How long should the primer dry?

Every specialist can say that all walls in the house should be covered with a primer, no matter what kind of work you plan to do in the future: glue non-woven wallpaper or cover the walls with water-based paint.

An additional layer between the decorative coating and the wall itself is needed so that this coating does not lose its qualities for a long time.

Thanks to it, the indicator of the durability of the coating increases. The primer tends to penetrate into small cracks, filling them in a similar way, and glue together small delaminations or dust particles. Due to the property of impregnating the wall, the primer creates a uniform surface.

Below are the main advantages of primers:

• forming a solid foundation before starting finishing work;
• hiding faded areas of walls and stains;
• paints and other coatings look more shiny;
• after a layer of primer, you can paint the surface with a light color, even if it was originally dark;
• on the ground surface, the smell of paint is not felt so much.

But, in order to obtain additional properties, it is better to choose a primer separately for each material. So you can achieve protection from moisture or ultraviolet radiation, to avoid corrosion and mold.

In the modern world, acrylic is the most versatile primer. It can handle any surface: from metal and wood to concrete and plastered walls. This primer will do the job well.

Any tree, especially coniferous trees, usually gives off resin. Such material needs careful processing, it needs to be coated with a primer in order to preserve the decorative layer. In addition, there are some types of primers that can protect the rock from rotting or insect pests.

Metal surfaces must be primed. This can significantly reduce the rate of occurrence of corrosion. However, it cannot be completely avoided. For non-ferrous metals, paint and other decorative coatings are not required, they hardly corrode, but they still need to be primed in order to adhere the coating and the surface to each other.

In the building materials market, a special type of primer is common, endowed with the function of converting corrosion. Such a composition is applied directly over the rust, then, after coating with paint, it can be used further.

Although the primer is almost invisible on the surface, there is still benefit from it: adhesion to the wall will increase, and consumables will be spent in smaller quantities. In this case, the primer will help save the amount of glue.

There are different types of primers.

A more detailed list looks like this:

• For work on a wooden base, an alcohol primer or drying oil is perfect. In order to shorten the drying time, you can pre-heat the area that needs processing.
• Acrylic primer can enhance the strength of even the weakest substrate and is a versatile deep penetration formulation.

• In order to work with a metal base, you can use an alkyd or oil primer. It is also suitable for wood. A similar primer can also be used over rust due to its anti-corrosion properties.
• For the purpose of processing the ceiling and walls in a regular room, a concrete contact is best suited.
• In order to increase adhesion, a contact primer is used. The composition contains quartz sand. This primer fills small cracks well due to its deep penetration into the walls.

There are other mixtures that only specialists use. These options are not common among the common resident.

Below are some examples:

• Silicone solution. They are covered with concrete or lime walls. This type of primer hardens within 5 hours.

• Polyurethane compound used in workshops and other similar premises, the walls of which are poorly absorbent.

• Pigmented primer - a special solution that allows you to achieve a neutral surface color so that it does not shine through the wallpaper.

The time it takes for the primer to dry completely depends on various conditions. The following are the main factors that affect the drying of the mixture:

• Temperature and humidity. The approximate drying time is 4 hours, at a moisture level of 65% and temperatures above 25 degrees. If the weather outside is good without precipitation, then to speed up the process, you can open the windows, since the drying rate directly depends on the moisture level in the room.
• Layer thickness. The primed composition must be applied to the walls. ceiling or floor with a very thin layer. If the plane is not perfectly flat, then the surface should be processed in several layers. However, the drying process will take longer.

• The type of primer and its structure. The period of time for which it dries directly depends on the type of primer. The acrylic primer dries within 4 hours, while the contact primer and fast penetration mix takes about 24 hours. There are quick-drying primers, they are based on water, and the drying time is up to 2 hours. An oil-based primer will take more than a day to dry.
• Base type.
• Porosity of the material.

• Alkyd polymer It is used to fill small cracks, thanks to which the putty or paint will not come off in layers, which significantly increases the strength of the surface. This primer creates a semi-matt film over which paint can be applied. It can be used for metal and woodworking.

However, the alkyd polymer is poorly absorbed and therefore cannot be used under gypsum substrates or plaster. It copes well with wood surfaces without breaking the fiber structure. The most popular manufacturers are Tikkurila, Alpina, Sadolin and Otex. Drying time is about 24 hours.

In order not to incur unnecessary costs and not to lose performance, you need to choose the right tool. Remember that not all types of primer are suitable for indoor use. The suitable consumption is determined by the type of coating.

Each type of primer has its own characteristics, on which the drying time also depends:

• The acrylic primer contains a large number of components: from dyes and binding resins to antiseptic additives (for example, chalk or biocide). The amount of each of the substances is variable. This affects how dense the solution will be. The acrylic primer is well impregnated and penetrates into fine crevices, thereby achieving good adhesion to concrete substrates, as well as plaster, brick, plywood and wood.

Often such products are used when working in the bathroom and kitchen. Such a mixture is odorless and has a short drying time, not exceeding 4 hours. The main manufacturers are Knauf and Ceresit. For work on uneven surfaces, they use the means of the manufacturer Olympic, which are distinguished by their versatility.

• The perforated composition is undesirable for indoor use due to its toxic components. The mixture works well with metal and can be used on any surface. The composition contains additives that do not allow corrosion, they also protect the surface from destruction. The substance can fight rust stains, the layer thickness of which is no more than 100 micrometers.

Among the components of this type of primer there are a large number of impurities that speed up drying. The average solidification time at a temperature of 20 degrees is 1 hour. The companies Cersanit, APP and Artelit are considered to be the highest quality and universal ones.

• For all types of outdoor surfaces, such as loggias and verandas, a phenolic solution is best suited. It creates a special film that is resistant to temperature extremes and dampness. The amount of additives affects the drying time of the primer on the floor. If the priming process is carried out in the warm season, the drying time will be about 8 hours. The best mortar manufacturers are Ruslux, Glims Production, Pufas and Dufa.

• If you want to enhance the color of the paint, then you should use a synthetic-based polyvinyl acetate primer. It is especially effective when working with drywall, because the primer is endowed with the function of smoothing the pile. This mixture is suitable for any system. Drying time is 30 minutes. The most important brands are: Knauf, Unis and Optiroc.

Below are professional tips to help you get the most out of your work:

• In the open air and in damp areas, special formulations must be used. The substrates that you have processed will not lose their vapor permeability.
• In order to increase adhesion to the surface, stains and other dirt must be removed.
• To check the readiness, you need to attach the plastic wrap with tape. If there is no condensation on the material, you can start finishing work. In other cases, it is better to wait about 24 hours. Some species may take up to 10-15 days to absorb.
• Drying times are always marked on the packaging. But this is an average value, so 60 minutes must be added to this figure. When priming a second time, the time is added. If the room is very warm, then the composition will dry out quickly enough.

You will learn how to properly prime the walls in the following video.