Enamel paint is popular among Florida homeowners due to its durability against weather and longevity on indoor and outdoor surfaces. Because the percentage of pigments and solids is high in enamel paint, it can take longer to dry and cure than ordinary paints — though you can shorten the drying time.
At UCI Paints, we manufacture enamel-based paints that are made to handle the humid conditions in South Florida. Here’s what you need to know about enamel paint’s drying time and what you can do to shorten it.
The drying time for enamel paint depends on whether you use oil-based or water-based paint. With oil-based enamel paints, you can expect drying time to take between 8 to 24 hours due to its thickness. Water-based enamel paint can dry within 1 to 2 hours. Several factors can affect drying time, which we’ll go into further detail about below.
Once your enamel paint is dry to the touch, the curing process will take about two weeks to complete. The paint will be much less vulnerable to scratching and other damage as it hardens.
To avoid days of drying time, read the label on the back of the paint can to find out how long it will take for the enamel paint to air dry. And if you’re painting in a humid climate, it’s a good idea to plan and give that paint more time to dry.
Humidity isn’t the only factor that affects the air-drying time for enamel paint in South Florida. Temperature and ventilation also play a significant role and can add hours of drying time to enamel paint.
Here’s a closer look at each of those three factors:
When it comes to South Florida, humidity is a staple. This means that when you paint the interior or exterior of your home with enamel paint, it will take longer to dry because of the amount of water vapor in the air.
If you are painting the interior of your home, it will take considerably longer for the paint to dry if it’s hot outside. The combination of humidity and warm temperatures could add hours of air-drying time.
Much like humidity and temperature problems, wet paint in a stuffy room will have a slower dry time than in a room with good airflow.
While factors that affect the air-drying time for enamel paint may be out of your control, there are a few things you can do to speed it up. These include:
Additionally, consider waiting to add a second coat of paint until the first one dries. If you decide to apply it right away, your air-drying time will be longer and the paint may dry gloppy and unevenly.
With over 50 years of experience in South Florida, UCI Paints is the company to trust for all your painting projects. We provide a variety of high-quality, enamel-based paints to choose from and a 100% workmanship warranty to back our work. We also offer a color design consultation and custom paint formulation to help you start your painting journey.
Speak with one of our highly trained representatives today at 954-581-6060, or reach us through our contact form to get in touch about your next painting project. You can also email us at customerservice@ucipaints.com for any painting and order inquiries.
