The Difference Between Interior Paint and Exterior Paint on the House
Interior and exterior paint actually have different properties. Exterior paint is not always better than interior paint. Interior paints are formulated to be better at staining and cleaning. Meanwhile, exterior paint is formulated to prevent fast fading and is anti-fungal. Therefore, it is important for you to use the right type of paint when working on a house coloring project.
All paints basically have four kinds of constituent substances, including solvents, resins, active substances, and pigments. Let’s get to know these ingredients more!
The solvent is usually water (for latex paints) or mineral liquids (for oil paints). The function of the solvent is to melt and dissolve the components that make up the paint. Lower quality paints usually use higher amounts of solvent. Another property of the solvent is that it can evaporate causing the paint to dry, leaving resin, additives, and pigments on the walls.
The resin functions as a pigment binder (color) so that it sticks to the wall. The material for making this resin is acrylic, epoxy, or silicone.
Additive is a chemical additive to protect the property with paint media. Some additives also function to prevent mildew and make the paint not fade quickly. In addition, these additives can also make the paint surface clean and make the painting process easier. Pigments are added to give color to the paint. The form of this pigment is powder and insoluble. The color pigment will stick to the wall due to the resin in the paint.
Below are the differences between interior paint and exterior paint. You have to be able to tell the difference well!
NATURE & CHARACTERISTICS
Interior paints are made with materials that make them easier to clean, resistant to scratches, stain resistance, and better staining results. Meanwhile, exterior paint is made with materials that make it durable, anti-mildew, and does not fade quickly.
ABILITY
Interior and exterior paints often use different types of resin to bind the pigment to the walls. Exterior paint must be flexible to changes in temperature and high humidity, so the resin used makes this paint softer. Exterior paint must be durable and have excellent resistance to peeling off quickly. Home interior paint is not exposed to drastic changes in temperature and high humidity, so the resin used to bind the paint is stiffer. This makes the interior paint less susceptible to mold and easier to wash.
SECURITY
Interior and exterior paints have the same solvents and pigments. But some pigments are not suitable to be added to exterior paint because they fade quickly. Water and mineral fluids used as solvents can be used for both interior and exterior depending on their composition. However, especially for this type of oil paint, this paint is not a good choice for indoor use because it smells and cleaning is quite complicated. Some places have even banned the use of oil paints because they have a negative impact on the surrounding environment.