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Q: Recently, I painted the shed in the yard, but when the job was done, I had almost a full can of paint left over. Since I don’t have any other exterior painting projects coming up and I hate to let pricey paint go to waste, I’m considering using it indoors to paint my home office. Can you use exterior paint inside?

A : It ’s wise to use remnant paint for like Job when potential , but there ’s a significant difference between interior and exterior paint . It ’s necessary to realise these difference of opinion between interior versus exterior pigment to do the question : Can you use exterior paint inside ? Specifically designed for indoor environments , upcountry blusher contains few harmful chemicals and also tends to bind better to drywall than exterior pigment .

Exterior paint is formulated to hold up under rainwater , sleet , hail , snow , blowing detritus , and direct sun , but to achieve this story of durability and resilience , the paint carry herculean chemical substance components that can be harmful to your wellness . Additionally , exterior paint may not dry out efficaciously or evenly when used indoors . And , surprisingly , even though it can stand up to all kind of weather , exterior paint is n’t contrive to ward against the kind of stain , mark , and other abuse the intermediate kin can serve up out .

Using exterior paint inside should be avoided because it can be hazardous to your health.

The principal understanding to deflect using exterior rouge inside is that its chemical substance composition can be harmful to homo . Exterior paint is designed to last for year , despite regularly being exposed to ultraviolet light radiation , rain , high winds , blowing debris , sleet , hail , and blow . This is possible due to the type of pigment , binders , and the amount of volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ) used in the formula .

VOCs present the prominent job , as inhaling or coming into contact with these toxic components can lead to substantial health risks . Before using a paint product , it ’s recommended to check the ingredient list for any VOCs . vulgar VOCs admit 1,3 - butadiene , benzene , ethylene ethylene glycol , methanal , methylene chloride , tetrachloroethylene , methylbenzene , and xylene .

When exterior rouge dries and therapeutic , the VOCs are exhaust into the air , creating a impregnable chemical smell . Outdoors , VOCs heading off into the unresolved air , but when this case of paint is used indoors , the chemicals are trapped inside the home . fit in to theEPA , exposure to VOCs , especially in an enclosed space , can make a range of problem including cephalalgia , nausea , loss of coordination , irritation to the eyes , nose , and pharynx , as well as damage to the kidney , central nervous system of rules , and liver . The exterior paint will preserve to emit VOCs , even after it dries , putting you and your family at risk .

gloved hand using a paint brush with bright yellow paint on it and painting a white wooden window shudder yellow

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Exterior paint will take longer to cure if it’s used indoors.

Beyond the health implication , there are several extra reason whyexterior paintis a poor option for an internal painting project . For one , when used indoors , exterior key can take a significantly longer time to dry out and bring around , as compare to products design for interiors . What ’s more , this extended dry time often affects the appearance of the ruined product when used indoors , resulting in a patchy and scratchy look

Some misguided DIYers may try out to coalesce interior and exterior paint to use up remnant supply from various projects . This is always a spoilt mind because exterior and home paint products have different formulas that can affect the composition and finish of the pigment . This is especially true if undertake to combinewater - ground and fossil oil - found paint .

There are fewer color options with exterior paint.

Interior and exterior painting projection typically call for different pallette of color and shades . While both interior and exterior paints can extend a wide variety of pigments to choose from , exterior pigment products tend to be more basic . This is because most folks choose an exterior paint colouration that fit the business firm , the yard , and other home in the neighborhood , rather than go for a shadowiness that ’s hopeful , bold , or otherwise unique .

Exterior paint is not designed to withstand everyday wear and tear inside the home.

It may seem strange , given that exterior paint has the resilience and durability to stand up to outside element , that these products are not as effective against the rigors of the average indoor environment . Interior paintis made to protest oil , indoor humidity , staining , and scratchy damage — common indoors wherever people , pets , cooking , cleaning products , and bathroom fixtures are present .

Due to the departure in the paint recipe , exterior paint can get scratched or stain easier , and it is more difficult to clean . Additionally , interior pigment intersection are often made with additives that are specifically intended to abridge drying clip , pass around paint evenly , and defy fleet or yellowing .

Can you use interior paint outside?

The main rationality why exterior pigment is a bad pick for interior picture projects is the potential health jeopardy stick by the chemic ingredients — but that ’s not a problem when interior paint is used alfresco . However , folks hoping to use midland rouge toupdate the appearance of their home ’s sidetrack , for example , should observe that this case of key will not last very long outdoors .

Exterior paint has a thicker expression with a high VOC mental object that allows it to resist fading , chipping , and peeling when exposed to direct sunlight , rain , sleet , hail , and snow . When midland paint is used outdoors , the rouge is on a regular basis subjected to alter humidity levels , temperature fluctuations , and an motley of environmental conditions that the blusher is not made to withstand .

So while interior rouge can be applied outdoors without any wellness hazard , the colouring material will likely fade and the paint will come out to skin and chip after a short point of time . With this in judgement , it ’s better to buy a can of exterior blusher to complete any outdoor painting projects . For upcountry projects , do n’t use leftover exterior paint that could put you and yours at risk . or else , invest in a can of upcountry paint with ingredients that make it safe for use indoors .

a man wearing a mask uses a roller to paint a wall blue

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overhead view of open paint cans with blue paint inside and blue paint sample sheets fanned out with paint brushes

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close view of siding on house with paint roller painting white paint on siding

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