Stepping into a paint store can feel overwhelming with many paint colors and products. Fundamentally, there are two types: paints designed for interiors and those made for exterior surfaces. What is the difference between interior and exterior paint? Beyond the obvious location, the differences lie in their composition, resilience, and impact on your health and the environment. If you’re looking for the best painters in Bucks County, look no further than our skilled team at Proper Painting LLC.
Choosing the wrong type of house paint can lead to a paint job that peels, cracks, or fades quickly. Using exterior paint indoors can pose health risks. Let’s explore the key differences to help you decide on your next painting project.
Understanding the Core Components
All paints share four basic ingredients: organic pigments, solvents, additives, and resins. Pigments give the paint its color. Solvents keep the paint liquid until applied. Additives provide specific properties, like mildew resistance. Resins bind the pigment and create the paint film.
Resins: The Key Differentiator
The biggest difference between interior and exterior paints is the resins. Exterior paints use softer, flexible resins, which allow the paint to expand and contract with temperature fluctuations, preventing cracking and peeling.
Interior paints utilize harder resins that offer durability against scrubbing and everyday wear and tear. Interior paints are better suited for interior walls.
Additives: Tailored for Specific Environments
Additives customize paints for their location. Exterior paints include mildew-resistant additives and UV blockers to protect against sun damage and moisture.
Interior paint, not exposed to such harsh weather conditions, focuses on color accuracy and washability. The drying time between interior and exterior paints also often differs.
VOCs: A Breath of Fresh Air (or Not)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals released as paint dries. Exterior paints often have higher VOC levels than interior paints, which enhances their durability in extreme temperatures.
These fumes can cause health problems indoors. Exposure to VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat and cause headaches or nausea.
Oil-based paints sometimes face restrictions or bans due to their harmful VOCs and ozone impact. The added resins in exterior paints can cause outgassing—the slow release of VOCs even after the paint dries—making their use indoors potentially risky. Interior paints prioritize minimizing harmful VOCs to safeguard indoor air quality. It’s best to pick low-VOC paints for a healthier home.
A Tale of Two Walls
Imagine painting your exterior siding with interior paint. The first rainfall could leave streaks and drips. Harsh sunlight can cause the paint colors to fade dramatically. Peeling might begin with extreme heat or cold. Interior paint simply isn’t designed to withstand temperature changes or weather conditions.
Using exterior paint indoors might seem harmless initially, but it carries long-term implications. The high-gloss sheen of some exterior paints may need to be more suitable for interior walls.
Exposure to exterior paint indoors can expose occupants to excess VOCs, impacting health. Exterior paints are also harder to clean from interior surfaces since they attract dirt and stains more than rigid interior paints.
Durable exterior paint is important for exterior applications, and it is advisable to use paint specifically formulated for interiors on interior surfaces. If you paint outdoor furniture, it is key to pick exterior paints since the outdoor furniture must handle extreme temperature changes.
What is the difference between interior and exterior paint? It boils down to choosing the right tool for the job. Using interior paint outdoors invites premature failure while using exterior paint indoors creates health hazards from VOCs. Consider bituminous membranes and other waterproofing products to ensure weather-resistant protection for exterior painting. Make informed choices about paint colors to achieve the desired interior and exterior painting outcome.
For any painting project or endeavor, use the appropriate paint for the given situation. The right outdoor paint will always ensure that your outdoor surfaces resist peeling and staining. Contact us today for more information.
