Difference between Interior and Exterior Paint

When it comes time to paint the exterior or interior of your home, it’s essential to choose the right type of paint.

Some homeowners might not know the difference between interior and exterior paint, but they both have different purposes.

Interior paint for indoor surfaces, while exterior paint involves painting outdoor surfaces.

Exterior paint is usually made with a higher quality of ingredients since it needs to withstand exposure to the elements.

Choosing the wrong type could result in a pricey mistake with long-term effects.

Luckily, this article will help you choose between exterior and interior paints so that you can get started painting without any regrets!

What is the difference between interior and exterior paint?

There is the main difference between interior and exterior paint.

Exterior paints are weatherproof and withstand the elements, while interior colors are not.

That’s why you should never use it on the outside of your home- it will not hold up against the sun, wind, or rain!

It is also thicker than interior paints, covering surfaces more evenly and lasting longer.

Interior paint is smoother and more reflective to create a brighter, more cheerful space.

The Difference Between the Basic Ingredients in Exterior and Interior Paint

While both exterior and interior are available in various colors and finishes, they also have many differences in the ingredients.

Exterior paint includes titanium dioxide, benzene, lead, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Meanwhile, interior paint primarily consists of water-based acrylic, latex, or vinyl materials to dry more quickly than exterior paint.

Some of these drying agents can be harmful if inhaled for extended periods, so it’s essential to use appropriate ventilation while working with any paint.

It would be best to never paint inside without proper equipment since breathing in these chemicals can lead to health problems.

If you’re not sure about the best way to paint your home, it’s always a good idea to consult with professional home painters.

The Difference in Usage

It’s important to consider how the surfaces will turn out to be before choosing which type of paint is suitable for your home renovation project.

While both interior and exterior paints are available in low or zero-VOC varieties, the chemicals required for these paints take significantly longer to dry.

It might cause problems if you need to walk on an area before it dries since it could damage the fresh coat of paint.

Suppose you have to walk on freshly painted interior and exterior surfaces during the drying process. In that case, it’s best to use hard-soled shoes like boots or athletic shoes rather than high heels or dress shoes.

It will ensure that your shoe materials don’t damage the new coat of paint.

You should also avoid placing furniture on top of recently painted floors in your home.

If they’re not thoroughly dried yet, this can cause indentations in the fresh coat of paint.

Suppose you want to protect your flooring while giving yourself enough time to dry appropriately. In that case, installing floor protection like plastic sheeting is a wise choice.

Once you know how each type of paint is for and which ingredients are included, you’ll be able to choose the right color for your home improvement project.

Why you shouldn’t use exterior paint indoors

There are a few reasons why you shouldn’t use exterior paint inside.

Exterior paint resists water and moisture and can withstand climate changes, so they’re great for an outdoor home.

Interior paints contain less gloss, so they don’t stay looking shiny and new. 

It may occur if you live in a rainy or humid climate or have outdoor animals like dogs, cats, horses, etc.

Inside your home, you want to create a more pleasant environment.

But, outside, you want to stand up to anything that comes along its way.

Can you use exterior paint over interior paints?

It would be best never to paint your exterior paint inside as it can peel and chip off.

Instead, You should use a semi-gloss or gloss paint to cover the surface from UV rays from the sun, which can fade it.

When applying paint to your exterior surface, you should use a primer and then paint.

The combination of these two will protect your home from any moisture that the weather may bring and also protect it from any dust or dirt that lands on it.

There are a few different exterior paint brands that you can choose from. 

One of the most popular is Benjamin Moore.

They have a variety of colors and finishes, so you should be able to find what you’re looking for.

You can also find exterior paints from Sherwin Williams or Olympic.

What happens if you use interior paint outside?

Using interior paint on the outside of your home is not recommended, as it will not withstand the elements.

If you use interior paint outside, this will likely chip and peel away over time, and you may end up having to repaint sooner than you would with exterior paint.

In addition, using interior paint outside of your home can cause water infiltration, leading to damage to your home’s interior.

Therefore, Make sure to use the correct type of paint for the suitable surface to avoid any damage or problems down the road!

The difference in the coverage area for Interior and Exterior Paint

Exterior paints usually have a larger coverage area than interior paint.

It formulates to be lighter to cover more surface area in fewer coats.

For example, interior paint may require two or three coats to cover the surface thoroughly.

In contrast, 2 Coatings is more than enough for exterior painting work.

Also, remember that you will need to account for primer when choosing the coverage area.

Exterior paints commonly require priming before painting, whereas most interior colors do not!

Why Hiring Professional Painter is worth your Investment

Choose to hire a professional painter to care for your interior painting needs. You’ll likely save yourself some time.

They often have access to the proper equipment and supplies needed for the job.

They also can be more efficient at completing exterior or interior painting projects because they are trained in the appropriate techniques.

Those qualified painters may even be able to offer expertise about which paint color might work best for your project, which can save you time and money.

Final Note

Exterior paints are used on everything outside your home, like doors, windows, and fencing. 

In contrast, interior paints should only be used indoors, like walls and ceilings.

Interior paint contains less gloss, which is not ideal for outdoor use. 

In addition, it will not look shiny or new if you live in a rainy or humid climate or have an animal that lives with you outdoors.

Hence, exterior paint resists water and moisture better than interior paint does.

So, It is essential to make sure you choose when deciding between these two types!

If you’re looking for professional painting services, Paintbuddy&CO is a perfect choice!

We offer expert exterior and interior painting services that will leave your home looking beautiful.

Our professional painting team at Paintbuddy&CO has years of experience in the painting industry.

We’re dedicated to providing high-quality services that exceed our clients’ expectations.

Our Painters use only the highest-quality paints and materials, employing the latest painting techniques to ensure a flawless finish.

We also take pride in our dedication to customer service. 

We always go the extra mile to ensure that our clients are happy with their results.