I couldn't give you a percentage, but we've just been painting and it uses significantly less paint. It took us half the time to do the second coat. The decorator thinks a tin will be 80% empty after a first coat. Whereas a tin would only be 10% empty if a new one is opened for a second coat.
There must be at least a 50% to 70% increase in the number of gallons of paint required. The second coat normally uses slightly less paint than the first coat. And the additional labor also adds to the cost.
You can't get away with one coat of paint. You'll most likely need to apply a second coat of paint. Second coats fill in any gaps, and help you achieve a smooth, uniform colour. As well as looking better, a second coat will ensure your paintwork is durable and long-wearing.
Two coats of paint ALWAYS looks better and more professional than just one. The best paints sold by top paint vendors recommend a two coat system.
But keep in mind that most rooms require more than one coat of paint. So if your room needs 2 coats, plan on getting around 200 square feet out of a gallon. Two gallons would allow for two coats of coverage over roughly 800 square feet.
Adding a Second Coat
A good rule of thumb is to wait at least three hours to recoat your paint or primer if it's water-based. Waiting 24 hours is best for oil-based paint and primer. If you're unsure, the instructions on the paint's label can give you the best final say.
As a general rule of thumb, however, you can assume that 1 gallon can handle a small bathroom and 2 gallons is enough to provide two coats for a small- to average-size bedroom. Receive free, no-commitment estimates from pro painters near you.
Single-coat finishes are less environmentally resistant than two-coat systems, which are designed to offer increased durability. This means that over time and depending on weather conditions, they could degrade, losing brightness and showiness.
Always apply a second topcoat to make sure you achieve the look you want. Without this second coat, any subsequent touch-up will be noticeable and affect the sheen or gloss you want to achieve. Poor color hiding can be mistaken for a problem with touch-up.
It's fine to wait as long as seven days to add a second coat of paint, and some manufacturers even suggest waiting that long. However, if you wait too long, factors such as dust, UV rays, and more can change the color of the paint and impact the look if you add a second coat.
In most situations, a good rule of thumb is to use a primer plus two coats of paint. If you use this rule, you may do one more coat than needed but this won't hurt the final product. There are few situations where this rule of thumb will result in doing too few coats though which is why it is prevalent advice.
The rough texture and visible brush strokes can be easily covered in a second coat of paint by using a slightly different technique than you used for your first coat. Don't forget to look through the types of brushes for painting walls and choose the perfect ones.
There are a number of possible reasons why your paint looks splotchy, including poorly mixed paint, unprepared surface, and too few coats. Has the paint you're using been sitting around for a while before you painted? This could be the reason it looks splotchy. The elements of the paint can begin to separate over time.
Patchiness usually happens if you don't use enough paint, or apply it unevenly. Using a touch more paint, and painting in small sections one at a time, usually does the trick. Also, rolling in a grid fashion will get you an even finish too. But, sometimes, changes in the gloss level leave things patchy.
One-coat paint applied to ideal surfaces sometimes will not adhere properly. Manufacturers' one-coat paint guarantees often exclude repaired surfaces, porous surfaces, surfaces that have previously been uncoated, surfaces that contain tannins (such as cedar), and surfaces with aggressive stains.
But it's not just the amount of paint that needs consideration when repainting a room. Paint that isn't allowed to dry before the application of a second coat is likely to peel, streak, clump, or flake when dry. Experts recommend leaving a minimum of two to four hours of drying time between each coat for best results.
It is actually recommended to cut in for every layer of paint you add. So basically, you should cut in your walls first, and then roll out. Once the layer of paint is dry, cut in for the second time and then roll out again. Repeat this step depending on how many layers of paint you add to your walls.
Use a roller, if possible — A roller will give you better quality and blending than a brush. The preferred roller is a "weenie" roller with a good, quality synthetic cover. Choose a nap thickness of ¼ - to ½ inch. Use less paint — When loading the roller, use the least amount of paint necessary.
Unfortunately, in most cases the answer is no. There are a few circumstances where it can be done with good results, but in most instances the touched up spot will not blend in, but rather result in a slightly different color that looks even worse than the original blemish.
We've all heard paint manufacturers claim “one coat coverage” but is it really true? As a rule of thumb, you should always expect to apply two coats of paint regardless of what the label says. Colors such as reds, bright yellows, and oranges may require three or more coats.
The end-goal for painting projects is to produce a very smooth finish: One way to achieve this is to lightly sand between each coat of primer and paint you apply using fine-grit sandpaper. Sanding between each coat of primer and paint is one way to achieve the best finish for any painting project.
The layperson may think they can save time or money by using just one coat of paint, or that they've chosen the thickness or sheen that will perform up to their standards – but it's quite likely they'll be disappointed with the long-term results. So, back to the first answer: always use two coats.
For the most part, applying your second coat is much like applying your first coat. The tricky bit is keeping track of where you have – and haven't – painted. We suggest beginning in the top corner, and cutting along the corners and trim. From there, roll the paint on in small sections.
In an average-sized room, the first coat may take 45 minutes to an hour while the second coat may only take half as long to finish.