It’s not surprising to see people intending to apply a polyurethane finish on their newly painted wooden surfaces, as many of them have their reasons. Some want their wooden surfaces to look sparkling, renewed, and lovely, while others want to protect the paint to make it last longer.
If you recently painted your floors and want to apply polyurethane, the real question you should be asking yourself is, how long for paint to dry before polyurethane? I will tell you how long you can wait and how to apply polyurethane on your floor.
All at a Glance
How Long for Paint to Dry Before Polyurethane?
It’s best that you allow the painted surface to dry between 24 and 72 hours before applying polyurethane. For best results, I advise that you allow the surface to stay even longer for a day or two.
Give it ample time to dry to avoid complications. The longer you wait, the better and more durable the surface. Your waiting period depends on certain factors, such as the type of paint, type of wood, the atmospheric condition, and ventilation.
Why Should You Wait for the Paint to Dry?
If the paint isn’t dried correctly before applying polyurethane, the polyurethane will meddle with the paint, creating a rough finish. The floor surface will be rough, untidy, and above all, susceptible to damages and wear.
As I earlier stated, polyurethane protects the paint from water, dirt, fungus, and fading when exposed to the sun by acting as a barrier. If the paint isn’t dried appropriately, the polyurethane could mix with other components, resulting in the loss of its resistance ability.
How long does it take for paint to dry on wood?
Most oil-based paints takes about 6-8 hours to completely dry to touch ad you can recoat in 24 hours or 48 hours for best results. While latex paint only takes about 1 hour to dry and ready to recoat in 4 hours.
How long to let paint dry before putting things on it?
I recommend you give it 1-3 weeks after painting before you start putting things on the painted surface. Depending on the humidity and temperature of the environment waiting for paint to thoroughly dry and cure is important.
What’s the Difference Between Dry and Cured Paint?
You must know that there is a difference between allowing the paint to dry and allowing it to cure. These are two terminologies you must understand if you must paint with polyurethane.
For paint to dry, it means that the solvents have evaporated from the paint coatings. The paint will leave a feeling of being dry when touching it. However, it’s not 100% utterly dry. For paint to cure, it means the paint has reached its maximum hardness. At this point, it’s completely dry.
To achieve the best result, you should allow the paint to cure before applying polyurethane. However, many people don’t have the patience to wait for that long, so they immediately apply polyurethane once the paint is dry.
How Can You Determine If the Paint Is Dry or Cured?
There is a simple way to determine if your paint is dry or cured. To see if it’s dry, touch an area with the tip of your finger lightly. If it doesn’t feel sticky, then it’s dry. To determine if the paint is cured, touch a painted area with your fingernail. If it leaves a visible mark, then the paint is not completely cured.
What happens if you apply polyurethane before stain is dry?
Don’t do this because the Polyurethane won’t adhere and it could result into a cloudy or appearance with bubbles. We suggest you wait till the stain is completely dried to get the best result.
Factors That Affect the Dry Time Of Stains
Type of Paint
Paint varies, and each type has its own drying time. The drying time is mostly stated on the package, so all you need to do is check. What distinguishes one paint from the other is the paint’s material. Latex/water-based paint takes approximately 4 – 24 hours to dry. The cure time takes between 21 – 30 days.
Oil-based paint takes about 6 – 8 hours to dry, while it takes between 3 – 7 days to cure. Velvet takes 8 – 9 hours to dry and approximately 21 days to cure. Chalk takes about 60 minutes to dry, while cure time is 30 days. Milk paint takes approximately 60 minutes to one hour. It takes 30 days to cure.
As I said, it’s best to allow the paint to dry correctly. Some paints come darker than others, which means it will take such paint a long time to dry. If possible, you should wait till it’s cured for optimal results.
Type of Wood
The wood type also affects dry time. Some woods do not dry and cure properly because of the presence of chemicals, inhibiting the process.
Atmospheric Condition
Temperature affects the dry time of the paint. Paints will thicken and dry longer in low ambient temperatures, as opposed to high temperatures. Paints that take too long to dry will create an uneven surface, which will cause you to redo the painting.
Humidity is another factor that affects drying. In high humidity, there is an increase in water vapor on surfaces and the air. Since wood is porous, it will absorb moisture, making it hard for the paint to dry.
Ventilation
Ventilation is an essential factor that affects the dry time of the paint. If there’s no proper ventilation, the paint will take longer to dry. When next you’re painting, ensure the area is ventilated to increase the drying time.
Read Also: How much epoxy do I need for a Table Top?
How long should paint dry before applying polycrylic?
Most paint dry in 4 hours on a less humid day. So before applying polycrylic know that humidity makes paints cure slower, it is important to let it stay even long in humid days.
What’s Polyurethane?
Polyurethane, a polymeric resin, is a type of hard, robust varnish that’s applied on another surface to bond tightly with it. As the polyurethane dries, the surface becomes tightly bonded, giving off a finish that’s resistant to wear, abrasions, and impact.
Types of Polyurethane
There are two types of polyurethane – oil-based and water-based polyurethane.
