If you’re painting outdoors or even in your home, you probably sometimes encounter a damp surface, and wonder whether you really need to let it dry before you can apply a layer of paint to it. Drying surfaces out can be a slow, frustrating process – so can you paint wood while it’s still wet?
Being able to paint a surface without having to wait for it to dry can massively speed up a project, especially if it’s a surface that frequently gets damp. You may have heard that people sometimes paint wood when it’s still wet, and might be wondering if you can do the same.
Can you paint wet wood? Painting wet wood will not result in a good finish. The paint will bubble and peel, and may even pull away from the wood entirely, if it isn’t applied to a completely dry surface. Some people do successfully paint on wet wood, but this isn’t recommended and will often result in patchiness, even if the paint doesn’t peel away.
Can Wet Wood Be Painted?
In general, wet wood should not be painted. The simple reason for this is that if the wood fibers have already absorbed moisture, they cannot absorb as much paint. This stops the paint from soaking into the wood and creating a strong bond, and means that the paint will come out patchy, and much more likely to chip off.
There are quite a few issues that you may run into if you start trying to apply paint to wet wood. For starters, you’ll find that the water in the wood dilutes the paint and makes it run, which can make the whole job messy and frustrating. This won’t happen if the wood is only slightly damp, but very wet wood will be a real issue to paint.
Secondly, the moisture will stop the wood from absorbing the paint correctly. It simply cannot soak up as much paint, because it is already holding water. If the paint doesn’t soak into the wood, it can’t bond properly, and that means your paint won’t last well, because it’s not stuck properly.
Often, paint that has been applied to damp wood will only last for a few years, if that. Paint that is applied to dry, clean wood should last for 10 years, or possibly even longer. You make more work for yourself by painting on wood that isn’t dry.
It’s also important to note that your paint may end up patchy. As well as being thinned by the water, it may coat the wood more thickly in some places than others. Damper areas will get less paint, and the overall finish will be patchy and unsatisfying.
How Do You Tell If Your Wood is Too Wet to Paint?
To test whether the wood is too wet to paint, it’s best to use a moisture meter.
However, if you don’t have one available, you can do a simple test by sprinkling a few drops of water onto the surface of the wood. If the wood soaks the water up quickly, it’s dry, and you’ll just need to wait for these drops to evaporate before you can paint.
However, if the drops sit on the surface of the wood, there’s a high chance that the wood has already soaked up as much water as it can hold, and it will not therefore absorb the paint properly. Do not paint it if that’s the case.
You should instead take steps to dry the wood, such as putting a dehumidifier by it, using absorbent cloths, and removing the source of moisture if possible. Give it a few days to thoroughly dry, and then you can paint it.
How Long Does It Take for Wood to Dry?
There’s no average amount of time that it takes for wood to dry, because there are so many variables. The amount of moisture in the wood, the type of wood, the thickness of the wood, the amount of airflow, and many other things will affect how the drying times. Thin wood pieces and softwood will dry more quickly than thick pieces and hardwood, but there are no averages.
However, there are things that you can do to speed up the drying process. Ventilating the space is an important aspect of encouraging wood to dry, without risking it cracking or warping by making it warm. A dehumidifier may also help, as it will pull moisture out of the air, encouraging the wood to dry.
You may want to open the windows and doors surrounding the wood you wish to paint, so that the moisture can escape. This will also increase the airflow, reducing the drying time. All of these things should make it easier to dry your wood effectively.
What If You Do Want to Paint Wet Wood?
If you’ve decided to paint the wood while it’s wet despite the drawbacks, make sure you use a water-based paint. Oil-based paints will be repelled by the water already in the wood, and won’t adhere to it. Water-based paints may be thinned by the water, but they can still bond to the wood.
You should still make efforts to dry the wood out as much as possible before you start painting. You can press paper towels against it, as they are highly absorbent and should wick at least some of the water out of the fibers.
You can also apply a hair dryer on a low heat, but make sure you don’t get the wood too hot, or it may warp and split.
Finally, stir the paint and start applying it in thin coats, leaving each one to dry thoroughly before you apply the next. Bear in mind that it may take longer to dry, because there will be additional moisture in the paint.
Final Thoughts
It is much better to apply paint to dry wood than wet wood, because you’ll get a better finish, and it will last for a lot longer. However, you can paint wet wood if you aren’t worried about the finish, and you’re happy to use a water-based paint.
