PainterHow

As you know when you decide to paint something you always have to prepare the surface before starting to paint it. Preparation here means to prime the surface with a single coat first, before the paint coat. If you paint any surface without priming it, you will require comparatively more coats of paint to get the desired results. Primer is used to hide the joints or holes and provides an even surface for painting to get smooth results. To get long-lasting results, primer is essential. It adds a glossy base to your surface which  makes the wall smoother and gives long lasting results. 

However, sometimes you don’t need to use primer, especially when you decide to change the color of your surface. That surface doesn’t need to be primed before painting. In the similar case some paints have self priming abilities. In this case you won’t need to prime the surface before painting.

But there is another thing that is also considered to be very important is to wait until the primer gets dried before painting. Are you wondering how long you should wait for primer to dry? Our guide will help you to clear all of your queries related to primer. 

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR DRYING TIME OF PRIMER

You may have a lot of questions in your mind related to the use of a primer. How long should we wait for the primer to dry? How much time does it take to dry? 

The amount of time your primer dries depends upon three factors.

Type Of Primer

The type of primer actually tells the drying time of primer because different types of primer have different drying times. For example, latex primer usually takes less time to dry rather than an oil-based primer. Water-based or latex primers usually dry within three hours. However oil-based primers usually take 24 hours to dry completely.

Environment

The drying time of primer depends upon the environmental conditions in which you are painting. In moist weather moisture usually doesn’t allow the primer to dry quickly. However, in hot or dry weather the primer takes less time to dry. 

The temperature and humidity in your environment also play a major role in the drying time of primer. The temperature should be 70 degrees Fahrenhei and the humidity should be 50% for the primer to get dry. If the temperature is less than the recommended one then it may take more time to get dry. However, if the humidity in the environment is more than 50% then it will also take a longer time to dry. 

Temperature is still not considered to be important in the drying time of primer, humidity is the main factor. Moisture or humidity in the environment is mainly responsible for the extended drying time of primer. It gets dried quickly in cold, dry, and non-humid weather as compared to hot, humid days.

Type Of Surface

Sometimes surfaces don’t need to be primed because of their smooth texture or if you want to change the color of that surface. So in this case you don’t need to prime the surface and wait for it to dry. Besides this if a surface is already smooth and even, you don’t need to prime it a lot. Only a single coat will be more than enough and eventually, it will take less time to dry. 

THINGS NEEDED FOR PAINTING AND PRIMING

Collecting the thing before starting the project is as important as priming the surface before painting. There are a few important things that should be in your hand before starting priming and painting the surface. 

With all the essentials you must have to protect yourself from harmful chemicals by wearing a mask, gloves, and goggles.Not every surface needs sanding or priming. You should know the surface you are going to PAINT FROM CONCRETE. So, this step is required for only a few surfaces. 

APPLYING PRIMER

After collecting all the supplies the next step is to prepare the surface first. For this, you need to clean the surface to clear all the dirt and debris. Once the surface is prepared the next step is to prime it by using a primer. But before you use any product you should wear your mask and gloves to protect yourself from any hazardous chemicals. 

Cover the unnecessary areas like the floor to protect them from Paint drops. For the floor, you can use a drop cloth. However, for other areas on the wall, you can use masking tape to cover it well. 

Now it’s time to use the primer. Shake the can well before opening it or you can also stir it with a stick for a few minutes. Pour the primer into the paint tray. Now apply the primer on the whole surface to cover all the marks and pores to make it even  for painting to get the desired results. Use a brush or paint roller for this purpose. Cover the whole surface properly ensuring not to miss any area. 

Now let it dry for an extended period depending on the type of primer and environment. Paint the surface only when the primer gets dry completely. 

How To Check Whether The Primer Is Completely Dry Or Not?

You can only paint the surface when your primer gets dry completely. Now how would one know if the primer is dry or not. The simplest and easiest method to check the primer is by touching it. You can check it after every few minutes. You just have to touch it lightly with your fingers and feel the moisture. If you feel any moisture or stickiness it means it would take some more time to dry. 

If by touching it you don’t feel the surface sticky it means it is ready to be painted but you should wait for more than 30 minutes for the safer side before painting it. 

Once it is dried completely, you have to sand the surface with the help of sandpaper before applying the second layer of primer. This step is applicable in the case of porous surfaces to make them smooth for painting. As porous surfaces don’t easily accept the paint. Sanding and application of a second coat of primer will help in sticking the paint on the surface.After applying the second layer of primer you have to wait again to let it dry completely before painting.

Except porous surfaces, sanding and priming for the second time is not necessary to do. You can move forward to the next step of painting just after applying the first coat of primer.

Read More > Best Paint Roller

CONCLUSION