The ideal humidity level should be between 40% and 50%. The higher the humidity, the longer it takes for paint to dry. When humidity reaches 85%, paint also starts to become gummy and difficult to work with.
There are other ways and gadgets that you can use to speed up paint's drying and curing times. Click here to learn more.
Follow product instructions
Read the instructions printed on the label of the paint. This will tell you how to properly use the product and achieve the best results.
How Long to Let Paint Dry Before Second Coat?
Depending on the type of paint you are using, you should wait at least 3 to 24 hours before applying a second coat. Latex paint takes an hour to dry and is ready for another layer of paint in 3 hours. Oil-based paint dries in 8 hours at most but waiting 24 hours is the recommended time to apply a second coat.
Oil-based paints are thicker and contain oil. On the other hand, latex contains water and is thinner. Oil-based paints take longer to dry because the oil in them does not evaporate like the way water in latex does. Instead, the oil polymerizes, turning into a semisolid state.
How Long Does Matte Paint Take to Dry?
Matte paint can be dry to the touch in just 1 hour under ideal temperature and humidity. It is ready for a second coat in 3-4 hours. Matte or flat paint contains water as the solvent, which evaporates quickly when exposed to air.
Although matte paint dries in just an hour, it may take four weeks to fully cure. Among other things, the weather affects the length of cure time.
Final Thoughts
So there you go! While it is tempting to put furniture back as soon as the paint is dry to the touch, unfortunately, this is not the way to go. We've already explained how paints dry and cure and how these processes are paramount for paints to achieve maximum durability. Anyway, we also have shared tips to make the paint dry faster.