What Is the Difference Between Interior and Exterior Latex Paint?
Interior and exterior latex paints have very different properties and cannot be used interchangeably. Exterior paint is formulated to protect a house from sun, rain, snow, mildew, mold and other outdoor conditions. Interior paint is formulated to be easy to apply, easy to scrub and nontoxic to humans and animals. Does this Spark an idea?
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Latex Paint
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Interior and exterior paints are available as latex or oil-based paints. Latex paints are water-based. Oil-based paints, often referred to as alkyds, are solvent-based. Most of the liquid portion of latex paint is water. Most of the liquid in oil-based paint is made up of petroleum distillates and other solvents. Latex paints are easier to apply and clean up with soap and water, as opposed to oil-based paints, which require paint thinner or turpentine. Most paint sold today is latex paint.
Interior Paint
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Interior latex or water-based paint is made specifically for good coverage, easy removal, stain-resistance, splatter-resistance and quick touch-ups inside the home. It comes in three finishes: flat, semigloss or gloss. Gloss has the most luster and is the easiest to scrub. It is usually used for woodwork and high-traffic areas.
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Exterior Paint
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Exterior latex paint is formulated for the outdoors. That means it is made for durability, color retention, resistance to fading, flexibility to withstand weather-related expansion and contraction and for mildew and moisture resistance. Exterior paint contains more pigment and resin than interior paint. Like interior paint, it also comes in flat, gloss and semi-gloss finishes.
Surface Considerations
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When painting the exterior of a house, there is a much wider range of surfaces to consider when choosing a paint. Houses can have aluminum siding, wood, brick, stucco or a combination of two or more surfaces. There is an exterior paint for every type of surface. Some are formulated to cover more than one type of surface. Interior paints are not formulated for various surfaces.
Other Differences
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Because of exterior paint's formulation, it could be toxic to small children if used indoors. Fungicides, for example, are present in some exterior paints. Interior paints, on the other hand, are formulated to be nontoxic, mercury-free and contain no lead. They are also quicker to dry and have less odor than exterior paints. Price is another consideration. Exterior paint is more expensive than interior paint. Repainting a room is an inexpensive fix; repainting a house is not.
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References
- Photo Credit brush in paint image by Vladislav Gajic from Fotolia.com
