It’s no secret that one of the best ways to revitalize a room or home is to paint it.
And when it comes to painting, one of the more reputable brands out there is Sherwin Williams. It may be a bit pricier compared to its competitors, but you’ll get more bang for the buck, so to speak. You can get higher coverage and use less paint with Sherwin Williams. Moreover, Sherwin Williams paint lasts longer.
One of the intriguing questions people have about Sherwin Williams is the amount of time it takes to dry between coats. If you’ve always asked: “what’s the Sherwin Williams time between coats?” then you are reading the right article. Keep on reading to know more about this highly popular paint brand.
A Closer Look at the Sherwin Williams Brand
Sherwin Williams is considered a premium paint brand. It offers two types of paint: oil-based and water-based.
Because it is a premium brand, Sherwin Williams paint is priced higher than its competitors. Its top two paints, Emerald and Duration Home, are priced around $60 to $80 per gallon.
But many builders and homeowners who’ve used Sherwin Williams paint can vouch for the durability of its premium products. Sherwin Williams paint is usually utilized by contractors who supply paint for their clients at huge discounts.
How Long Does Sherwin Williams Paint Dry Between Coats?
Now, let’s focus on the Sherwin Williams time between coats.
For its oil-based paint, which has Alkyd as its main ingredient, the paint will dry overnight. On the other hand, its water-based paint, which is also referred to as latex paint, will be dry within an hour.
Sherwin Williams, however, advises users to wait for 2-4 hours between coats for the water-based paint. For the oil-based paint, users should wait for 24 hours before applying a new coat.
Painting on a hot day should help speed up the dry time for both oil and water-based variants. However, there’s also the risk that the paint would have trouble adhering to the surface, especially if the temperature rises to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This can result in the paint eventually peeling later on.
It’s also important to time your painting work so that you’ll be able to finish a paint job at least three hours before sunset. You’d want the paint to dry enough and prevent moisture from getting on the film and preventing any sort of problem down the line.
You should also make sure to have your painting finished with three to four hours of dry time before dark. This allows the paint to dry enough that moisture shouldn’t get on the film and cause any problems.
Oil-based paint may take a longer time to dry, but it has its advantages over water-based paint. One is that it is more durable in the long run. It dries harder, providing it with superior resistance to wear and tear.
As mentioned earlier, you’ll have to give it 24 hours to dry before applying a new coat. It is highly recommended for use on exterior walls, floors, doors, and trim.
If your DIY project involves any of the mentioned surfaces, don’t even think of using water-based paint simply because you’d want to save on drying time. You’ll just be trading a few hours of drying time for longer hours of repainting said surfaces in the future.
On the other hand, water-based paint is the more popular of the two types of Sherwin Williams paint. It’s not surprising that many homeowners and even contractors favor it because it quickly dries.
Contractors, particularly those who are in a rush to finish a project, are known to opt for water-based paint. It dries quickly in an hour, but it’s recommended that it be given at least two hours before applying a new coat.
Because it’s not exactly durable, water-based paint is recommended for use in low-traffic parts of the house, like the ceiling and interior walls.
Why Apply a Second Coat of Paint?
But why should you paint another coat? What are its advantages? Applying a second layer of paint will cover patchy areas and fill in brush or roller strokes. The second layer of paint can help the surface look smoother and more uniform. It’s highly recommended for most paint jobs except for touching up tasks.
But what happens if you apply a second coat too soon? Many experienced builders and DIYers warn against painting a second coat too soon. When you don’t let the first coat dry, you are risking streaks occurring on the paint. There is also a higher chance of the paint having an uneven finish.
It’s also common for the paint to peel when the first layer or coat of paint didn’t fully dry. Allowing the first coat to fully dry also makes painting a new layer a lot easier. You can easily see which part of the surface requires another coat since wet paint looks different from dry paint.
In short, be more patient in letting the first layer of paint dry before painting a new layer. You don’t want to ruin all your hard work simply because you weren’t that patient.
You may also wonder if the second coat of Sherwin Williams requires less paint. The answer is yes, it won’t require as much paint as the first coat because of the less coverage required.
Usually, the second coat is a thinner layer intended to smoothen out any patches or brush strokes you may have left after the first layer of paint dried. The first coat technically did the majority of the paint job, and the second coat will finish it, so to speak.
But should you apply a third layer of paint? This is a question often tossed around by novice DIYers. It’s up to you if you want to apply a third layer of paint. If you still find the surface patchy after the second coat of paint has dried up, then you may consider applying another coat of paint. Some builders and experienced DIYers even say that a third layer is necessary for paints with a dark and deep color.
But Sherwin Williams paint rarely requires more than two coats because of its excellent coverage of this paint.
How to Save on Sherwin Williams Paint
Since Sherwin Williams is not the cheapest brand of paint in the market, you may be interested in learning a few tricks to help you get savings if you opt for this paint brand.
The first tip to remember is to watch out for the Sherwin Williams paint sale. The brand often goes on sale, with the prices of its paint getting up to 40% off. You can buy Sherwin Williams paint when it is on sale and then use it later when you already have a home DIY project in mind.
How would you find out if there’s a Sherwin Williams paint sale? The best way to do so is to join the mailing list of the brand, where you can get the latest information about its products. Even better, you can purchase paint while it is on sale and then choose the colors later on. This is a great deal, especially if you’re not yet sure about the colors you’d want for your home DIY project.
Once you’ve bought Sherwin Williams paint, you can then join their loyalty program. Called Paint Perks, it can give you a coupon worth $10 for any purchase worth $50 or higher. You will also get notifications regarding their sales and qualify for discounts.
When possible, buy and use the 5 gallons of paint. This is highly recommended if you’re repainting the ceilings since white is the usual color for this part of the house. If you’re also intent on using the same color in various rooms, not only will you get more savings, but also, your home will tend to look bigger and more cohesive.
Finally, you can ask about their “Oops” paint. This refers to unused but returned paint. It’s usually paint that a customer returned because he changed his mind on the color. At times, it’s also leftover paint.
You can get it at a discount, at times to as much as $10 per gallon. For detailed cost of Sherwin William paint, follow our guide on Sherwin Williams paint cost.
Conclusion
Sherwin Williams paint is considered a premium brand. While it may be more expensive compared to other paint brands, it does offer a lot of benefits to its users, like longevity and higher coverage.
There are two types of Sherwin Williams paint. The oil-based variety can dry overnight, but it’s advisable to paint a second layer 24 hours after the first coat. The water-based paint dries faster at around 1-2 hours, but it is also recommended that the second layer or coat be painted around 3-4 hours later.
Now that you’ve learned about the many benefits of using Sherwin Williams paint, would you consider it for your next home repainting project?