Oil-Based Polyurethane
Oil-based formulas turn into amber or yellow finish once you apply them. They form a hard, thick covering in a few coats, but they dry slowly. You will have to wait in between each coat to dry before applying another.
Oil-based polyurethane takes about 24 hours to dry, after which you can walk on it freely. However, they are not cured utterly (more on that later), so you’ll have to walk on the surface barefooted for the period.
Before applying the polyurethane, ensure you keep your pets and furniture away, as they can meddle with the polyurethane drying time.
Water-Based Polyurethane
Water-based polyurethane dries more quickly than oil-based formulas but more watery. This means that you will have to apply more coats, probably up to three, unlike an oil-based formula that needs fewer coatings.
Water-based polyurethane typically dries after six hours of application. At this point, the floor must have become dry, and you can walk on it freely. Again, it’s not completely cured, so you will have to still walk on your bare feet and do some light-duty activities until after 48 – 72 hours.
It would be best if you also kept pets off the floors to avoid leaving indents. It takes roughly 30 days to cure fully. By that time, you can resume your regular activities.
Can you put Polyurethane over Paint?
Yes, you can put polyurethane over paint or painted surface. Just make sure the paint is dry and cured. You can apply both water-based or oil-based polyurethane over your cured paint.
Can you polyurethane over spray paint?
Yes, you can apply polyurethane over spray paint as long as you have given it 24-48 hours to properly cure. Polyurethane can be applied on any kind of paint as long as the paint is properly dried and cured.
How to Apply Polyurethane Over a Painted Surface
First off, you need to determine whether you want an oil-based or water-based polyurethane. I advise that you opt for a water-based polyurethane to avoid amber coloring.
If you’re looking to protect the paint and add beauty to the painted surface, you should consider applying two or more coats over the surface. This will boost the surface resistance and strength.
Remember, you can apply polyurethane on any paint. All you have to do is allow the paint to dry correctly (if it’s recently painted), clean the surface, and prepare it for application.
Let’s get to the steps involved in applying a polyurethane finish over paint.
Step 1: Wash the Surface
If the surface has been long painted, you should begin by washing it properly. Washing it will take away the grease, stains, dirt, and all types of filth, which is vital to maintain a clean surface.
Use a soft sponge and a powerful detergent to clean the area. Alternatively, you can mix one-half cup of trisodium phosphate in warm water to clean the surface. Trisodium phosphate is known for its cleaning prowess and what most painters use to get painted surfaces clean.
Step 2: Get the Scuffs Off
Allow the painted surface to dry adequately after washing. This usually takes between 24 and 72 hours. After drying, use 120-grit sandpaper to scuff off the surface. Doing this will prevent any deep scratches from forming and flatten the surface.
If you don’t sandpaper the surface, you will notice some uneven surfaces and deep scratches under it after applying the polyurethane.
You can choose to flatten the surface by hand or a palm sander. When you are done, wipe clean the dust with a damp cloth.
Step 3: Choose Your Applicator
I know I said something regarding choosing an oil-based or water-based polyurethane but if you haven’t made up your mind yet on the type of polyurethane to use, here is when you need to decide.
After you must choose your polyurethane type, next is to choose your method of application. Avoid using a roller to apply the polyurethane because it will leave bubbles behind. For best application, you should either use a brush or spray it.
Brushing works best when working on a flat surface that requires building a strong or thick film. Spraying works best for hard to reach surfaces. However, the film isn’t as strong or thick as that produced when you brush the surface.
You can also apply polyurethane by wiping. This method is best for contoured surfaces like crown molding.
The method forms a thinner coat. Ensure that the surface you want to use this method is not wear-prone.
Step 4: Apply the First Coat
After applying the first coat, allow it to dry for a while. Once it’s completely dry, begin to scuff off the surface with sandpaper to remove any dust particles to achieve a flattened surface.
Step 5: Apply Second Coat
Once the surface is dry and you’ve scuffed the surface, it’s time to apply the second coat. Most times, you’ll not need to apply more than two coats. After applying the second coat, allow it to dry for at least 24 hours.
Safety Tips When Using Polyurethane
- Ensure you wear safe work clothes and gloves when using a polyurethane.
- Oil-based polyurethane releases toxic fumes when applying it’s drying. Therefore, you should keep your doors and windows open.
How to Make Polyurethane Dry Faster
To make your polyurethane floor or surface dry faster;
- Use water-based polyurethane
- Maintain a working temperature between 26 degrees Celsius and 35 degrees Celsius. Polyurethane dries better under this temperature because it’s neither too high nor low.
- Maintain proper airflow. Ventilation is crucial when applying polyurethane.
Conclusion– How long to let stain dry before Polyurethane
Allowing the paint to dry completely is a prerequisite before you can apply polyurethane. Applying a poly finish over a wet paint can compromise everything, resulting in a poor finish and lower protection.
As explained in this article, how long for paint to dry before polyurethane varies and depends on many factors.
However, allowing the paint to dry at least 24 – 72 hours is recommended. The paint must have been dried by that time, and you can go applying your polyurethane formula.
Regarding the use of polyurethane, you should make sure that you paint in a proper ventilated space and the right atmospheric condition.