Not all paint is made equally, each brand or type has different properties, and is created for different reasons and purposes. For instance, Interior tint is formulated to be stain resistant, so it can be easily wiped, and easily cleaned without harming the finish.

Exterior colour is made to combat different weather conditions and seasonal changes effects, like mildew or fading of colour. Whatever project you are embarking on, it is a good idea to do your homework on which one would be the best one to use. Choosing the right type makes a tremendous difference.

What Is It Made Of?

The ingredients that make up industrial paint are pigments, resin, solvents, and other additives.

Latex paint has water in it, which acts as a solvent, however with oil-based tint, the solvent often used is spirits. Solvent helps that colour stay wet, otherwise, it is at risk of quicker evaporation. The pigment is the colour, so blue has blue pigment, red has red pigment, and so on and so forth. This is attached to the resin which is manufactured using silicone, epoxy and acrylic components. Learn about these vital components on this website.

The other additional additives are what keep the hue from going ’old’ and make it easier to clean.

For outdoor colouring, you can use either the oil-based kind or the water-based one. However, when painting interiors, oil-based are a no-no mainly because they have a stronger odour and they are not specifically made to be cleaned or scrubbed, which means if it stains, it stays.

Main Differences Between Painting Interiors and Exteriors

Exterior Paint

There are of course subtle differences, in both types of acrylic, however, the main difference between outdoor and indoor pigment is the choice of resin used in it – the material that binds the pigment to the surface. As mentioned above, the exterior one is able to withstand various temperature changes including moisture and damp elements in the air. It must also be more arduous and resist flaking, or fragmenting, not to mention the one obvious characteristic is it needs to be fade-resistant from harsh sunlight. So, the resin used in exterior paint is usually of a softer nature for example the 100% acrylic resins that are commonly used.

Exterior tints are also vulnerable to a process called outgassing, whereby it needs to get to the stage where it is dry when touched when the pigment is trying to release the air that is trapped beneath it, it is known as out-gassing. Although this progression has a tendency of lasting up to 48 hours for the most part, surprisingly enough, it can still continue a few years after as well http://help.bjum.uk/sign-making/outgassing-of-paints-and-how-it-affects-vinyl-graphics-applications

Interior Color

The opposite is true for interiors, although weather conditions do not affect the end result as much, the resin needs to be tougher so that the hue can survive being wiped or scrubbed and can last longer. If you have children, this will be something you need to take into consideration that you can tap down from all the crayons, dirty hands and external elements on it.

This is a good enough reason not to use exterior tints in the interiors of your home or office buildings. The surface needs to breathe, and it can do this better when it is outdoors. Besides, inhaling the fumes may not be very good for you.

Interior tints are milder compared to exterior options, and go through a similar process but not as ‘harshly’ and do not need moisture or air to do this. Thus, they are safer and specifically made for indoors. However, it is advisable to use a glossier option for your indoor surface, due to the cleaning you may have to do.

What to Do If You Are Unsure?

If you are unsure of which is which or what to use for your particular space, seek the advice of professionals that specialise in painting both inside and outside building walls. It’s also best to look for local painters around your area for convenience and for you to receive more affordable quotes. So say you’re from Long Island, then look for a Long Island painter or visit a specific store around your place that does this for a living. They may have some practicable advice that could help make your job easier or help you get it done themselves as well.

Also if you are not sure if it is an oil-based kind or a water-based/soluble one, the best way to tell is, oil-based colour has a higher shine level when applied i.e. they are more glossy due to the mixture of the ingredients; nevertheless, the lustre doesn’t always stay there, it can become dull over time and may need a re-touch done.

Water-soluble types achieve a lower gloss finish, and can characteristically uphold this polish over a longer period of time.

Drying Times

Something that only professionals take into account before starting any similar work, is their drying time. Touch dry for oil-based colour can be anything between 6 – 8 hours, while water-based is about 60 minutes. Of course, it is always best to leave it for as long as possible, even a few days, to make sure it is 100% completely dry. Some types of tints need a second coat too.

In a nutshell, the oil-based option takes longer to apply and because it is also a lot thicker in consistency, it takes longer to dry, than your water-based kind.

A point of note is that you can also get paint that is multi-purpose and has been created to be used both inside and outside. Although they can be beneficial and adaptable, they have some compromises.

Last but not least it is always advisable to prepare the surface properly before you start any colouring job. This involves sanding down any visible and hidden cracks, filling in any holes and adding filler to uneven surfaces, and wiping it down properly so there is no sand grain or outside material spoiling the colour. You also need to apply a base or lower coat and let it dry first before you apply the top coat. Use these tips outlined here.

Doing a proper job of it now will save you from re-doing it later or within a shorter span of time.