It’s not uncommon for homeowners to have leftover paint from previous projects or to buy smaller quantities of paint for future DIY activities. Whether you have a surplus of exterior paint or just a few ounces left over after painting your home, there are ways to use it all up without tossing it in the trash. In fact, interior and exterior paints can be mixed together with ease when the right precautions are taken beforehand. Read on to learn more about mixing interior and exterior paints safely!
Can You Mix Interior And Exterior Paint?
Yes, you can mix interior and exterior paint. Intended use the of paint is a factor in the choice of interiors or exteriors. You will find denatures, which are added to paints to make them suitable for either environment. Interior paint is more expensive, as it contains added ingredients such as that make the paint more durable and easier to clean. Interior paint will be labeled such. Exterior paints are generally less costly, as they require fewer denatures to make them suitable for outside use.
How To Safely Mix Interior And Exterior Paints?
Step 1: Ventilate the room
Look, when it comes to mixing interior and exterior paints, we’re not trying to scare you. We’re just trying to make sure you’re safe while following our expert advice. When you add exterior paint to your interior paint, you’re going to get an extra-thick, extra-sticky paint that’s harder to clean up if you make a mess. To avoid this sticky situation, you first need to make sure you’ve properly ventilated the room you’re going to be mixing your paints in. If you’re mixing indoors, you’re going to want to make sure you have at least one window open with fans going to create a cross breeze and get rid of any extra fumes. Fumes can be a real problem when mixing interior and exterior paints – especially exterior paints, which often contain more than 100 times more VOCs than interior paints. Exterior paints also dry slower than interior paints, which can make them even more dangerous to mix together in a room that’s not properly ventilated!
Step 2: Create a dam
So, if you’ve followed our advice and properly ventilated the room you’re going to be mixing your paints in, you’re off to a good start. But you’re not completely safe yet! You still need to create a dam between your interior paints and exterior paints. Why? Because we want to prevent those exterior paints from getting into the interior paints – not the other way around. So how do you go about creating a dam? Well, look for a container that’s both larger than your interior paint container and also physically separate from your exterior paints. A good choice could be a larger bucket or a plastic storage tub. Just make sure your interior paints are on one side of the room, and your exterior paints are on the other side to avoid any cross-contamination. Now that you’ve got a container for each paint color, you’re ready to mix!
Step 3: Mix your paints
Now for the fun part! As you’re ready to start mixing your paints, make sure you have proper safety gear on. You don’t want to end up with fumes in your eyes while you’re mixing your paints! You’ll also need some safety gear like goggles and rubber gloves so you don’t get any exterior paint on your interior paint. Next, make sure your mixing tool is clean so you don’t transfer any grit or grime from one paint color to the other. Once you’ve got your safety gear on and your mixing tool clean, you’re ready to mix your paints. You don’t need to be too precise in your mixing because you’re going to be cleaning up any extra paint with a brush. That being said, don’t go too heavy on your exterior paints or you might end up with rough, sticky paint that’s hard to clean up.
Step 4: Shake it up
Now that you’ve mixed your interior and exterior paints, you need to mix them again. Why? Because when you mix exterior paints together, they create a thick, goopy, sticky mess that’s hard to clean up. And if you mix interior paints with exterior paints, you risk cross-contamination, which can lead to bubbles in your paint. So how do you go about mixing your paints again? We recommend using a paint shaker – it’s a simple tool that’s sometimes sold in paint shops. Just put your mixed paints inside the paint shaker and give it a vigorous shake for about 30 seconds. This will break up any clumps and distribute your paints evenly, so you don’t have any rough spots.
Step 5: Let it dry and sand it
Once you’ve mixed your paints and shaken up the exterior paint with the interior paint, you’re almost done! The last thing you need to do is let your paints dry and then sand them so you don’t get any rough spots. If you’ve used exterior paint in your interior paint, you might notice that your paints don’t dry as quickly as they normally would. This is because exterior paints are thicker than interior paints, so they take longer to dry. You can speed up the process by using a fan in the room while your paints are drying. Once your paints are dried, you can sand them down with some fine sandpaper to ensure they’re smooth and even. That way, you don’t get any rough spots or bubbles in your paint that could potentially lead to peeling or cracking over time.
Why Mix Interior And Exterior Paints?
- There are a number of reasons why you might want to mix interior and exterior paints together. One of the most common reasons is to use up leftover paint.
- If you have leftover paint, you can mix it with water and use it as a primer or touch-up paint.
- Mixing paints can also help you get creative and have fun with your DIY projects!
- If you have an abundance of exterior paint, you can use it indoors. Similarly, if you have an excess of interior paint, you can use it outside.
- Mixing paints can even help you extend the shelf life of paints that are past their prime.
Tips For Safely Mixing Interior And Exterior Paints
- Before you mix interior and exterior paints, make sure you dilute them to the consistency of interior paint.
- This will ensure that the interior paint does not thin the consistency of the exterior paint. Be sure to wear proper safety equipment and use appropriate safety precautions when working with paint.
- Exterior paint is designed to be used outdoors and is more durable than interior paint. Interior paints are designed to be used indoors and last only a few years outdoors.
- Mixing interior and exterior paints will extend their shelf life and allow you to use them both indoors and out.
- Exterior paints are more expensive than interior paints, so mixing interior and exterior paints can save you money. Remember that exterior paints will be more water-resistant, so you may want to use them for painting deck railings, fences, and other places where water is a threat.
Pros of Mixing Interior and Exterior Paints
- There are many benefits to mixing interior and exterior paints together. One of the biggest benefits is that it will save you money. If you have a surplus of exterior paint, mixing it with interior paints can save you money.
- Exterior paints are more expensive than interior paints, so mixing them can help you save money without sacrificing quality.
- Exterior paints are designed to stand up to harsher conditions and last longer than interior paints. Mixing interior and exterior paints can extend their shelf life and allow you to use them indoors and outdoors.
- Using exterior paints indoors can help protect your walls from water damage caused by rain, snow, and ice dams.
- Exterior paints are more water-resistant and better at resisting fading than interior paints. This makes them ideal for outdoor projects where water and sun exposure are common.
Cons Of Mixing Interior And Exterior Paints
- Mixing interior and exterior paints do have its drawbacks. The biggest drawback is that the resulting paint will be less vibrant than pure exterior or interior paints. Because you are mixing two paints together, the color will not be as strong as it would be if you used single-colored paints.
- Any paint that you mix will also have a shorter shelf life than fresh paint. This is because the paint will start to break down as soon as it is mixed.
- Mixing paints will also change the consistency of the paint. The paint will be thinner than it would be if you used two separate paints, so you may need to apply two coats of paint.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why you might want to mix interior and exterior paints together. Interior and exterior paints can be mixed together with ease if you dilute them first. Interior paints have lower VOC levels than exterior paints and are safer to use indoors. Exterior paints are more water-resistant, last longer than interior paints, and can be used outdoors. Mixing paints can save you money and extend the shelf life of paints past their prime. Remember to always wear a respirator mask and safety goggles when working with paint.
