When Can You Hang Pictures On The Wall After Painting?
Decorating inside of your home can sometimes requires a little patience.
Most of you have painted the interior walls of your house or apartment, or you are about to paint them. But what about your picture frames or mirrors waiting for you to place and hang after you have finished painting? With these tasks in mind, you would wonder this question:
How long should you let the paint dry before hanging your pictures?
The simple answer is you should wait as long as you can. After you finish painting, wait as long as possible before you hang your pictures. Paint dries and cures at different rates due to several factors. And you can preserve your paint job better with the more time that has passed.
Still, wondering why this is the best way on how long you should wait for the paint to dry before hanging pictures?
In this article, I will show you:
- The factors affecting paint drying time.
- What are the different types of paint.
- The difference between the dry time and cure time.
- What to do before you begin hanging a picture.
- How to hang a picture with or without a stud.
Let’s dive in to get some more details!
What Factors Affect Paint Drying Time?
There are a few factors on why the drying time of paint can vary. And the evaporation of paint can affect these factors. The evaporation rate plays a huge part in the drying time of paint. The good news is that you have some control of these factors to get quicker results.
Temperature
The optimal temperature range for paint to dry is between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Any temperature below this range – you will see the rate of evaporation decrease. If it is too cold, you will see an increased amount of time for the paint to dry. And If it is too hot, the paint will not properly bond to the wall surface, and you will have an uneven finish.
Spring and fall seasons are the best times to paint due to their ideal temperatures. For indoor painting, use the thermostat of the air conditioner. You can regulate the room temperature to be more within the optimal range.
Ventilation
The amount of airflow in a room can also affect how fast paint will dry. More airflow will allow the paint to dry more quickly. If there is poor ventilation, then the drying time will take longer. One way to increase the ventilation in a room is to open a window or a door to the outside.
Humidity
We know humidity as the amount of water vapor or moisture that is present in the air. The higher the humidity, the more time it will take for the paint to dry. It is because the wetness of the paint is evaporating at a slower rate.
You want the relative humidity levels to be around 50 percent or less when you paint. If you want to decrease the drying time, use a dehumidifier when possible. It will help to remove the water vapor whenever you are painting indoors.
Application
Paint dries faster when it spread in an even, uniform manner. Use a paint roller rather than a brush if you want to reduce the dry time even further. A paint roller will help to spread an even amount of paint on the surface. And it fills up gaps or voids faster, especially on walls.
What Kind Of Paint Are You Dealing With?
Be sure you are using the right kind of paint for the job. Paint comes in two types – either it is water-based or oil-based. But there is a difference between oil-based and water-based paints. It is the agents that are inside of the paint. And these agents help bond the paint to the surface.
The type of paint you choose will determine its dry time. And it will also determine how soon you can move on to the next step – hanging your pictures after painting your walls.
Let’s break down the type of paints that are available.
Latex Paint
Latex paint is a water-based paint and it has fewer fumes. It is easy to clean up and easy to find, but it is more expensive. The dry time and curing time does not take long either. It can take one to two hours for the paint to dry in ideal conditions. Latex paint is usually used to paint drywall or interior walls.
Acrylic Paint
Another type of water-based paint is acrylic paint. Acrylic paint is most commonly used for small projects and comes in a large variety of colors. It is also very inexpensive and is easy to find in craft stores. It dries in about 20 to 30 minutes. And it is very easy to clean up using soap and warm water.
Oil-based Paint
Oil-based paint is less expensive and more durable than latex paint. But, the dry time and the curing time are a lot longer. In some cases, it can take up to 24 hours for oil-based paint to dry. It’s best to use oil-based paint in high-traffic areas such as doors, molding, or cabinets. Or you can use it in places where it gets wet such as porches or outdoor patios.
But, oil-based paints have more fumes. They also tend to be higher in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are gases or solvents that escape into the air as the paint dries. To limit the amount of exposure to VOCs, look for oil-based paint labeled “low VOC.”
Remember, always read the instructions on the label on the paint can before you use the paint. Not every paint is the same, and brands can slightly vary in their directions or use. You want to prevent the situation where you have different dry times on the same surface. Spreading the paint unevenly will cause different dry times on the surface.
