If you have a painting project coming up soon, then you might want to make use of some paint that you already have lying around your home. It’s good to use old paint up instead of buying new paint. No one wants to be wasteful, so it makes sense to do this whenever you can. Many people have been asking me about whether exterior paint can be used to paint inside.
Today, I’m going to go over this topic in detail so that you’ll know what to do with your old exterior paint once and for all. You’ll be able to learn whether this paint can be used indoors and I’ll also go over some tips. Take the time to go over the details so that you’ll have a full understanding of the topic. I’ll also go over the reasons why paints are considered to be either interior or exterior.
Using Exterior Paint Indoors Isn’t a Great Idea
It’s possible to use your exterior paint indoors if you really want to. You really shouldn’t, though. You see, exterior paint is not going to do the best job on your inside walls. This paint hasn’t been designed for use indoors and it’s going to look far less appealing than actual interior paint.
You might be tempted to use exterior paint to save yourself a little bit of money. If you already have exterior paint lying around, then you might not see the harm in using it. This really comes down to your expectations. If you don’t care how your paint job turns out, then using exterior paint is an acceptable idea.
Those who want to get the best results should take the time to go buy a can of interior paint. Generally speaking, paint isn’t all that expensive. It’s going to be worth it to go buy what you need to get better results. I’ll explain a bit more about why you should be using interior paint below.
Interior Paint Is Specifically Formulated for Indoor Use
Using interior paint is best because it has been specifically formulated for indoor use. It’s made to stand up to bumps and scrapes. People are going to be touching indoor walls often and furniture is often placed against walls. Having paint that is durable enough to stand up to this type of punishment is essential indoors.
Indoor paints are also a whole lot smoother than exterior paints. People are generally going to be inspecting interior paint jobs closer than they would an exterior job. This means that having a smoother finish really does matter and it can increase the overall style of your home. The smooth paint jobs also make it easier to clean and dust the walls, so there’s a practical reason for having the right finish as well.
Even painting with interior paints indoors is going to be easier for you. These types of paint include special additives that will reduce problems with splatter. It’s going to roll or brush on smoothly and the paint job will turn out well. You definitely want to use interior paint for indoor paint jobs.
Exterior Paint Is Made to Hold up Well Outdoors
The exterior paint that you have has been formulated for use outdoors. It’s designed to stand up to the elements and it’s capable of dealing with temperature fluctuations. This is important as exterior paint needs to stand up to both the summer heat and winter chill. They’re also made to be as water resistant as possible.
Exterior paints have water-resistant properties and they can block out UV rays to keep things from fading due to exposure to sunlight. These are all important features and they’re best put to use outdoors. If you have extra exterior paint, then it’s going to be a better idea to paint your shed or put a fresh coat of paint on your fence than it is to use the paint indoors. It’s going to be put to better use outside and you’ll be able to enjoy keeping the outside of your home looking just as nice as the inside.
Odor Is Also a Concern
Another reason not to use exterior paint indoors is the odor. Exterior paints have been made using volatile compounds that aren’t safe to use in confined spaces. You could open up the windows and wear a mask while painting, but this is still not safe. Interior paints have been designed to be safe to use indoors and they produce only minimal odors while having close to zero toxic emissions.
Knowing this, it’s clear that using exterior paint indoors is not smart. It’s going to smell and that scent could wind up sticking around. It’s going to be a clear hazard to your family and could even cause health complications for those with respiratory conditions. Avoid using exterior paint indoors simply due to the concerns about odor and toxicity.
In Conclusion
You now know that exterior paints should really not be used for indoor paint jobs. It’s possible to use the exterior paint if you want to, but it isn’t going to give you the best results. When you care about the quality of the paint job, it’s always going to be best to use interior paint. This is going to give you better results and you’ll have an easier time working with it indoors.
Don’t throw away your exterior paint, though. If you can make use of it to touch up your fence or your shed outside, then that will be a great way to put it to use. It just isn’t going to be the right fit for painting your living room or your bedroom, so you’ll want to go buy a good can of interior paint for your inside painting needs. Just take the time to do things right when you’re painting the interior of your home and you’ll be able to stand back and admire how nice the paint looks soon enough.
