Are Interior and Exterior Paints the Same?

Though exterior and interior paint are both made to provide style and color to your property, there is a difference in how they achieve the job.  

Exterior paints are made to make your home’s exterior appear beautiful through resistance to mildew, cracking, fading, and other issues brought on by exposure to the elements. On the other hand, interior paint is made to make your house appear its best through resistance to scrubbing and stains. Interior paints ensure that they will maintain their appearance even after cleaning or spills.  

Before you proceed with your painting Redding project, we’re going to share with you the difference between interior and exterior paints.  

Solvents 

To make paint easy to spread and apply, manufacturers have to add a solvent. Typically, oil-based paints use mineral spirits as the solvent. Usually, professionals use them outdoors since they’ve got a strong smell and can be difficult to clean.  

On the other hand, water-based paint uses water as the solvent. Professionals use them in interior painting since they’re easier to clean and they do not have a foul smell.  

Furthermore, oil-based paint has a longer drying time compared to water-based paint. Thus, it is a lot more convenient to use them on your home’s interior.  

Resins 

To ensure that the paint will stick to the surface, manufacturers use resins. They’re typically made of silicone, epoxy, or acrylic. Since you’re exposing exterior paint to the elements, it needs to have a more flexible and softer resin. This enables the paint to adjust as the material contracts and expands when the temperature changes. Also, the resin in exterior paint is made to resist moisture, chalking, cracking, and more.  

On the other hand, interior paint is not exposed to the elements. Thus, it has a more rigid resin. With this, you can easily clean the surface since it can tolerate scrubbing.  

Pigments 

The color of the paint comes from pigments. They’re made from materials that are finely ground. There is synthetic pigment, which is dull. There is also natural pigment, which is brighter. Usually, professionals use organic pigment in interior paint. On the other hand, they use synthetic paint when painting the exterior part of the house.  

Pigment in exterior paint has to be a lot stronger and should be able to endure the elements. Because of this, manufacturers produce outdoor paint using synthetic pigments since they won’t easily fade in the heat or sun. Unfortunately, synthetic pigment can generate foul smells. Thus, you would not want it inside your house.  

On the other hand, natural pigments are safer to breathe. They do not generate foul smells. Thus, they are ideal for indoor painting. Natural pigments will fade when exposed to direct sunlight. Thus, they are not recommended for exterior painting. 

There is a lot to consider when it comes to selecting the correct type of paint for your exterior or interior painting project. If you do not know how to choose the right one, you can always hire a professional painting company for help.