How Long Does Masonry Paint Take to Dry?
Masonry paint, used on external walls and brickwork, needs at least 12 hours to dry - so if there is rain forecast, you'll need to factor that into your plans!
Ideally, the paint should be left for 24 hours and will cure thoroughly in about 30 days. Therefore, weather conditions are one of the crucial parameters for planning a masonry paint project.
Other considerations include the type of paint you're using, humidity, the wall material, and how thick you apply the paint coat.
Factors in How Long Masonry Paint Takes to Dry
Like all paints, masonry paint is touch dry long before it has cured throughout. The optimal time to wait is 24 hours, preferably two days, before applying another coat or moving items onto the newly painted surface.
You can use masonry paint on most outdoor walls, including:
- Concrete
- Rendering
- Pebbledash walls
- Softwoods
- Metal
If you're painting onto newly poured concrete or fresh render, the other timescale is waiting for the surface to cure throughout.
Render needs a good four to six weeks to be ready to paint and 30 to 60 days for concrete.
Painting With Masonry Paint in Different Weather Conditions
As we've seen, the weather is the biggest player in ensuring your masonry paint has plenty of time to dry.
You can paint in the rain, but with the big caveat that the wall itself cannot be exposed to water and must be thoroughly dry before you begin - so this only applies to walls under cover.
Perfect painting conditions are:
- A maximum of 80% humidity - anything else means the moisture level in the air will prevent your paint from setting quickly.
- No rain - although, as above, you can consider painting in rainy weather if the job is urgent, as long as you can protect the wall and keep it clear of drips.
- Air temperatures of between 12 °C and 15 °C. Direct sunlight can force the paint to dry too quickly in warmer weather, potentially causing cracks. If it is too cold, you might find that the paint doesn't set evenly, and you have patches in colour.
A cool, cloudy day is best, but you can usually circumvent any issues if you prepare well for your painting project.
There are thousands of masonry paint brands and some that have acrylic blends to provide microporous coatings that are less vulnerable to the weather or quick-dry paints that will set much faster.
The key is to take your time and pick the best possible weather - properly applied masonry paint, when cured, is weatherproof and formulated for outdoor use and will protect your brickwork from the worst of the British seasons.
Choosing the Right Masonry Paint
Masonry paint comes in two main types:
- Smooth masonry paint - usually lasts for 15 years, with a fungicide to prevent mould from forming on the paint and keep the finish cleaner for longer. Rapid-dry, smooth masonry paint is shower resistant in around 30 minutes.
- Textured masonry paint - this paint is more forgiving if you have an older wall because the textured paint can fill tiny cracks and holes, locking moisture out from the wall.
Self-priming masonry paints are excellent for durability since they bond to any older paint layers (that haven't begun to peel or crack), so you won't need to add a separate primer before applying your first coat.
If the wall is chalky or powdery, then a stabilising primer is recommended since this seals the surface beneath and won't damage the final appearance of the paint.
Tips to Apply Masonry Paint Correctly
Whether you're using masonry paint on an external wall, brickwork, or a garage floor, choosing suitable paint and investing time in preparation is essential.
Let's run through the steps to get your masonry paint finish perfect:
- Clean the wall - use a power washer if you can to eliminate any old flakes of paint. If you have moss, mould or algae, some diluted bleach or an outdoor cleaner will do the job.
- Finish the wall prep - residual grease and oil can bleed through masonry paint, causing discolouration, so a priming solution or TSP scrub will help remove any traces and improve the adhesion between the paint and the wall.
- Repair any damage - although textured masonry paint can hide a multitude of sins, you should patch any cracks, and you'll then need to wait the time specified on the concrete mixture before painting.
- Select your masonry paint - you'll find paints designed for floors, concrete, specific types of walls and surfaces, so buying a more expensive paint created for the task at hand but with advanced properties will ensure it lasts for years to come.
