One of the most important things you should consider when priming and painting is “How long does primer take to dry?” I’ve been asking myself this question a lot ever since I started working as a painter.
After such a long time working with primers and paint, I perfected this skill, and I would like to prepare future painters for what they’ll encounter.
In this post, we’re going to learn.
- How long does primer need to dry before painting
- What happens if you paint over primer too soon
- Factors affecting primer’s dry time.
- How you can make primer dry fast
Let’s dive right in;
How Long Does Primer Take to Dry on Wood?
Most latex primers take 30-60 mins to dry to touch on wood. However, most primers stay for 3 hours to dry completely before painting. Oil primers can take more than eight hours. The drying process of the primer can be faster if the temperature is warmer and there isn’t high humidity.
So, do not paint the surface until it dries fully.
The table below shows the actual drying time for the 10 most popular primers.
| Drying time | Type | Brand |
| 2-4 hours | Oil- Based | Rust-Oleum Primer |
| 2-4 hours | Oil- Based | Valspar Anti Primer |
| 1-2 hours | Self-Priming Paint | BEHR Premium Plus |
| 1-2 hours | Self-Priming | Prestige Paints |
| 60 minutes | Latex | Valspar 1533 Latex |
| 60 minutes | Latex | RUST-OLEUM 249933 |
| 30 minutes | Latex | Zinsser Mold Killing Primer |
| 30 minutes | Latex | Zinsser Multi Purpose Primer |
| 30 minutes | Shellac | Rust-Oleum Shellac |
| 30 minutes | Latex | Kilz Adhesion Primer |
Since the table is organized by the time it takes for each prime to dry, here’s a summary of drying time categorized by the type of primer.
- Shellac primer dries between 30 and 60 minutes.
- Latex primers dry within an hour.
- Self-priming paint dries inside one hour
- Oil-based primer: Ranges from three to four hours
What Happens If You Paint Over Primer Sooner than You Should?
People apply primer to add a protective coat before they apply the paint. This is usually to ensure the newly primed surface is even or to cover potential damage on the surface.
However, the primer also works to ensure the paint adheres to the surface for a longer time, making it less likely for the paint to chip.
Primer needs enough time to dry; applying paint too soon, you risk ruining the painting project. If you wait for the primer to dry completely before you apply thin coats of paint.
By letting it dry, you will prevent the primer from pulling from the bare wood, color peel, or ending up with a flaky-looking surface.
When you don’t allow the primer to dry fully, you ruin its adhesion power. The paint does not stick properly to the surface, and you may even end up mixing paint with primer.
Before painting, you should wait long enough to let the primer dry. Testing the area before proceeding with the paint is essential.
Even if the particular primer you are using says that it dries in 30 minutes, you should wait a bit longer just to be sure.
What Influences the Primer Drying Time?
How long to wait for primer to dry before painting is influenced by several factors. Let’s take a look;
1. The Thickness of the Coat
Applying a thin coat of primer may not be enough to cover the imperfections of the surface underneath. So, you are probably thinking of applying more. But too many thinner coats of primer can increase the amount of time it will take to dry.
The manufacturer gives you instructions on how many coats of primer to apply. The second coat is usually ideal, but make sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions first.
Although you should use enough primer, you shouldn’t go overboard with it and apply too much. Remember to wear protective gear.
2. Primer Type
Primers come in different types. You can choose between shellac primers, oil-based, latex paints, and self-priming. All of these primers take different amounts of time to dry; that’s why you should pay attention to what primer you’re purchasing.
- Oil-based primers are exceptional in terms of sealing porous surfaces and when it comes to priming bare wood. Because of its adhesion power, this primer can be a great foundation for paint. But the downside is that they take longer to dry compared to other types of primers. Sometimes, oil based primers may take up to four hours to be dry to touch.
- Latex primers are water-based primers. If you want to prime new drywall, they are ideal. They also tend to dry pretty quickly, more specifically within an hour.
Read: Can You Use Latex Paint Over Oil-Based Primer
- Shellac primers are the ones you go to when you want to cover stubborn stains. If you have any type of damage on the surface, shellacking paint can be a highly effective solution. Whether it’s water stains, smoke damage, or even knots in wood, applying shellac as a primer can effectively block these imperfections from bleeding through your final paint layers. On top of covering stains, they can also prevent bad smells. Fortunately, these primers also dry pretty fast. It takes about an hour for the first coat of paint to dry.
- Self-priming paint is both a primer and paint in all one. What makes it great is that you spend less time on the process because the product is two-in-one. On average, it takes up to two hours for the primer to be dry to touch, and some products get ready for the next coat of paint in less than an hour.
3. The Surface You’re Covering
What you apply the primer on also matters when it comes to the drying time. Some surfaces will require more time than others.
For example, if you prime new drywall, stained wood, or a darker surface, it may take longer to dry as you need at least two thin coats to prime properly.