What Is The Difference Between Dry Time And Cure Time?
Some people can get the dry time and cure time confused. So it’s important that I explain these two concepts. It will help you understand when is the best time for you to hang your pictures.
Dry Time
Dry time is the amount of time you must wait for the paint to dry before you can add another coat to your paint job. For example, you can apply the first coat of latex paint to a wall, wait for two hours, and then apply a second coat of paint. The dry time of the latex paint would then be two hours.
Cure Time
The amount of time it takes for paint to fully bond to the surface is the cure time. If you don’t wait for the paint to cure, you could damage your paint job and the surface would have scuff marks.
It can take some time for the paint to cure. Some paint cans even say that it takes the paint up to 30 days to cure! So plan accordingly. A recommended solution is to wait a full week or more after you paint before you decorate a wall or hang pictures.
Before You Begin To Hang A Picture
Now you understand the amount of time you must wait after painting your walls. But, you still have to hang your pictures. And hanging pictures on the walls will depend on the weight of each picture. Heavier pictures will need more reinforcement than lighter ones.
An easy way to measure the weight of a picture is to weigh yourself while holding the picture and standing on top of a body scale. Then, subtract your weight from the reading that you got from the scale. You now have the weight of your picture.
It is also important to know what type of wall you have: either drywall, plaster, or masonry. What type of wall you have will determine what hardware you will buy and use to hang your pictures.
If you happen to not know what type of wall you have, use this easy method to determine it. Take a push tack and try to stick it into the wall. If it goes through the wall, then the type of wall is drywall. If the push tack does not go through the wall, then the wall type is either plaster or masonry. But you can still use the same method for hanging pictures on both these types of walls.
Ensure you have the following tools on hand: pencil, tape measure, electric drill with a drill bit, hammer, and masking tape or painter’s tape.
How Do I Hang Pictures Without A Wall Stud?
At this point, you should know how much your picture weighs as well as what type of wall you have. Here are a few of the hardware options you can use to hang your pictures. They are all good methods, but none of them are 100 percent fail-proof. So take the necessary precautions when you hang your pictures.
- Adhesive strips or command strips. This is perhaps the easiest method to hang your picture. Use them for very light picture frames and objects. They come in either reusable velcro strips or sticky tape. You will adhere them to the back of your picture frame. Then, just position the picture and place it where you want it on the wall.
- Light nail with D-ring or sawtooth hanger on the back. This is a good option for very lightweight pictures and objects.
- Hook-type hanger. This works best with light pictures and objects that have wire hangers on the back.
- Self-tapping threaded hangers. These are for hanging pictures that need further reinforcement. And it would be beneficial to use them on hollow walls such as plaster or drywall. You don’t have to pre-drill a hole. Just select a desired location on the wall and then tap them lightly into place with a hammer. Finish screwing them with an electric drill.
- Drywall anchors. These are good for hanging heavier objects or pictures. You will need to pre-drill a hole using an electric drill and drill bit.
- Toggle bolts. There are bolts with wing nuts that look like butterflies. They are the strongest method and are also good for hanging heavy pictures and objects. You will also need to pre-drill a hole using an electric drill and drill bit.
How Do I Hang Pictures With A Wall Stud?
Drywall will have either wooden or metal studs which help to reinforce walls. Find the stud by using an electric wall stud finder. Or you can locate the stud by lightly tapping the wall with a hammer.
Mark your desired location using the pencil. Then make a pilot hole by pre-drilling the wall with your electric drill with a drill bit. Insert your nail with a hammer, and now you are ready to hang your picture.
Before you hang the picture, stick self-adhesive felt pads or bumpers on the back of the picture frame. These will prevent scuff marks on the walls.
Watch this helpful video from Lowes on how to hang a heavy picture or mirror.
Wrapping Up – How Long To Let The Paint Dry Before Hanging Pictures?
There you have it!
You should now be more confident in hanging your pictures and decorating your walls. And you should have a better understanding of the reasons for dry and cure times of paint.
Remember, you don’t want to ruin your precious paint job. So wait as long as you can after you finish painting to hang your pictures. Ideally, you would wait for 30 days. But, if you are low on time like most of us, then the recommended solution is to wait for at least one week.
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