Hey there, folks! Alex here, and today we’re going to talk about an important topic: why you should never use exterior paint indoors.
You see, painting is a fantastic way to refresh your living spaces, but not all paints are created equal, and the differences between interior and exterior paints are more than just skin-deep.
Now, when we’re working on the outside of our homes, we need paint that can stand up to the elements—sun, rain, wind, you name it.
Exterior paints and wall coatings are formulated to be tough, durable, and resistant to the harsh conditions Mother Nature throws our way.
They’ve got additives that help combat fading, mould, and all sorts of weather-related wear and tear.
But when it comes to the great indoors, we’re dealing with a different set of challenges.
First off, there’s the issue of ventilation.
Interior spaces typically have less airflow than the great outdoors, and that means fumes from certain paints can hang around longer, posing potential health risks.
Exterior paints often contain higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are those chemicals that evaporate into the air as the paint dries.
In an open-air environment, these VOCs disperse more easily, but inside your home, they can linger and contribute to indoor air pollution.
This can lead to headaches, dizziness, and other health issues.
Not exactly what you want in your cosy living room or bedroom!
Another thing to consider is that exterior paints may not be as scrubbable or washable as their indoor counterparts.
In your living room or kitchen, where spills and stains are inevitable, you want a paint that can stand up to regular cleaning without losing its lustre.
Interior paints are designed with this in mind, offering better wash ability and resistance to common household stains. In fact you can buy paint specifically designed for areas of high humidity such as bathroom paint.
So, folks, when you’re tackling an indoor paint project, make sure to grab the right can off the shelf.
If you are buying paint in a DIY shop, ask a member of staff for advice if you are unsure.
They are paid to help you!
Choose a quality interior paint with lower VOCs, better washability, and a finish that suits your indoor needs.
It might cost a bit more, but in the long run, you’ll have a healthier, longer-lasting finish that’ll keep your indoor spaces looking great.
Never ever be tempted to buy cheap paint though, you will actually lose money rather than save it.
That is because cheap paint requires more coats and you will use more, so you won’t actually save any money at all.
Exterior paint vs. Interior Paint
The most notable difference between exterior and interior paints is what they are made from.
More specifically, the resins (what binds the pigment to the painted surface) that each product contains.
Resins in exterior paint are specifically made to endure the various seasonal temperature changes, and also resist whatever the weather throws at it, which is of course irrelevant for inside your home. Unless you are living in a house with no roof!
Generally speaking, interior paints are purely decorative, with the ability to clean and wipe them down important, whereas exterior paint is not only decorative, it has to protect also.
The ingredients in exterior paint give off high VOCs, fumes basically, which is the primary reason why using exterior paint indoors can actually carry risk.
Interior paint has typically a low VOC (It doesn’t smell bad) and as such it does not stink the house out when used.
If you used exterior paint indoors, you would have to live with an awful chemical smell for some time.
Paint is a pigmented liquid, liquefiable or solid mastic composition used to add colour and protect surfaces. Usually applied using brushes or rollers, paint can be found both indoors and outdoors.
High-grade interior paints resist fading over time, while remaining durable against regular cleaning and scrubbing.
Water-based paints
If you want to give your workplace a fresh coat of paint, there are various water-based paints you can choose from to refresh its aesthetics.
Each is tailored specifically towards a task; some offer moisture and mould resistance while others provide high-quality finishes with good hide ability – so picking out the ideal option for you project will bring about superior results.
Quality paint depends on several elements, including its binder.
Binders hold pigment particles together and give the final form and consistency of a paint, and lower quality binder could lead to issues adhering to surfaces or lasting as long over time.
Furthermore, sheen quality also plays an integral part; flat sheen is ideal for areas with low foot traffic while eggshell and satin coatings may provide greater resistance against moderate to heavy foot traffic.
As well as choosing a high-quality binder, it is also wise to seek a low-odour paint with no or low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC).
Such paint will reduce any unpleasant odours caused by painting while being much safer while decreasing risks associated with fume inhalation for family or employees who will use the space after painting is complete.
Water based paint is not usually good for the exterior of your house, and it won’t last long.
Oil-based paints, or “gloss” to you and me.
