Over time, the paint of houses and other establishments can fade because of time. If you’re planning a renovation project that involves applying a fresh coat of paint, you have to keep in mind that there are two kinds of painting projects to consider—interior and exterior painting.
The paint used for the indoor and outdoor walls of a property is different because they have unique formulas that you can use for distinct purposes. For interior paint, you can scrub it or clean it gently, and no matter what you do, it will not stain.
Meanwhile, when exterior paint is applied to structures, it could encounter mildew and fade because of changing weather conditions. Before coloring your walls, keep reading below to find out how to tell interior and exterior paint apart to help you achieve a successful project.
Understanding Paint for Your Home
In general, paint comprises a combination of additives, pigments, solvents, and resins. The solvent works to make paint wet, and if you’re using latex paint, you can expect its solvent to be water. On the other hand, oil-based paint utilizes mineral spirits for its solvent.
Every time a coat of paint dries up, its solvent disappears. As a result, only the additives, resins, and pigments remain, becoming durable components. Resins consist of epoxy, acrylic, or silicone; while pigment, which is the color of the paint, is attached to a surface by resin.
Moreover, additives are the element that gives paint various properties like having mildew-resistant properties. It’s also the reason why paint is easy to apply and faster to clean. For interior and exterior paint, their pigments and solvents are quite similar.
It’s up to you if you wish to use water-based or oil-based paint for interior and exterior walls. However, most homes and establishments refrain from applying oil-based paint on their indoor walls because of its uncanny odor and complicated maintenance.
Interior Vs. Exterior Paint
The main difference that sets interior and exterior paint apart is the kind of resin they contain. For exterior paint, the paint requires resistance against weather conditions and temperatures while facing exposure to moisture and humidity at the same time.
Exterior paint is often more durable and resistant to peeling, damage, and fading due to sunlight. That’s why exterior paints require softer resins to bind the paint effectively. As for interior paint, since you don’t have to worry about changing temperatures indoors, the binding resins it needs tend to be firmer to help reduce smearing and scuffing.
How to Apply Interior and Exterior Paint
Exterior paint requires more attention to its elements, so its added resins could lead to outgassing that can remain for up to two days. Afterward, it will keep going in smaller quantities for the next few years. As such, you should avoid using exterior paint for indoor remodeling construction projects.
Besides, interior paint is more fragile than exterior paint, but they don’t outgas enough, so they’re better applied indoors. However, before performing the paint job, you need proper ventilation to ensure nothing wrong happens during the process.
Conclusion
Now that you know the difference between exterior and interior paint, including what they contain and how to use them, you shouldn’t have a problem performing your painting projects. Both types of paint differ in application, and if you don’t know what you require, you should request painting services so that specialists will be there to guide you accordingly.
Are you looking to hire a painting company in Pattaya, Thailand, for your home project? European Painting & Electrical Services offers construction and decoration solutions with the help of our highly skilled team. We strive to provide our clients professional services at an affordable price. Get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation!
