Their low level of volatile organic compound (VOC) made it a go-to paint after the new VOC regulations. This makes them environmentally friendly paint with minimal to zero harmful effects on your health. “It’s like watching paint dry” is a famous statement, termed after the dry time required by paints, used for anything too long and uninteresting. However, water-based coatings have a really quick dry time and can be ready for recoating in 2 hours.