Why should I avoid dark colours in the bathroom?

There are many reasons not to choose a darker colour for your bathroom, especially if it’s small. A darker colour will absorb all light coming from any direction and make the space feel compact.

How many colours are best for a bathroom?

Three colour options are perfect for a balanced blend. While one colour should be light, one should have a rich tone, and the last one must have an accent.

Which paint option is best for a small bathroom?

A high-gloss finish is the top choice, which makes your space look larger. The properties of glossy material keep the shine for years and minimise the cost of paint repairs.

Does painting bathroom ceiling the same colour help?

When you paint the ceiling with the same colour as the walls, it creates an illusion of extra space. So, it’s a trick to consider when you’re renovating your small bathroom.

Is It Safe to Use Exterior Paint Indoors? A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to home improvement projects, selecting the right type of paint is vital for both aesthetic and health reasons. Many DIY enthusiasts might ponder whether exterior paint can be used indoors, given its durability and vibrant colours. However, before making this decision, it’s essential to understand the potential impacts of using exterior paint in an enclosed space. This guide will delve into the safety considerations, possible health effects, and best practices for using exterior paint indoors, helping you make an informed choice that ensures your living space remains beautiful and safe.

Difference Between Interior & Exterior Paint

Interior and exterior paints have different features that make them suitable for use in specific environments. Here are those differences:

Exterior Paint

Exterior paint must withstand harsh weather, temperature changes, and damage from rain, hail, and tree branches. To handle these challenges, manufacturers add special ingredients to exterior paints for better durability and resistance. These additives help block UV rays, allow the paint for proper expansion and contraction as the temperature changes, and resist mould and mildew.

Interior Paint

On the other hand, interior paints use stronger resins that make them durable against bumps from furniture. These resins stop the paint from changing size like exterior paints do. Also, interior paints don’t face tough conditions, so they don’t need the same protection. This means interior paint dries faster and is simpler in its composition.

Hazards of Using Exteriors Paints Inside

Using exterior paint indoors might seem appealing, but it can introduce harmful chemicals in your interior space. Whether you have leftover paint from an outdoor project or are looking for something tougher than interior paint, it’s best to think twice.

Higher VOC Content

There are higher levels of VOCs in exterior paints than that of the interior paints. VOCs are harmful substances released during painting, similar to car exhaust. As VOCs are emitted while painting, they can worsen indoor air quality and, with prolonged exposure, might harm your health, causing:

Respiratory problems
Eye irritation
Nose irritation
Headaches
Nausea

When you use exterior paint indoors, you breathe in these toxic fumes, increasing your chances of experiencing side effects, especially if there are babies, pets, or older adults in the home who are more vulnerable to VOCs.

Unsatisfactory Finish

Exterior paint dries slower than interior paint, especially indoors due to limited airflow and ventilation. If exterior paint is used inside, it may not dry properly, resulting in blisters, cracks, and peeling soon after application.

Poor Adhesion to Interior Surfaces

Exterior paints are designed for outdoor surfaces, and their adhesion promoters might not work well on indoor materials. This may cause weak adhesion performance.

Difficult to Clean

Exterior paints are made to resist harsh weather conditions, making them tough against fading, cracking, and peeling. However, this same resistance means they are hard to clean with standard cleaning solutions. Using exterior paint inside your home can make it much harder to clean dirt off surfaces.

To avoid frustrating cleaning tasks whenever your walls get dirty, store that exterior paint away and choose interior paint from your local store instead. If you use stronger cleaning chemicals, you might harm the paint finish or strip it altogether.

What to Do If I Use Exterior Paint Inside?

If you use exterior paint indoors, promptly remove it and repaint the area if possible. Exterior paint can be harmful to your health, and it can leave a lingering unpleasant smell in your home if not addressed quickly. While repainting may incur additional costs, it is ultimately better for your health. There are a few instances where using exterior paint indoors is acceptable. However, although it’s not ideal to use exterior paint indoors, it’s not necessarily a disaster if you do. Consider these factors if using exterior paint indoors:

Ventilate the Area

When using exterior paint indoors, ensure you have enough fresh air. Open windows, use exhaust fans and ensure to wear a good respirator mask to avoid inhaling harmful fumes during printing.

