Curing time of paint changes depending on a number of factors:
- climate
- number of coats
- type of paint
Most paint cans will have on the label how many hours it takes that paint to dry to the touch (for Alkyd Paints it's usually about 12 hours and for Latex it's usually around 5 hours). However, actual curing time takes much longer.
Alkyd Oil-based Paint
When oil-based paint cures, the thinner evaporates and the oils seep into the pores of the surface leaving behind the binder and the pigment. This majority of this process takes up to a few weeks. Oil based paint continuously oxidizes and emits chemicals as it ages, which is why most people prefer latex paint for their home interior.
Latex Water-based Paint
As latex paints dry, the water in the paint evaporates leaving behind the pigment and the polymer molecules, which give latex paint elasticity. In Central Valley, this process takes up to two weeks. After painting with latex paint, you should wait two weeks before resuming major activity in the room, because latex paint is easily damageable before it is fully cured.
Give Lancaster Painting a call at 209-634-1111 if you have any other painting questions. If you would like a painting consultation, call us or schedule an estimate online.
