How to choose the right Paint for Exterior and Interiors is an easy task. Your choice of painting enriches your home with a satisfying aesthetic appearance. At the same time, it protects the building.
Being an indispensable part of the construction sector, it is important to determine the most suitable paint to use before making a purchase. There is a difference in formulation between interior and exterior paints. While interior paints need to be durable and scrubbable for easy cleaning, exterior paints need to be weather resistant and UV rays protected to maintain long-term coverage.
The most common interior and exterior paint finishes include matte, satin, semi-gloss high gloss, eggshell, and enamel.
Oil-based paint
Oil-based paint is simply paint containing natural or synthetic oil as one of its key components. It dries exceedingly hard, making it very strong and resistant to nicks and dings. It will also stand up to stains. Oil-based paint is:
∙1. Suitable for most interior walls and ceilings.
∙2. Quick drying, little odor, and simple cleanup with water.
∙3. Available in a variety of finishes, including flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss.
Water-based paints are sometimes known as latex paints. They are composed of a pigment and a binder, with water serving as a carrier. Water-based paint is one of the most common and well-known paint kinds for residential use.
This is because emulsion water-based paint is environmentally benign, odorless, and available in a large variety of colors.
Interior paints for interior finishes
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint is a quick-drying paint composed of pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion with plasticizers, silicone oils, defoamers, stabilizers, or metal soaps.[2] Most acrylic paints are water-based, however they become water-resistant when dry.
Enamel
Enamel paint is paint that air-dries to a hard, usually glossy, finish and is mainly used for woodwork; cabinets, doors, and windows.
Chalk paint
Chalk paint is commonly used to restore furniture, cabinets, and tables. The matte finish is a popular trend right now, and it can be sanded or distressed.
Primer paint
Primer paint is a substance applied to surfaces before painting to give the paint something to lock onto.
Texture Paint
Textured treatments for walls and ceilings are created to offer depth and visual appeal.
Exterior paint for exterior finishes
Exterior emulsion paint
Exterior emulsion paint is specially developed to endure outdoor conditions. Moreover, it is resistant to UV radiation, dampness, and temperature fluctuations. It is a better choice for external surfaces because it offers long-lasting protection for exterior walls
Masonry Paint
Masonry paint is compatible with concrete, brick, and other masonry surfaces. It provides exceptional durability and weather resistance qualities that give results in long-term coverage.
Exterior Acrylic Paint
Exterior acrylic paint is a water-based acrylic resin. It exudes excellent stickiness and flexibility that makes it perfectly suitable for outside woodwork and metal surfaces.
Metal paints
Metal paints are specifically developed to protect metal surfaces from rust and corrosion.
Deck and patio paints
Deck and patio paints are designed for horizontal surfaces including decks, patios, and concrete walkways. They provide greater durability and weather resistance.
Exterior oil-based paint
Exterior oil-based paint is highly recommended for exterior painting because it provides a long-lasting polish for outdoor woodwork and metal. Moreover, it provides good adhesion and weather resistance but requires more drying time and emits a harsher odor than water-based paints.
The difference between interior and exterior paint finishes
Exterior paints differ from interior paints in ingredients and characteristics. Think of the exposures paints designed for outside must endure: highly variable humidity and temperature swings, mildew and insect attack, and assault by weather elements. Good quality exterior paint protects from these with ingredients that allow it to stretch/shrink with temperature changes, resist moisture incursion, slough off mildew formation, and bounce back from hail, hard rain, and high winds. Last, but not least, allow the paint to hold up through all this for 10–20 years.
The ingredients that allow all this are usually very high in VOCs (volatile organic compounds). These VOCs should not be allowed to “gas off” in interior, closed spaces. They are not good for health.
Plus, believe it or not, good quality interior paint is very resistant to abrasion in the higher sheens. Think of how often you might scrape against a baseboard or door, or have to wash dirt off the walls. How often might you do that outside?+
Exterior paint is designed to stretch and shrink with temperature changes often over its lifetime, therefore it is relatively soft compared to, say, a semi-gloss interior paint.
Interior Painting covers the inside spaces viz walls and ceiling, doors and windows in rooms of the house. We are all the time surrounded by these elements while staying indoors. Distinctive features of paints used for interiors are sheen (level of glossiness of the painted surface), washability (required for easy maintenance), attractive shades (interior paints come in a wide range of colours), relatively less odour, and lower VOC content. Aesthetic value weighs a lot inthe case of interior painting.
On the other hand, exterior surfaces of the house that are exposed and seen from outside, compound walls, parapets, etc require a coat of paint that offers protection from extreme weather conditions – sun and rain, dirt resistance, and protection from colour fading. Functionality is of prime importance when deciding on exterior painting.
It can thus be seen that formulation of interior and exterior paints differ – in additives, pigments etc used.All the major paint makers have products under both categories. It is always advisable to use the specific products on interior and exterior surfaces.
Furnitech Kenya Limited takes a keen interest in advising clients to ensure they take their time in choosing the appropriate paint since the choice of paint for internal and external surfaces guarantees durability, protection, and aesthetic look.