Rustoleum Clear Coat not Drying? [3 Reasons with Solutions]

One of the most excellent clear coats on the market is Rustoleum clear coat. In some instances, the drying process is slower. A few guidelines must be followed when it comes to applying color coats.

Why does Rustoleum Clear Coat not drying?

Insufficient drying time causes paint to become tacky and sticky. The paint will not dry properly if the humidity is too high. Like humidity, an unsuitable temperature can destroy your paint. This could be the problem if you’ve got a lot of sticky paint. It may not dry properly if applied thickly.

This is merely a teaser to let you know what’s going on with your problem. But you need some solutions to solve these problems.

An overview of your issue will help you out, so no more delay!

3 Reasons Behind Rustoleum Clear Coat Not Drying!

Certain factors may be at issue if your Rustoleum Clear-Coat isn’t drying properly. You need to find out the reasons properly to fix this. There are several reasons behind that. 

Mostly it becomes tacky and sticky when Rustoleum clear coat paint isn’t left to dry properly. But if you know how to fix sticky clear coat, you can easily fix it.

Weather conditions, such as high humidity and excessive temperatures, can hinder the drying process of paint. Thick coats of paint may have a hard time drying. We’re going to explain these reasons with solutions briefly here-

Reason-1: High Humidity

According to its guide, the ideal humidity level for the Rustoleum clear coat is 50% relative humidity. In the simplest terms, humidity is water in the air. This provides a problem when it comes to painting.

Evaporation is the process through which paint dries. After the paint has been put to a surface, the drying process begins. The solvent (which is what keeps the paint liquid) dissipates as the paint dries.

The paint doesn’t dry properly because of the high humidity. This results in a sticky finish because the solvent is unable to leave the paint.

You may be questioning yourself ‘Will tacky spray paint eventually dry?’ Sticky paint might take anything from a day to a year to show its effects.

Is there anything worse than air drying a wet towel in the middle of a hot bath? The wetness would evaporate if you left it outside in the open air.

It’s the same with paint, too. The first thing you should do if your pain isn’t drying is examine your home’s humidity levels. You can use a hygrometer to measure the humidity in the air.

Here we’ve recommended the two best hygrometers for your humidity test. For this reason, you need a hygrometer must so check down below –

1. AcuRite 00613 Digital Hygrometer
2. Govee Hygrometer Thermometer H5075

These will help you to test your room’s humidity level easily. They’re the greatest in town. You can use these in a variety of situations.

Solution: Avoid Painting when the Humidity Is High

Humidity requirements for each type of paint may vary slightly. Make sure the paint you’re applying is compatible with the surface. The container should indicate the correct humidity level. 

A dehumidifier can be used to reduce the humidity level. Painting can also be done in the spring or fall, depending on the weather.

When it’s raining and the humidity is intense, painting should be avoided. In addition, wood surfaces can be a problem. Wood can be likened to a sponge that soaks up moisture from the surroundings.

Even if the wood is just slightly damp, trying to paint over moist wood can result in tacky paint. Before painting wooden surfaces, make sure they are scorched.

Reason-2: Temperature Effects

In the same way that high humidity can damage your paint, low temperatures can also cause damage. Because of the sticky paint, this could be the issue.

If the weather is chilly, your paint may have difficulty drying completely. Temperatures 70F (21ºC) are generally recommended for the best results for your Rustoleum clear coat. However, you should double-check with your paint because this can vary significantly depending on the paint.

Solution: Allow the Paint to Dry or Warm the Room

Was this applied when the room was too cold? Then you may need to attempt warming the space up to allow the paint to dry correctly. 

Repainting may have to wait until the weather improves if that is the case. Rustoleum clear coat dry time to touch in 20 minutes, to handle in 1 hour. A 24 hours drying time is required.

Reason-3: Too Many Coats of Paint

Sticky paint that won’t dry is often caused by paint being put too thick, in excessively many coats, or too quickly.

In the art world, the term “blocking” may be familiar to you. “Blocking” occurs when you apply heavy layers of paint over each other without allowing the preceding coat to dry in between.

When you apply another coat of paint then effectively prevents the paint from drying. This way, it’s like covering your cake with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.

There is a small dry layer on the outside when you apply overcoats over paint.  Which has not yet dried. To keep the paint underneath from drying, this layer of dried paint acts as a barrier.

When you push on the paint with your finger, you may find that it still feels mushy. However, it might appear to be dry to the touch.

Mainly your car’s rubber paint can be damaged for extra coating. Do you know the blocking while using rubber paint? Then you can understand how to fix sticky spray paint on rubber.

Solution: Use the Product’s Recommended Coats

You shouldn’t use too many coats of paint. The number of layers recommended by the Rustoleum clear coat varies depending on the type of clear coat you use. There are consequences for disobeying them.

They recommend Dry Film Thickness (DFT) per coat of 1.0-2.0 mils (25-50µ). And they recommend for practical coverage DFT (assume 15% material loss) 8-12 sq.ft./can (0.74-1.11 m 2 /can).

You may be able to let the paint dry for months. It mainly depends on the severity of the blocking. If you don’t, you’ll probably have to start again. 

FAQ’s

Conclusion

Now you have a clear explanation for the Rustoleum clear coat not drying. You can find out your problem quickly and solve it by yourself.

Using the same technique as buffing your automobile, you can remove sticky paint! This is an excellent alternative to talcum powder for high-friction areas.

Have a good day!