How Long Should Paint Dry Before Applying Polyurethane? (Expert Advice)
Many people coat their painted areas using polyurethane only because they’ve seen others doing the same thing. However, if not used properly, things could turn into a mess and take quite a lot of effort to fix everything. Among the most frequent mistakes regarding this topic, not waiting for long enough is an outstanding one.
So, if you also don’t know how long should paint dry before applying polyurethane and why you need to wait for it to dry, today’s article is what you need.
Table of Contents
What’s Polyurethane? Why Do We Need To Coat It Over Paint?
Polyurethane, a polymeric compound, is a solid, durable coating that people apply to another surface to establish a strong adhesive. The coated area usually becomes securely glued once the polyurethane cures, producing a surface that can fight against corrosions, scratches, and external impacts.
Oil-based and water-based ones are the 2 main variants of polyurethane available.
Oil-Based Polyurethane
When you use oil-based formulations, they take on amber or golden hue. They cure gradually and produce a firm, solid coating after a few applications. You’ll need to wait for each application to dry before adding the next.
Typically, it requires around one day for oil-based polyurethane to dry, following which you may step on it or have slight touches without messing up everything. Unfortunately, they will take much more time to cure completely, so you’ll need to go barefoot in the area for the duration.
Before putting the polyurethane, ensure that your pets and objects are out of the area because they might alter the drying process.
Water-Based Polyurethane
Water-based ones dry faster than oil-based products, yet it is also runnier. In other words, you’ll require more layers (maybe up to 3 coats) than you would typically need when using an oil-based solution, which requires fewer applications.
Within 6 hours of coating, water-based polyurethane is commonly dry, allowing you to freely travel on or make slight contact with them. However, the coating hasn’t cured entirely at this stage, so you can only walk around barefoot or undertake some light-duty tasks for another 2 to 3 days.
It’s also a good idea to keep animals off the flooring to prevent creating markings. This resin requires around one month to cure entirely, and you will be ready to get back to your usual tasks by then.
See how to apply polyurethane on paint here: How to Apply Polyurethane Over Paint-Easiest Method!
How Long Should Paint Dry Before Applying Polyurethane?
Before coating polyurethane, it’s preferable to let the painted area dry for at least one day. Most of the time, we recommend letting this area sit for even longer for the optimal effects.
Provide plenty of time for it to settle to avoid any problems. Indeed, the longer we wait, the finer and more enduring the surface will become. Moreover, the drying duration also varies a lot as it relies on many factors coming from both the external environments and the materials we use.
Why Is It Necessary To Allow The Paint To Dry?
Unless the paint is completely dry before adding polyurethane, the polyurethane will muddle up the whole thing. Regardless of what you paint, it would turn out uneven, unsightly, and, most importantly, prone to cracks and deterioration.
As mentioned above, polyurethane acts as a shield to safeguard the paint against water, grime, fungi, and discoloration if subjected to sunlight. However, the polyurethane might merge with different elements if the paint isn’t thoroughly dry, causing it to lose its durability.
Dry Vs. Cured Paint: Are They The Same?
There is a significant distinction between letting the paint dry and leaving it to cure. If you’re going to paint using polyurethane, you’ll need to know these two terms and tell the differences.
On the one hand, when the paint dries, the solvents in the painted coats dissipate. Thus, if you contact the paint at this point, it will give you the impression that it is dry. Nevertheless, it isn’t completely devoid of moisture.
On the other hand, when paint reaches its peak toughness, people say the paint has already cured, meaning it’s dry thoroughly at this stage. In other words, the painted surface is now utterly resistant to external factors like water.
Allowing the area to cure before using polyurethane will give us the most excellent results. Many individuals, unfortunately, do not possess enough patience to wait this long and layer polyurethane as soon as the painted area seems dry.
There is an easy technique to tell if your paintwork has dried or cured. To see whether the paint is dry, softly tap the spot using the tip of your finger. It’s dry when it doesn’t seem tacky.
You can also use this technique to check whether your paint has cured. If the position of contact results in a noticeable mark, the paint is not entirely cured.
4 Main Factors That Affect The Paint Drying Period
Now, there are 4 main elements that can either prolong or shorten your drying period, including the kind of paint used, the sort of wood utilized, the environmental conditions, and ventilation.
Paint Types
Paint comes in various types, and each one features its specific drying time. Most of the time, the manufacturer would include the drying duration on the packaging, so all you have to do is double-check.
Now, you might wonder what sets these paint types apart? The composition of the paint is what separates one from another. Latex paints and water-based ones require 4–24 hours to dry, with their cure duration ranging from 21 to 30 days.
Oil-based ones cost around 6 – 8 hours to dry while curing needs 3 – 7 days. On the other hand, velvet paints need up to 8 to 9 hours to dry and 21 days to cure. Moreover, the drying period for chalk and milk paints is around 1 hour, and the cure period is 30 days.
As previously mentioned, it is preferable to leave the paint to cure entirely. Some paints are deeper than others, which implies they will require more time to dry. If at all practicable, wait until it has been cured for best effects.
Wood Types
The type of wood also influences the drying speed due to specific compounds that impede the drying and curing phase.
Environmental Condition
The drying speed of your painted area also depends on the surrounding environment, especially the heat. Indeed, paints will harden and dry faster in cold settings than in hot conditions.
On the other hand, Another aspect that determines drying is moisture. Moisture condensate on materials and in the air increases under humid conditions. As some materials are absorbent (such as wood), they retain water, making it difficult for the painted surface to dry.
Ventilation
Air circulation also acts as a critical component in determining the drying speed of the paint. The paint can require more time to dry when appropriate ventilation is not present. Therefore, make sure the surface is well-aired to speed up the drying process whenever you intend to paint.
Conclusion
Now you know how long should paint dry before applying polyurethane and how important it is to be patient in this situation.
Indeed, coating polyurethane over paints isn’t something too tricky, yet expect to wait and wait and wait. Of course, if you’re running out of time, it’s still acceptable to apply polyurethane once the paint is dry. Yet, for the best result, wait until it has completely cured.