- Seal and prime - if you don't have self-priming paint, you'll need to apply a sealant or primer. This step stops moisture from leaking through. Water staining is common when painting in a cellar or anywhere around your property that is exposed to dampness.
- Drying time - next, you need to wait for the primer or sealant to dry, usually for at least 24 hours, although this can be quicker with some primer brands.
- Apply your first coat - usually, brushes are recommended for the intricate parts of masonry paintwork. An irregular wall surface may not suit a roller, and you can get into corners and cut into trims around windows or other joins. Rollers are fine for more even surfaces and large masonry paint jobs.
- Wait for the coat to dry - typically, that's 24 hours for the paint to dry out fully, so it is then fine to paint over, although it won't cure for about a month.
- Begin your second coat - most masonry paintwork will need at least two coats, and potentially more, depending on the type of paint you're using and the colour of the wall. Multiple thin coats are highly preferable since the lighter paint dries quickly and will be more robust.
It's worth thinking about the finish you're going for since masonry paints with a satin appearance or soft sheen will highlight any inconsistencies in the wall behind.
Remember that masonry paint can vary in drying times, so one thick coat will need extra time to ensure it is properly dry before you can apply a second layer.
Frequently Asked Questions - How Long Does Masonry Paint Take to Dry?
Now we'll answer some of the frequently asked questions about working with masonry paint and ensuring it has dried sufficiently before you apply second coats of paint or move objects against your newly painted wall or floor.
How Long Do I Need to Give Masonry Paint to Dry Before it Rains?
Rain isn't a rare occurrence here in the UK, so it's important to check the forecast before you start painting.
You should leave at least 12 hours for the paint to begin setting before rain is expected.
The longer, the better, so 24 hours is a preferable time frame, since if the paint is still very wet, it could run, drip, fail to dry or end up uneven.
Masonry paint dries in around 24 hours and is fully cured (i.e. dried to full strength) in approximately 30 days, depending on the variables we've discussed here.
Can I Make Masonry Paint Dry Faster?
Given that it's more difficult to control conditions outside, it's not easy to influence the drying time of your masonry paint.
However, covering the area to prevent water and rain from reaching the wall, putting up a shade to protect from direct sunlight and applying thinner coats will all speed up the process.
It's highly advisable to use more layers of thinner paint since a very thick masonry paint coat can take considerably longer to dry and may not set properly.
What Happens if I Apply a Second Layer of Masonry Paint Too Quickly?
The big problem with layering paint onto wet coats is that the new paint will pull on the previous layer, which causes streaks and lines.
Brushes or rollers can drag against the wall, and if the paint hasn't set, it will be too weak to remain firmly in place.
In some cases, you'll see bubbles and pitting in the paint that is hard to rectify - usually, you'll need to scrape off the paint and start again.
How Can I Check if Masonry Paint is Cured?
There isn't an exact science to waiting for masonry paint to dry since all sorts of factors can extend the drying time, such as humidity in the air.
Decorators tend to use the fingernail test to check whether the paint has cured by pressing a fingernail into a tiny area somewhere inconspicuous.
If the pressure leaves an indent in the paint, it has not yet cured, even if the surface feels dry to the touch.
How Long Should I Wait Before Driving Over a Newly Painted Drive?
Masonry paint on driveways, parking bays or garages needs to be set very well before the paint can withstand the weight of a car.
Although most paints will dry in 24 hours, we'd recommend leaving three days before you drive onto newly painted concrete.
References:
- https://everythingwhat.com/how-long-does-it-take-masonry-paint-to-dry
- https://www.thepaintshed.com/tips-advice/how-to-paint-masonry-concrete-surfaces
- https://allfinishes.co.uk/ideas/ideal-weather-conditions-for-painting
- https://www.duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk/blog/masonry-paint-guide
- https://www.paintritepros.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-for-exterior-paint-to-dry/
By Johnny Fuller
Home Improvement editor at NWrenovations.com
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