If you have extra paint from repainting your interiors, it can be quite tempting to take it outside to freshen exterior walls, furniture, and fences – especially when you consider how much paint ends up in landfills.
So, is it okay to use interior paint outside, or is it a DIY and design faux pas? According to paint pros, while it is conceivable to use it to paint a house’s exterior, it is an unnecessary shortcut. It’s not what interior paint is intended to do; because of the differences in formulation between interior and exterior paints, it will most certainly require repainting considerably sooner than if you used the appropriate paint for the job.
This can lead to an increase in interior painting cost over time due to the need for more frequent touch-ups and repaints.
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Can you apply interior paint outside?
No, interior paints are formulated differently from exterior paints. Interior paint will not hold up to the elements from outside.
What is the distinction between interior and exterior paints?
Now that we’ve established that you shouldn’t use interior paint outside, what exactly distinguishes interior and exterior paint?
Each paint has four major distinctions that affect its application and outcomes.
Pigment
When you paint an interior or exterior project, you want the color and pigment to last for many years, correct? The pigment is one of the most noticeable variations between interior and exterior paint.
Many interior paints contain organic pigments for their colors, which are known to fade substantially when exposed to intense sunlight and light.
Exterior paint pigments are designed to survive the weather and direct sunshine, allowing the color to fade more slowly than inside paint.
Binders
Binders are paint ingredients that act as a glue between the pigment and the surface to be painted.
Interior paints contain binders meant to withstand abrasion, such as when you walk or slide anything against a wall in your home.
Exterior paints contain more robust binders and are designed to withstand cracking from harsh external environments. They also offer better moisture control, which improves their durability and longevity.
Liquids
Many interior and outdoor paints include volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. When you come into a room and smell the “fresh paint” perfume, you’ll know it’s VOC paint.
These VOCs make it simpler to apply paint to a surface, but they also pose short- and long-term health hazards. These may include inflamed eyes, coughing, headaches, and dizziness.
While there are more low-VOC and VOC-free paint alternatives available, it’s crucial to note that the levels of VOCs in interior and exterior paint vary.
Interior paint has lower VOC levels than outside paint. So, just as you should not use interior paint outside, you should never use exterior paint indoors.
Consistency
The final important distinction between interior and exterior paint is consistency. Interior paint is typically thinner than external paint.
This means that if you used interior paint outside, you would need to apply more coats to cover the surface and achieve an opaque hue. It would take longer to dry than exterior paint.
Exterior paint is often thick, allowing you to cover the entire surface with just a couple of coats.
Pros
While it is generally not suggested, paint experts say there are a few cases where placing interior paint on outside surfaces is acceptable. For starters, it might be a low-cost, short-term solution: reusing leftover interior paint for tiny, low-impact outside tasks can help you save money if you have a limited budget.
Furthermore, it may accomplish the job in regions that are relatively sheltered, such as a pergola or summer house. When the surface is shielded from direct sunlight and adverse weather conditions, inside paint may provide temporary protection. However, if you’re unsure about the best approach, consulting local painters can help ensure you choose the right paint for your project.
Cons
Using interior paint in an open-air setting has a few drawbacks, similar to using exterior paint indoors.
Interior paint is designed to withstand abrasion, stains, and fingerprints (the best kitchen paints are easiest to clean). However, because it lacks the heavy-duty ingredients found in exterior paints, such as mildewcide, it will not withstand harsh weather conditions.
As a result, it is likely to crack, fade, blister, and peel quite rapidly, giving our garden wall paint ideas a shabby rather than sophisticated appearance.
Additionally, considering the average cost of interior painting, it’s important to recognize that the need for more frequent touch-ups or repainting will add to your overall expenses.
It is also less resistant to UV radiation from the sun and temperature swings than exterior paint, which is more adaptable and can handle the expansion and contraction of outdoor surfaces as the seasons change. Furthermore, it may not adhere as well to outdoor surfaces. Indoor paint may also be overly thin and porous, requiring a long time to dry outside.
Conclusion
In short, using interior paint outside is a shortcut that’ll cost you more in the long run. It won’t survive the weather, UV rays, or temperature changes. For a lasting, durable finish, always go for exterior paint. Save yourself the hassle and repaint with the right paint for long-lasting results!
