Painting your exterior and interior walls can both beautify your space.
Although the process appears the same, there are notable differences between indoor and outdoor painting.
In this article, we will differentiate exterior and interior paint and the actual painting process.
Differences Between Exterior and Interior Paint
While all kinds of paints are developed with the same basic ingredients, such as resins, solvents, pigments, and other additives, there are crucial differences between those used for exterior and interior painting.
Exterior paints are developed to withstand harsh weather conditions and resist mold, mildew, fading, and other signs of natural wear and tear.
On the other hand, interior paints are formulated to resist stains and allow cleaning without being damaged.
Additionally, interior paints are made with chemicals that are safe to breathe.
Below are the characteristics of exterior and interior paint.
Characteristics of Exterior Paint
- It can provide protection against moisture and ultraviolet radiation from sunlight.
- These paints can resist wear and tear, molds, and mildew.
- Resins for exterior paints are soft, making them flexible. It’s important that they don’t easily crack.
- Exterior paint can be applied to different substrates by changing the sheen.
- These paints are not safe for indoor painting as it releases more volatile organic compounds. They also need sunlight to cure.
Characteristics of Interior Paint
- They are mostly used for aesthetics while preventing moisture.
- Interior paints are more delicate than exterior paints, but can still withstand abrasion.
- This type of paint is stain resistant and safe to scrub. It also doesn’t require sunlight to cure.
- Marks and spots on interior paint can be easily cleaned and washed.
- Only contains low or zero volatile organic compounds. This means interior paint won’t compromise your indoor air quality and doesn’t pose health risks.
What is the Best Interior Paint and Exterior Paint?
There are different types of interior paints that you can choose from depending on your walls’ surface. However, for interior painting, the color and sheen are among the most important considerations.
You can choose from various sheens such as glossy, semi-gloss, matte, and flat.
It’s also important to choose a cleanable or dirt-repellent paint for easy maintenance and 0% VOC for your safety.
For exterior paint, you can choose acrylic-based, water-based, silicone, and grained paints.
Silicone paints do a better job at preventing dirt than acrylic, while grainy paints can create a textured effect for aesthetics.
How Long Do Exterior and Interior Paints Dry?
Water-based interior paints are not only safe to breathe, but are also easier to apply and require a shorter drying time.
In fact, you can already apply the second coat within 2 to 3 hours, depending on the temperature of your indoor environment.
While the paint can be ready to sit within 1 day, it may take 5 to 7 days to fully dry and have its final properties. With this, the painted areas must be protected within the drying period.
For exterior paint, the second coat may be applied in 2 to 3 hours. However, it’s trickier if you’re working in the rainy season.
For instance, you must apply the paint 6 to 7 hours before precipitation, and wait for at least 1 day for application after the rain.
The paint will not stick well to the surface if there’s moisture, and application on the wet ground may lead to paint blistering.
As much as possible, perform exterior painting projects during warmer weather or on days without the risk of rain.
Remember: paint acquires its full properties and fully dries within 5 to 7 days.
How Often Should You Paint Your House?
The usage and condition of each house and its rooms vary greatly.
For instance, a home with children and pets is likely to become dirtier than a house of a single individual living alone.
The same is true when comparing children’s rooms and their parent’s bedrooms.
Less used rooms can be repainted between 5 to 7 years, while those that tend to become dirtier such as the kitchen, can be repainted every two to four years.
Generally, planning to repaint your house between 5 to 7 years is sufficient.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the differences between exterior and interior paint and the process of indoor and outdoor painting is essential, especially if you’re planning to implement a DIY home improvement project.
However, it’s best to hire a professional painting company if you want to go the easier route and ensure that work gets done right the first time.
Soho Painters is the best painters in New York City who can do both exterior and interior painting.
Whether you have a residential or commercial project, this painting contractor has the right crew, tools, and equipment to make it a success.
Aside from painting, they can also provide other services such as custom murals and wallpapering.
Get in touch with Soho Painters today to learn more about how they can help you!