Exact Answer: 24 hours
Wood stain is a type of paint used to color wood, and it contains colorants that typically dissolve into a good suspension. The application of an exterior wood stain to window frames, decks, and outdoor furniture helps to safeguard your wooden materials from being destroyed with algae, molds, and rot.
Summary
Furthermore, it also provides a waterproof coat, thereby protecting the materials from water damage. However, the main issue usually is waiting for the stain to dry completely between the coats.
This becomes more confusing since people are generally uncertain about the duration it takes for the stain to dry fully so that you can embark on applying a second coat.
How long does stain take to dry?
| Stain Type | Time |
| Wood Stain | 24 hours |
| Non-penetrative | 2 days |
| Latex | 2 hours |
There are various types of external wood stains, so it is no surprise that there are different ranges of drying times. You can find stains that dry within a couple of hours, whereas others take either one or two days to dry properly, and this mostly is the case with thick stains.
Additionally, some stains are non-penetrative can take approximately weeks to dry fully. When dealing with these non-penetrative stains, you should first leave it for roughly a week or more before applying the second coat.
Additional latex stains take long enough to dry, and you might be surprised to know that some take about two to three weeks to dry, so you need to be patient. Furthermore, different stains vary in the duration of drying, so you should be specific about the stain you want to use.
Why does stain take long to dry?
Time taken in drying stains is often affected by various factors. Below are some major factors that affect the stain drying duration:
Brand
The type of stain you use determines how long the drying times will be. Some brands usually take five to eleven hours to dry, whereas others take approximately twelve to twenty-four hours to dry.
Therefore, it is up to you to decide which brand to use as different types of stains have drying durations that vary.
Humidity
This is a significant factor that determines how well your stain dries. The ideal humidity levels range between 50% to 70%, and high humidity levels slow down the drying process.
However, if you want to achieve the best results, the optimum humidity level is at 50%.
Temperature
The temperature of the place you are working from has a profound effect on the drying duration. Temperature ranging between 50 to 90 degrees is ideal as it boosts the stain drying process.
Nevertheless, expect longer drying times if the temperature is either at its lowest or its highest point, with the optimal temperature for drying your stain being 75 degrees.
Ventilation
This is more applicable if staining is being done indoors, and then it plays a crucial role in the staining process. Proper ventilation does not only keep you from inhaling dangerous fumes but also fastens the drying process.
Therefore, it is appropriate to maintain good and proper air circulation to enhance the staining process further.
Conclusion
Having gone through the article, you now understand the duration it takes a stain to dry as well as understand some of the factors that affect the stain drying intervals. Therefore, thanks to this information, you will be able to achieve exceptional results every single time.
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