Planning a painting project? The paint products you choose can have a drastic effect on the final result. The right paint can improve the way your home looks and provide protection against the sun, weather and the wear and tear of everyday life.
There’s no shortage of paint products to choose from. Whatever design aesthetic you’re trying to achieve, you’ll be able to find a paint to match. The only thing you really need to worry about is whether you’re using an interior or exterior paint. The two products are very different and they often can’t be interchanged. So what’s the difference between them? In this article we’re going to cover interior and exterior paints in more detail and discuss why it’s important to use the right one for your application.
How Paints Are Made
To explain the difference between interior and exterior paint, the best place to start is with a refresher on how paint is made. Paint contains a few basic ingredients:
- Solvents. Solvent is the base component of all paints and is what makes the paint “wet”. The other components are mixed into the solvent, allowing you to paint them onto the wall with a brush or roller. As paint dries, the solvent evaporates, leaving behind a layer of pigment and resin.
- Resin. Resin is used as a binding agent that holds the other ingredients together and helps them to adhere to a surface. Different types of paint use different resins such as acrylic emulsions, polyester, epoxy and urethane alkyds. Each type of resin has distinct properties that make it suitable for certain types of applications.
- Pigments. Pigment gives paint its colour. Pigments are created in dozens of different ways, from both natural and synthetic compounds.
- Additives. The above three ingredients are found in every paint, but some paints also contain other additives. Additives enhance certain properties of the paint, such as improving UV or mould resistance.
Exterior Paints
Exterior paints are designed to survive outdoor conditions. The real challenge for exterior paints is being able to stand up to the sun, storms and salty air of the Gold Coast. Over time, exposure to UV radiation, humidity, rain and salty air can bleach pigments and break down the resins in paint. This results in paint jobs that prematurely fade, bubble, crack and peel away from the outside of your home or commercial building.
Modern exterior paints are specifically designed to stand up to these harsh conditions. Typically, exterior paints are formulated with softer resins that are less prone to cracking due to heat expansion. They also contain additives that protect the paint from UV radiation, mould and mildew, significantly prolonging the life of your paint job.
Interior Paints
Used in spaces that aren’t exposed to harsh weather, interior paints are designed to stand up to a different set of challenges. In most cases, interior paints contain harder resins, fewer additives and they use non-toxic solvents with low amounts of volatile compounds, reducing the health risks to your family. Harder resins also make interior paints washable and less prone to picking up unsightly scuff marks and stains over time. This means interior paints are safer for indoor use and that they can withstand the rough and tumble of everyday life.
Why It’s Important to Choose the Right Paint
Choosing the right paint for your project can have a huge impact on the finished result. Available in thousands of different colours, textures and finishes, it’s simple to find a high-quality paint product to suit any area of your home. You just need to be mindful that you’re not mixing up interior and exterior paints.
The differences between the two mean they’re only suitable for their intended purpose. Interior paints might look great inside a building, but they’ll quickly crack and fade under outdoor conditions. Similarly, exterior paints are unsuitable for interior use. They contain additives like mildewcides and fungicides that are slowly released into the air, and they can be harmful to your family when used indoors.
Need a Hand With a Painting Project? Contact Pristine Painting Perfection Today!
If you’ve been thinking about tackling a painting project then choosing the right paint is the key to a great result! Interior and exterior paints both offer their own unique strengths, so all that’s left is picking the one that’s better suited for your space. If you need help then speak to Pristine Painting Perfection today! We offer professional commercial and residential painting services across the Gold Coast. Our team has decades of experience, so we can design a colour scheme and supply high-quality paints that will look fantastic for years to come. Contact us to find out more about our variety of services, including our Insurance Painter Gold Coast wide work, or speak to the team if you’d like to book a consultation!