Help! Gloss paint not drying

[SweetPeaPods]

Decided to decorate dining room over the weekend. DH painted skirting boards and the 2 window sills Friday, finishing around 5pm. Dulux one coat gloss in white says 16 hour drying time on tin. followed all tin instructions, light sand on existing paint, sugar soap and dry before painting. Radiator has been on low in the room so a nice steady temp, not too hot and not too cold. It’s still really tacky and paint on finger if I touch it. Why isn’t it drying? We really need to get the walls painted ASAP.

Paint dries by ventilation, not by heat. Open the window a bit.

Is it water paint or oil paint? How old is the tin? How long did you stir it?

It depends on how thick the coat was.

The damp and cold this time of year will increase the drying time. There's just a lot of moisture in the air. That said, I agree that ventilation is the answer.

Have opened the window thanks.
Standard coat as recommended on tin. Paint was pretty think. Tin said not to stir it. Only bought this week so new. Oil based.
We’re getting new flooring put down Monday so really need it to dry!

I tend to cheat and pop the dehumidifier in there (windows shut) but I generally work with water based paint.

What about trying a coolish hairdryer on a patch? If it works you could do the most vital bits.

This isn't particularly helpful but I normally do walls first and skirting boards last.

Yeah in hindsight we should have bought water based and done 2 coats. Was in a bit of a rush when in shop and thought one coat would be quicker! Might try the hairdryer thanks. Not got a dehumidifier.

Google the paint, I think there are some issues with this paint. I used it on my hall and the finish was awful. It took a long time to dry and in really hot weather goes tacky again. I need to redo it all.

Only thing with water based is that it chips easily when bashed. I couldn't fathom. It as it chipped easily back to bare wood on skirtings. Advised to start using oil based which we did with I think primer?, but also undercoat and main paint. Much more durable and and better finish as well

Never used a pain you don't stir so not sure but ventilation as others said is the key to it. We leave a minimum 24 hours between coats as it needs to be able to be sanded in between (very lightly)

Still very tacky this morning and still coming off on fingers when touched. Now been 40 hours.

There is something wrong with it then. Even in a fairly unventilated room it should dry in that time. Was it old paint?

Brand new tin. Still wet so definitely not right.

Eggshell for interior woodwork is a much better product and pretty hard to chip. I hate gloss these days and you hardly see it used for interiors any more. It’s just too difficult to use.

You can have oil based eggshell/Satinwood which is what I used

Doesn’t it go yellow though?

Eggshell doesn’t if it’s water based. We have had it for years and years!

I had heard that but mine hasn't beyond normal age. Looks a lot better than the knocks which have left large chips off. Water based is popular due to such quick drying times so can be recounted same day but having had both I know what I would choose.

Gov regulations means all the dangerous chemicals have been removed so paint is not what it was. You should speak to shop first, and then manufacturers, an experienced painter might help with ideas.

Never use one coat paint, you wouldn’t see a professional use it. Rub down, undercoat, satin.

You will get a better finish too. Hope it’s dried for you now.

Sorry I meant eggshell, satin is emulsion.

I used Dulux Once Gloss on the woodwork in my bathroom last year and I thought it was never going to dry. It was tacky for what seemed like weeks! I thought my mistake was using a water based undercoat/primer but I subsequently asked a pro and he told me that shouldn't have been a problem. The weather was very damp and I think this contributed to the slow drying time. On the plus side, the finish is a lovely high gloss and it looks very durable (once it's finally dry).