Oil-based paints contain high levels of solvents that are detrimental to both the environment and your health.
When they evaporate, they release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere that contribute to an unpleasant paint smell and may damage surfaces over time. Due to these harsh chemicals and VOCs, applying oil-based paint requires more ventilation during application.
Oil paints generally dry much more slowly than their water-based counterparts, which may prove problematic for projects requiring immediate completion.
They also produce stronger odours and are harder to clean up after use compared to water-based varieties; however, their high moisture-resistance makes them suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, and other high-humidity areas.
Oil-based paints differ from emulsion in that they form a hard enamel surface which can withstand more wear and tear than other varieties, making them suitable for high traffic areas such as doors and skirting boards.
Oil based gloss paints can be used in the home, but minimally as they let off a chemical smell, so only ever use sparingly and in a very well ventilated room.
If you’re unsure if a paint is oil-based or not, performing an easy test at home can help!
Simply dip a cotton ball or rag in some rubbing alcohol (acetone is also effective) and rub over the painted area; if it flakes off or softens then that indicates its water-base properties; otherwise it indicates oil. This simple step can save both time and headaches!
Emulsion paints
Paints designed specifically to do one job can make the task simpler and last longer, as well as being easier to apply without risk of ruining surfaces. From walls, mouldings, railings or any other surface in your home or office – there is a paint that fits.
Emulsion, also called Latex paint in the USA, are water-based, easy to use and clean up easily with soap and water. With no harmful chemicals to release into the environment, emulsion paints offer much-needed environmental benefits compared to their oil counterparts.
Is Emulsion paint suitable for exterior walls?
No, basically!
It will not hide any imperfections in an exterior wall, plus it will not have any weatherproofing ability as it is not designed for exteriors.
If you paint an outside wall with emulsion paint, it is highly likely going to wash off at the first sight of rain!
Emulsion also has a mild odour before drying into an elastic coating – perfect for both bare plastered walls or wood surfaces as well as existing painted ones!
Acrylic paints
Paint can have many benefits for both homes and commercial buildings, including its aesthetic appeal and protection of surfaces and increasing value.
Unfortunately, certain exterior paints can be hazardous when used indoors.
Although acrylic paints are suitable for many surfaces, it is wise to use an acrylac primer on wood as this will prevent bubbles and make cleaning the painted surface simpler. Plus, an additional bonus is that this creates a barrier against pests such as termites and carpenter ants chewing through it more easily!
Instead of the special solvents required by oil paints to thin them out, artists using acrylic mediums to alter their consistency can instead alter transparency, surface shine and thickness of their work.
Acrylic paints are sometimes used to add designs to a wall, or to add special features, they are only ever used in small quantities are are not suitable for painting the entire interior. Don’t use acrylic paint to paint your house!
While acrylic paints may not last as long, they do not fade in sunlight and have a lightfastness rating that measures how long their colours will remain vibrant.
They can also be altered with retarding mediums to prolong their drying process and allow artists to work longer with the paint without drying time constraints, giving more open time and creating smooth blending effects with greater ease.
What is ideal paint for exterior?
The problem with normal masonry paint is that is is really only decorative and does not generally possess weatherproofing to a standard that would enable it to last for many years.
If the thought of having your house exterior painted very year, or at least every 2 years, fill you with horror then a longer term solution must be found.
This can be achieved in the form of an exterior wall coating which is similar to paint but offers so much more in terms of weather resistance and durability.
Most wall coating systems are professional application only, and last upwards of 20 years, often coming with a guarantee against fading, cracking, chipping or peeling.
They can also stop penetrating damp and lower your home heating bills, solving the issue of cold interior walls, meaning you can leave the heating thermostat alone!
To get more information on having an exterior wall coating fitted to your home, give us a call on 0800 970 4928 or send us an email here.
So, what’s the verdict?
So in summary, the definitive answer is NO, you cannot and should not use exterior paint anywhere indoors, you should use paint specifically designed for painting inside, it is as simple as that.
I hope you found this helpful but please only contact us if you want EXTERIOR painting done, we do NOT do any interior painting at all. Thanks
For a quote for exterior painting of your house, anywhere in Wales or England, call us today, on 0800 970 4928