Yes, it’s okay to wait 5-6 days before applying the top coat.

How long can you leave undercoat before painting?

A good rule of thumb is to wait at least three hours to recoat your paint or primer if it’s water-based. Waiting 24 hours is best for oil-based paint and primer.

How long does undercoat take to cure?





The standard undercoating dries to the touch in 30 minutes. It is fully dry in 24 hours. The professional grade undercoating dries to the touch in 10 minutes. Allow 72 hours for a full cure.

How soon can you gloss after undercoat?

Once the undercoat is dry (normally two to three hours, but check on the tin), apply another coat on top. Two layers of undercoat should cover any darker paint finishes underneath and also helps to build a better base for the gloss coat.

Do you need to sand between undercoat and top coat?

So if the penultimate coat is good you might be OK without sanding, but sanding does provide something for the final coat to bind to if the previous coat was applied some time ago, so ultimately it will provide a more durable finish.

How long does oil-based undercoat last?

Unused latex and water-based acrylic paints last up to 10 years, and the shelf life of alkyd and oil-based can be as long as 15 years.

What happens if you recoat paint too soon?





Applying the second coat too early will result in streaks, peeling paint, and uneven color. Not only will this ruin the entire project but it’ll cost additional money to get more paint in some occasions.

Should you sand oil-based paint between coats?

So, if you have identified oil-based paint, we recommend that you lightly sand the paint until you have dulled down the glossy sheen. Make sure to clean the surface after sanding, removing any dust particles or dirt. Next, apply an acrylic latex primer and allow it to dry for 24 hours.

Should you sand down after undercoat?

There’s no need to sand back to bare timber, just enough to rough-up the surface so the next coat of paint will have something to grab onto. Be sure to remove dust generated after sanding.

How many coats of undercoat do you need for bare wood?

two coats



On bare wood, two coats are usually enough. The topcoat—whether gloss, satin or eggshell finish–adds texture rather than colour, so add a third layer of undercoat for full coverage if needed. Alternatively, combined primer undercoat paints are available – you’ll need three or four coats.

How long does oil based undercoat take to dry?

Paint Drying Times and Factors
Oil-based paint – dry to the touch in 6–8 hours and ready to recoat in 24 hours. Latex paint – dry to the touch in about 1 hour, and you can safely recoat in 4 hours.

How do you know when undercoat is dry?

If you lightly touch it and it feels dry not sticky, should be ok to do another undercoat.

How long does oil-based paint take to cure?



three to seven days

Oil paint is cured within three to seven days. This is much quicker than all other paints and makes it a favorite for floors and trim.

How long does it take oil based primer to dry?

In general, oil-based primer generally takes 24 hours to dry. You can usually touch it before the day ends and not get a sticky residue on your hands, but you will want to wait the full drying time to ensure that you will not damage the paint job.

Can you wait too long between coats of paint?

Oil-based paint and primer need at least 24 hours between coats. Recoating too soon can lead to poor adhesion, peeling paint, and uneven color.

Why is my oil-based paint still tacky?



Paint becomes sticky and tacky when it isn’t able to dry thoroughly. Paint has trouble drying when the air is overly humid, or the weather is extremely hot or cold. Also, paint can have trouble drying if applied in thick coats.

Will tacky oil-based paint eventually dry?

You can experience the consequences of tacky paint for several days, weeks, months, and even years. You may feel that the paint never completely dried. For that reason, it’s crucial that you follow the steps in a paint job properly.

Will a fan help dry tacky paint?

The more air circulating, the faster that the curing will occur. You can increase air circulation with something as simple as a fan. Secondly, it is always a good idea to run a heart in the room to increase the temperature so that your paint will cure.