Can you use interior paint inside? This is an interesting question, isn’t it?
Many homeowners who finished their exterior painting projects frequently call us to ask whether they can use the leftover paint to make some touch-ups inside their homes.
This is normal; I mean, who would want to buy more paint when they already have some? The deal here is that interior and exterior paint have different qualities and chemical makeups that make them specially formulated for indoors or outdoors.
So, there are specific reasons why you shouldn’t use exterior paint indoors. Let’s talk about it in deeper detail!
Choosing the right paint for your home is a crucial decision that goes beyond mere aesthetic preferences. Understanding the distinctions between exterior and interior paints is essential for achieving both visual appeal and long-lasting protection.
Exterior paint is formulated to withstand harsh outdoor elements, such as UV rays, rain, wind, and temperature fluctuations. It contains additives that resist fading, mold, and mildew growth, ensuring the paint maintains its vibrant color and protective qualities over time. Additionally, exterior paint is designed to provide a durable finish that can endure the rigors of weather and environmental exposure.
On the other hand, interior paint is tailored for the controlled environment within your home. It doesn’t need to withstand the same external challenges as exterior paint but requires characteristics like washability and stain resistance. Interior paints often have low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) to ensure minimal impact on indoor air quality.
In summary, while exterior paints prioritize weather resistance and durability, interior paints focus on features like washability, stain resistance, and indoor air quality. Considering these differences is vital to achieving the desired results and ensuring the longevity of your paint job, both inside and outside your home.
Now that we know more about each type of paint, we know their main differentiators lie in their components.
And, since they are made for different purposes, you won’t have the desired results in your indoors as you would with interior paint. In fact, instead of being a good idea, it could even harm your health. Let’s talk about it in deeper detail!
Safety comes first. In this way, health problems are the main factor that could stop you from using exterior paint indoors.
Durable and fade-resistant, using exterior painting indoors can be tempting because of its benefits.
However, exterior painting contains more potent chemicals than interior painting that can be released into the air and affect your health.
Almost all paints contain VOC, but interior paint has a low level of VOC at different levels. In fact, some interior paints don’t even contain it.
On the other hand, exterior paint has a higher level of VOC (because they are designed for outdoors, where the air circulation is increased). This, when used indoors, could impact your health.
How? Well, it can have some health effects like eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches and loss of coordination; nausea; and damage to the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system.
And even more significant consequences if the exposure is prolonged or if you already have health problems like allergic reactions.
Even after it cures, exterior paint continues to emit VOCs for several months, at a higher level in the first 48 hours.
Another disadvantage of indoor exterior paint is that it can give off unpleasant odors. The reason also lies in the chemicals they contain.
Exterior painting has some chemicals to prevent mildew, and they are the ones that will produce the odors.
Let’s return to the question: can you use exterior paint inside?
The answer is yes, you can. But, as the saying goes, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Using exterior paint inside can have health effects like eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches and loss of coordination; nausea; and damage to the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system.
Remember that the higher levels of VOCs are in the first 48 hours. So, if you already painted inside with exterior paint, you better let it air out for at least 3 days.
Better safe than sorry; use each paint as intended, interior paint for your indoors and exterior paint for your outdoors.