Watch for Drying Problems

Exterior paint takes more time to dry indoors due to cooler and more humid conditions. This slow drying can cause issues like blisters or peeling later on. Check your painted surfaces regularly to catch any problems early and fix them.

Get Professional Advice

If you’re unsure about the paint quality or health risks, it’s smart to talk to a professional painter. They can recommend the best indoor paints and techniques to ensure good results without safety risks.

Don’t Stress About the Color

If you’re uncertain about the initial colour of your exterior paint, don’t worry too much—unless it bothers you. Many people use exterior paint temporarily, and if it looks fine for now, it’s okay to keep it.

Use It Outdoors Later

Exterior paint can be saved for outdoor projects, making it useful for future touch-ups and repairs to your home’s outside surfaces. This enables you to conserve time and money in the future on.

Be Aware Of VOCs

Exterior paints have more volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be harmful, especially in closed spaces. Ensure good ventilation while painting, and consider wearing a respirator mask to stay safe from VOCs.

Paints To Use on Interior & Exterior Surfaces

Selecting the appropriate paint is crucial for improving the beauty and longevity of your interior and exterior surfaces. Whether you want to refresh the interiors of your home or give your exterior a protective coat, different types of paints serve various purposes.

Paints to Use for Interiors

Interiors should be painted with 100% water-based acrylic-latex paint, commonly called latex or acrylic paint. When you order the paint, make sure ‘for interior use’ is written on the label. Choose the right gloss finish for each room. Durable finishes like stain, eggshell, and semi-gloss are easiest to clean in kitchens. In bedrooms, use glossier options like eggshell or flat/matt paint.

Paint to Use for Exteriors

For exteriors, use 100% water-based acrylic paint labelled for outdoor use, suitable for most siding and trim. For exterior doors, trim, and metal surfaces, consider oil-based enamel paint for better protection. Keep in mind that oil-based paint takes longer to dry and needs solvents for cleanup, but it offers long-lasting protection against scuffs, rust, and harsh weather.

Is It Possible To Use Exterior Paint On Bathroom Walls?

If you know about exterior paint, you understand it can withstand tough weather. This brings up the question of whether it’s good to use it for your bathroom to protect against occasional water splashes. However, even though exterior paint resists heavy rain and bad weather, it’s not recommended for bathroom walls. Here’s why:

Water Resistance

Exterior paints can handle moisture and bad weather, but they don’t resist moisture, and so can paints made for bathrooms. Bathrooms are often damp places, and exterior paints won’t provide the protection you need. This can lead to problems like peeling, bubbling, and mould growth over time. On the other hand, interior paints have special additives like mildewcides and moisture-resistant features to tackle these issues.

Low-Quality Coating

Exterior paint behaves differently from interior paint. So, using it in your bathroom could result in a finish that doesn’t fulfil your expectations. Exterior paint has a different sheen and texture compared to interior paint, leading to issues like:

More visible flaws on the walls
A rough texture compared to interior paint
A colour that may change over time

Best Interior Paint for Your Bathroom

The ideal paint choice for your bathroom is a moisture-resistant, water-based emulsion paint additive. This type of paint keeps your walls easy to clean, durable, and moisture-resistant.

Is it Possible to Use Exterior and Interior Paint Simultaneously?

Combining exterior and interior paint resembles a chaotic science experiment, often leading to a complete failure. When you combine these paints, neither works well on their intended surfaces. This happens because their chemical reactions lower the quality of both. For example, exterior paints have strong odours and VOCs that make them unsafe indoors. Interior paints, on the other hand, aren’t made to handle the expansion and contraction caused by changing weather, which exterior paints can handle. As a result, mixing them can cause issues like poor bonding, cracking, and fading over time.

Conclusion

Using exterior paint indoors is generally not recommended due to potential health risks and the difference in formulation tailored for outdoor conditions. While some products may be less harmful than others, it’s important to prioritise safety and select paints specifically designed for indoor use. If you do consider using exterior paint indoors, ensure proper ventilation and follow all safety guidelines. To achieve optimal results and promote a healthier living space, using indoor paints remains the safer choice.