Hello World! Welcome Friends! It’s the start of the year when most people start working on their new year resolutions. For many of us, improving the look of our homes is probably among our goals for the year. A simple and affordable way to do this is by repainting inside and out.
A repainting home renovation project starts by choosing the right color scheme, which means a trip to the paint store. You may find paints for interior and exterior surfaces when you get there and think – can’t I just use one type for both surfaces? Why buy different types of the same color of paint?
Well, the answer is – there is a difference!
The Difference Between Interior and Exterior Paints
Exterior and interior paints are different because of the ingredients used to make them, such as resins, additives, and binders.
For example, interior paints contain stain-resistant resins, making it easy for you to wash stains off walls.
On the other hand, resins used in exterior paints help keep the elements from destroying the surfaces with things like mildew, cracking, or fading.
With this in mind, you can see that exterior paints are made to be tougher than interior ones. Therefore, each has its place.
However, some people may feel like it’s not a big deal to use exterior paints indoors. They may feel the stronger exterior paints are better indoors, especially on garage or bathroom walls.
Unfortunately, while this theory may seem or feel right, it is wrong. And here’s why.
Five Reasons Why Using the Same Paint for the Interior and the Exterior is Not a Good Idea
1. Adequate Protection
The exterior of the home is exposed to different things than the interior. Exposure to the elements can cause cracking, sun damage, and aging to your exterior walls. These are things that your home’s interior doesn’t have to contend with.
Therefore, exterior paints are created to protect the outside of your house against these problems adequately and for a long time. They contain pigments that will not fade fast and binders that will protect your walls against the adverse effects of the elements. Using these paints indoors is, therefore, a waste.
2. Right Purpose
When doing a home renovation project, you should consider changes that will make the house easier to maintain. When it comes to paints, it’s a good idea to purchase those made to protect each area adequately.
For example, water-based paint is safe and best for use on interior walls. It can protect your walls from scratches or scuffing. It is also easy to clean walls painted using these paints, especially when dealing with kids’ drawings on walls or food stains.
On the other hand, acrylic paint is better on outdoor walls because it’s made to withstand the elements. It is sun-resistant and elastic, which enables it to withstand temperature fluctuations, minimize cracking, and fading. Exterior walls painted with acrylic paint are likely to look great for a long time.
3. Safety Concerns
Some exterior paints are dangerous for use indoors, and others (such as oil-based paints, which were a favorite for outdoor projects in the past) are now banned in many states.
The exterior paints that are safe to use, such as acrylic paints, have characteristics that make them unsafe to use indoors. For instance, they release toxic chemicals that can cause discomfort or illness to the home occupants as they dry.
Think about the kind of danger you or your loved ones would be exposed to if you chose to use exterior paints with harmful ingredients on your interior walls.
4. Side Effects
To ensure exterior paints protect your outside walls for long (in some cases for over ten years), exterior paints contain potent additives meant to preserve the color and finish of the painted walls.
Many of them also release harmful particles known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause short and long term illnesses. Also, the fumes from chemicals in exterior paints are dangerous and can last for a long time. All these issues associated with exterior paints means using them indoors is definitely not worth the risk!
Also, since interior paints are not created for the outdoors, using them on exterior walls means you can expect the paint job to fade, crack, peel off or develop mildew in a short time when exposed to the elements.
5. User Guidelines
All paints are manufactured with your safety in mind. Manufacturers know which paints will be used inside or outside your home and ensure they use only safe ingredients for each type.
Therefore, you will find exterior paints are not approved by manufacturers and experts for interior use and vice versa. If you read the manufacturer’s guidelines on paint cans, you will find strict instructions to use them only for their intended purpose and in the right way.
While some people think exterior paints are ideal for places like bathrooms or garages (either because they contain moisture protection or are made to last long), using them in these areas is not a smart idea.
While they may provide more durability than interior ones, the ingredients are high in toxins and should not be indoors.
For instance, most exterior paints contain titanium dioxide, which can be carcinogenic but adds self-cleaning and brightening properties to exterior paints. Why bring such toxins into your home?
The good news is manufacturers are creating new and improved paints for interior use all the time. These wall applications come with many of the benefits of exterior paints (such as mildew fighting capabilities) with none of the risk.
Bottom Line
So, what do you do if you find a can of exterior paint that is just the right shade for your interior? Please don’t use it to paint your indoor house walls.
Instead, try asking experts at the paint shop to mix the same shade for you but using interior paints. If you are not in a rush, you could ask them to order that shade from the manufacturers and pick it up later.
You also have the option of purchasing paints that are safe for use both indoors and outdoors, such as oil enamel based paints. If you really want a surface application for a particular need, such as waterproofing, rust prevention, or anti-microbial capabilities, go for paint coatings. They are made with a specific purpose in mind, are safe, and highly durable.
Whatever you do, don’t risk your loved ones’ safety or your home’s value by using exterior paint in the house and vice versa. Always use paints or wall applications as recommended by the manufacturers.
Author: Amelia Bim
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Single Touches That Can Boost Home Value
Modern Ideas for Interior Decoration
How to Design the Perfect Living Room
5 Bold Tips to Financial Freedom
Favorites & Highlights – Top Posts of 2020
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Toodles,
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