How Long Does Concrete Paint Take To Dry? (Average Time)

If you do not have any prior experience, you might not realize that concrete flooring paint is different from traditional a paint job. The differences are not massive, but they do make a difference. 

Notably, the paint you use on concrete is non-reactive and is applied to concrete pores to achieve a uniform, opaque color. This type of paint can chip and peel over time if you do not apply it correctly. 

So, a good concrete flooring paint has binders that allow it to contract and expand as it cools and warms. Most people use low-acrylic latex paint for concrete porches and patios to conceal imperfections, fading, cracking, and UV damage. 

Concrete paint can be used on almost any concrete surface preparation. Notably, it can be used on projects such as bridges, car park decks, garages, workshops, basement floor, showroom floors, prisons, schools, and hospitals. 

Now that you know the basics of outdoor concrete floors paint, we can look at a few of the best brands and paint types. 

If you are preparing for a concrete painting project, you should consider using Valspar Porch and Floor Paint. This type of paint is perfect for redecorating your porch. It is great for inside and outside use, making it a solid option for many scenarios. 

If you are going to use this paint, you will probably ask the question, how long does it take paint to dry completely on concrete? Fortunately, we have the answer for you. 

Typically, you should give this type of paint six to eight hours to dry before moving to the next step. However, if you do not have much experience, you might think it is dry after an hour. 

After one hour, you will probably notice that the paint is dry to the touch. While this is true, that does not mean that it is completely dry. As a result, we recommend that you wait for another four to six hours before applying a second coat.  

It is even a good idea to leave the first coat for 24 hours if that is possible. Waiting for longer is always a good idea because it ensures that the paint is fully dry and there will be no issues with the second coat. 

If you use Valspar paint on concrete, you can expect it to take at least 24 hours to dry. If you try walking on the paint at this time, it might ruin the finish. Furthermore, if you need to drive over the painted surface, you should give it at least 72 hours to dry. 

Acrylic paint is another type of paint that you can use on concrete surfaces. If you use this type of paint, it will dry to the touch within an hour. However, you should give it six hours to dry before applying a second coat.

You should then give the surface 24 to 48 hours to dry before you try walking, driving, or placing objects on it. 

How many hours should you wait before applying the second coat of paint? As we mentioned above, most paint brands will appear to drying time shortly after you paint it. 

Within an hour, it might seem dry when you touch it. However, that is not the case. Instead, you must give most brands at least six hours to drying time before applying next coat. 

Another question you might ask is, how many coats do concrete floor paints or oil based paints need? Typically, prepare concrete floors and surfaces need two coats of paint to achieve a uniform appearance. If you do not give it enough drying time the paint will appear splotchy when it dries. 

What are the factors that affect the drying time of concrete flooring paint? Three major environmental factors affect drying time, temperature, high humidity, and airflow. 

Higher temperature and airflow lead to faster drying times. Conversely, lower humidity levels allow the old paint to dry more efficiently result in less drying time. 

The reason high temperatures make the paint dry faster is that they thin the paint. Conversely, low temperatures cause paint to thicken, which increases drying times.

As for high humidity, higher levels make it more difficult to dry. Finally, airflow have great impact on drying time up to a point. However, if you cross that point, too much airflow can cause the paint to crack and wrinkle. 

There are a few things you can do to speed up the paint drying process. Notably, thinner coats will dry faster than thick coats. Alternatively, you can paint one wall at a time.  

By doing this, you will give each wall drying time when you move onto other walls. You will find that when you get back to the original wall, enough time may have passed for you to apply another coat. Finally, you can use a hairdryer or heater to speed up the drying process of previously painted surfaces. Remove any existing paint or gunk using a power washer or scraper and wire brush

Painting requires different types of paint when you are painting on concrete. Fortunately, it is not too challenging to figure out which paint types to use and how to apply them. We hope you got all the information you need in the sections above for painting job.