Speed up the paint drying process

Placing fans close to painting areas can help with air circulation on hot days and speed up paint drying. This wall is being painted in Resene Sea Fog.

Whether it’s a small piece of furniture or an entire house, waiting for paint to dry is about as exciting as, well, watching paint dry. Thankfully, for those who are short on time or patience – or both – there are a few tricks to speed up the paint drying process, so you can finish your project quick-smart and get on with making the most of your refreshed space.

Choose your painting day wisely

If you’re painting the outside of your house, checking what the weather’s doing and planning accordingly is a given. But it pays to keep an eye on the forecast if you’re doing interior painting too – choose a warm, dry day to get the best and speediest finish. Avoid 30+ scorchers though, as if it’s too hot not only do you risk succumbing to heat exhaustion, the paint might dry too quickly and crack in places. At the other end of the spectrum, anything below 10°C and the paint will dry slower, so you’ll need to consider using Resene Wintergrade Additive and allowing more dry time.

Follow recommended spreading rates

Getting the spreading rate right on walls is key to getting a quality finish and will ensure your coats of paint dry faster, too. Put on too little and you’ll waste time and money having to put on an extra coat just to get on the paint that should have been applied in previous coats. Get it right and you can get the optimum finish in the prescribed number of coats. Trying to shortcut by slathering on one or two thicker coats will only see your drying time increased and you’re likely to end up with ridges in the paint. And don’t be tempted to apply that second coat until the first one is totally dry to the touch, or you’ll be waiting even longer to finish the job. Use the time in between coats to paint or prep another area – or have a lunch break – so you’re making the most of your time.

Keep the air moving

Turn on a ceiling fan and/or position a few portable fans strategically around the place – good air circulation will accelerate the evaporation of the moisture in your paint and ensure it dries as quickly as possible. Open the windows too, unless it’s particularly humid outside (more on that below).

Paint will dry faster if you ensure you get the spreading rate right on walls. This wall is being painted in Resene Turbo.

Declare war on humidity

This one can be tricky if you live in certain parts of the country – hello, sticky Auckland summers – but humidity is the enemy of a speedy paint job. High humidity means the air has lots of moisture in it, making it harder for your paint to dry out at the normal speed. If you can, avoid choosing muggy days for your painting project. If you’ve got a dehumidifier, switch it on in the room you’ve just painted to draw any moisture out of the air. An air-conditioner can work in the same way.

Choose products wisely

Waterborne paints tend to dry much faster than solventborne ones. If you’re a steady or fast painter and want a quick-drying option, make sure you choose a waterborne paint. If you’re slower at painting or a perfectionist and like to work your paint more, you may be better sticking to a solventborne paint that will give you a longer open time to paint.

Make the most of additives

Resene has handy additives available to help you paint in less-than-perfect conditions. In the summer, add Resene Hot Weather Additive to your Resene waterborne paint if it’s drying too fast. In winter when the temperature starts falling below 10°C, ass Resene Wintergrade Additive to help your paint dry. And if there’s light rain lurking, use Resene Umbrella Additive in your paint, which will give your coating early resistance to light showers.

Patience is a virtue

Don’t be tempted to use a fan heater, hair dryer or heat gun on your freshly painted walls or furniture. Resene expert Jay Sharples says, “A significant change in temperature can potentially impact the paint’s colour and create flaws in the finish.”