Although the terms are often used interchangeably, drying and curing paint are not the same things. It only takes hours for both latex and oil-based paints to dry, but it takes 3-4 weeks for paint to completely cure.
As paint dries, water and solvents evaporate, leaving the pigment and other compounds to bind together and harden. Paint is considered dry when enough solvents have evaporated to allow it to be dry to the touch and no longer feel sticky or tacky. Paint is cured when all solvents that can evaporate have and it reaches its maximum hardness.
When paint has not yet cured, it’s fragile and needs to be handled gently. It shouldn’t be wiped or washed because the paint can react to water and chemicals. You should also avoid hanging objects or setting things down on a freshly painted surface until the paint has cured. It leaves indentions that can’t be rubbed out.
Tips and Hints – Make sure you give your paint the right conditions to dry and cure. It needs ventilation, mild humidity and temperatures that aren’t too low. – If the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius, it’s too cold for paint to dry or cure properly. In the same regards, if the humidity level is above 90, there’s too much moisture in the air for the paint to dry or cure well. – For the first 30 days, make sure the fan is on in bathrooms during showers and open the door right after the shower. This is very important or you may see streaks in your bathroom walls. – Keep water and chemicals off freshly painted surfaces for 30 days. Dry wipe only.
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