Meanwhile, priming metal takes even longer, and you may have to wait up to four hours for it to dry.
Read: Outdoor paint primer for pressure-treated wood.
4. Ventilation
To make sure the primer dries even quicker, you should have enough ventilation. You can help this process by leaving your doors and windows open.
It’s especially important when it comes to shellac or oil-based primers. If you ensure some good airflow, the drying time will get shorter.
5. Humidity and Temperature
The right room temperature and high humidity can also aid the drying process and make sure the primer dries faster. This is why so many brands emphasize you ensure you have cooler temperatures.
Some primers may need your room to be between 40-80°F. Meanwhile, the humidity should be no greater than 85%.
When the room is too hot, you should expect the primer to take much longer to dry. But if your room’s temperature is too cold, you risk having your primer turning too thick. It’s especially true when it comes to oil-based primers, for instance.
Primers such as latex paint can even freeze. So, before you prime and paint, you should ensure that you reach a proper temperature in the room.
This doesn’t only apply to indoor applications. Even if you prime and paint a surface outdoors, if the temperature and humidity are not at the right level, you risk ruining your work. The disadvantage is that you cannot control the weather.
So, you’ll have to keep an eye on the weather forecast all the time.
How Can You Make Primer Dry Faster?
Believe it or not, but there are a few ways to make sure your primer dries faster. If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands, you may want to try these tricks to ensure you don’t wait an eternity for your primer to dry fully. Here is what you can do.
1. Use a Dehumidifier
Is the room too humid? You can either wait for a less humid day to prime, or you can speed up the process a little bit. This is possible if you use a dehumidifier. This will reduce the home’s humidity levels and make it faster for the primer to dry.
2. Buy a Fast-Drying Primer
Another solution is to purchase a primer that dries faster. There are products made specifically for fast drying, and one of the options is self-priming paint.
But if you’d rather use a separate primer instead of a two-in-one option, you should consider a latex primer.
3. Don’t Apply Thick Coats
Thick coats will take longer to dry, and since you’re looking to reduce the time you have to wait for your primer to dry, you shouldn’t apply too many coats.
So, what you can do is apply a light primer coat instead, which will dry much faster.
4. Open Your Windows and Doors
Increase the amount of air circulating by opening your doors and windows. It will aid the primer dry faster.
5. Consider Using a Hairdryer
A hair dryer may also come in handy if you cannot wait for the primer to dry by itself. Gently blow air on the surface after you prime it.
Make sure you’re not using heat – the hairdryer should be on the cold-air setting. Also, keep the device at least one foot from your surface.
FAQs
Is it ok to Leave the Primer Unpainted?
No, you should never leave the primer unpainted. It would only make the surface look bad after a while, and it will never look as smooth and even as paint. It may also get damaged after a while.
Do I Need 2 Coats of Primer?
The number of coats you need depends on the surface you’re painting, as well as the type of primer you use. You must use enough to cover imperfections, but you should also not make the two coats too thick. Thin coats of primer may be enough in most cases.
Will Painting too Soon Ruin the Job?
Yes, not letting the primer dry properly can ruin your paint job. You should always make sure it’s fully dry to the touch before applying primer.
See Also: What is the best primer for kitchen cabinets
How long does it take oil based primer to dry
Most Oil-based primers will need at least eight hours to dry well. Before painting, you can smoothen the surface by sanding the primer with 180-grit sandpaper. This will help create a strong bond between the primer and paint. Ensure to clean the wood after sanding and allow it to dry completely before painting.
Read: How to use primer for oil based paint?
How long does latex primer take to dry
The drying time for most latex primers or water-based primers is between 30 minutes to 1 hour. Remember this is dry to touch, and not completely cured. Wait for a maximum of 3 hours to ensure the primer is completely dry. The right humidity and temperate will help to speed up latex primer drying time.
Does primer need to dry before painting
Yes, you must let the primer dry completely before applying paint. Most primers need around 24 hours to dry well before painting. Some atex primers can dry in just 30 minutes. But most experts advise waiting for 24 hours to elapse before painting to get the perfect results.
How long to let Rustoleum primer dry
Rustoleum primer can dry to touch between 15 to 30 minutes. But it’s fully dry in 48 hours if you’re working under 70°F (21°C) and 50% relative humidity. For cooler temperatures, give the Rustoleum primer more time.
Read: How to get primer off skin
How Long Does It Take For Primer to Dry?
It is important to wait the appropriate amount of time for primer to dry before adding paint.
Drying times vary depending on the specific brand and product you are using. Taking the necessary time to let applied primer dry is beneficial in producing a durable topcoat.
Ensure that your primer sets up properly so that once you get started with the actual painting process, your project will come together beautifully.
So now we ask: How Long Does Primer Take to Dry Before Painting? You have all the facts now— it’s up to you decide how long your particular project should wait before painting.