Why You Shouldn’t Use Outside Paint Inside

Having separate types of paints for indoors and outdoors may seem like a marketing ploy to get us to buy more paints – it’s like when advertisers a hundred years ago tried to convince women to switch from one all-in-one skin cream to using separate skin care products. day and night. However, in this case, there are key differences between the paints. And while it’s technically possible to use exterior paint indoors, here’s why it’s a bad idea.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Exterior Paint Indoors

We love to reuse things we already have on hand so we don’t have to buy something new, but for a variety of health and performance reasons, this isn’t the case when using outdoor paint indoors. That’s why:

It’s a health risk

Most indoor paints are water-based , have minimal smoke, rinse off skin easily, and are generally safe to use. Exterior paints are typically oil or solvent based and designed to withstand severe temperature fluctuations as well as moisture, precipitation and direct sunlight.

The ingredients that provide this durability can irritate a person’s skin or eyes, but paint fumes pose the greatest health hazard. That’s because these exterior paints often contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs , which are released into the air as they dry and cure – or even longer if you’re using exterior acrylic latex paint , which continues to outgas after drying.

According to the Poison Control Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when someone inhales fumes that contain common volatile organic compounds such as benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, ethanol, and acetone, it can cause:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Irritation to eyes, nose and throat
• loss of coordination
• Damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system.

VOCs are less of a problem when outdoor paint is used by a person wearing a mask and other personal protective equipment outdoors . But even if all the windows and doors of the house are open, there will still not be enough ventilation to apply paint for outdoor work indoors.

Outdoor paint doesn’t work as well indoors

Apart from the health risks, exterior paint is not a good choice for interiors for other reasons, including:

Sunlight is essential for proper healing.

While exterior paint will cure indoors over time, it will take much longer than interior paint, leaving your walls vulnerable to scratches, scuffs, and other dents for an extended period.

He can’t handle indoor disturbances

The exterior paint may be weather resistant, but the interior paint has been formulated to withstand daily wear and tear from children, pets, vacuuming, indoor humidity from cooking and showering, scuffs and scratches. It is also more resistant to grease and oil and easier to clean.

Not good on drywall

While exterior paints are ideal for vinyl, stucco, wood, and other building materials, they do not bond well with drywall.