When to Paint a Second Coat on Walls
Painting the interior walls is a do-it-yourself task that millions of homeowners undertake each year. The paint department is among the largest and most crowded section in most hardware stores. Books, DVDs and seminars are all available for beginners to learn about brushes, paints and techniques. Knowing when to give the walls a second coat and when you can avoid it will save time, energy and money for the homeowner. Does this Spark an idea?
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Dark to Light
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Going from a dark color to a much lighter color almost always calls for a second coat. Trying to put too thick of a coat on the first time to cover the darker color is a rookie mistake and leads to cracking paint as it dries. A light coating with either primer or the paint will allow the second coat to cover evenly without any "show through."
Fixing Mistakes
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It's hard to tell how good the paint job is when it is freshly painted and still wet. As the paint dries, the streaks, missed spots and other mistakes become more obvious. Letting several hours go by and inspecting the walls after they are dry will give you an idea as to how many, if any, mistakes need correcting. Repainting just one large section will not work well, as the final, dried color will be different than the section just painted once.
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Poor Quality Paint
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"You get what you pay for" is a valuable phrase to remember when painting walls. Inexpensive paints are often lesser quality and cover poorly. If you are using a discount paint, then be prepared to give a second coat to minimize the flaws from the first coat. Bleed through, streaks, uneven coverage and poor adhesion are just some of the problems cheaper paint causes.
Temperature and Humidity
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The temperature and humidity affect when you can apply the second coat. Latex paint dries sufficiently in about four hours, but if the room is under 50 degrees, that can be extended. Painting during rain or even when rain is expected can also extend the drying time. If the first coat is not dry enough when the second coat is applied, the first coat will never dry properly, leading to cracking, chipping and wrinkling in the paint.
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References
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