Painting your house using different types of paint is the best idea to give a refreshing look to your house. You can paint your wall, ceiling trims, doors, cabinets, and other surfaces depending on the look of the home area. If the places are giving a dull look, then it is definitely the time to paint them to enhance the curb appeal of the entire property. To get your property painted, you can hire skilled painting company Cape Cod like Total Care Painting for satisfactory results. The skilled painters of the company will do the job using quality paints and right techniques.
In some cases, paint is purchased prior to painting and you may be wondering, is it OK to use old paint? Is there any sign that how can you tell if paint is till good? Well, you will get your answers in this blog. We will be looking at the paint shelf life of different paints, sign that paint is not good to be used, and how you can keep your paint in a good condition.
Let’s get started:
An estimate of Paint Shelf Life
How long can you store paint before it goes bad? When you are going to estimate the life span of paint, the first thing to consider is the storage condition. This condition impacts the paint shelf life. For instance, latex paint in a good condition, sealed, and never used can last for a decade. On the other hand, if the same paint is poorly sealed with impurities, then this will last for few months only. If you see liquid on the tops and solid at the bottom in your paint can, then this does not mean that paint is not good. All paint separate with the passage of time.
Remember one thing, don’t stir the paint with the hand instead use a mixer to shake the paint. The life span of different paints are listed below:
- Latex or acrylic paint will last for 2 to 10 years.
- Chalk paint will last for 1 to 5 years.
- Oil-based paint will last for 2 to 15 years.
- Milk paint will last for 1 to 7 years.
Latex or Acrylic Paint:
Manufacturers state different life span for their paints. According to Sherwin Williams, the estimated life span of some of its paints is one year.
Wondering, does acrylic paint expire? According to the paint and home improvement experts, if the latex paint is preserved well, then the life span will be 10 years.
Milk Paint:
Mixed milk paint will last only for one or two days due to the presence of milk protein. If it is placed in a refrigerator, then it can last up to one week. Additionally, some milk paint is also having an additive to preserve it for long time. Milk paint in the dry and powdered form will last longer if kept on dry or cool places.
Oil-Based Paint:
You may be thinking, does paint expire? Paint manufacturers mirror the expiration of oil-based paint with latex paint. Oil-based paint is having many solvents so it will last longer as compared to water-based latex paint. If oil-based paint is preserved well, then it can last more than 15 years.
Chalk Paint:
The life span of chalk paint given by some manufacturer is one year but it lasts for several years. The chalk paint does not film over like a latex paint but develops an overall thick layer. For your information, if the old chalk paint has become thick, then it can be made useable by adding water into it.
Signs that paint is Not Useable
Having a question in mind that does paint expire if opened? To answer this question, let’s have a look at the signs that tell us that paint is no longer useable:
Sour or Rancid Smell:
Some paints might have a foul, rancid, and sour smell on opening the lid. Some paint may smell similar to mold or mildew. If you apply the smelly paint, then smell may become less but will not disappear. The reason behind this smell is due to bacterial growth.
Paint is Frozen and Thawed:
It is suggested to prevent paint from freezing. According to one manufacturer, it is stated that you can use the frozen paint if it is not clumpy and not giving a foul smell. But some paint expert says that the freeze cycles will break down the paint making it not useable for painting.
Jelly-Like Appearance of Paint:
If the paint is completely or partially jelly-like nor a solid or liquid, then it can’t be used because it will not mix smoothly.
Overly Lumpy Paint:
It is a natural observation that a film is developed on top of latex paint after a certain period. If the paint is solid and has crossed the point to be a thin film, then it is better to discard the paint. The reason is, you cannot dissolve the solid chunk in the paint with the addition of water.
Does paint go bad if unopened? If the paint is unopened but preserves in good storage then it will not go bad. Poor storage conditions will make the paint not useable.
Tips To Increase the Lifespan of Paint
Paints are expensive and no one will like to throw away their paint. To make the best use of your paint and to preserve it for a longer time, you should follow the below steps:
- It is better to store the paint in a cool or dry place.
- You should allow the paint to freeze.
- You should avoid the temperature spike either it is low or high.
- You should remove all impurities from the paint either it is organic matter like grass or leaves.
- You should place the paint in a plastic container because the rust from metal can easily contaminate the paint.
- It is better to lay a plastic kitchen wrap when closing the lid. Firmly tap down the lid using a rubber mallet for avoiding the dent on a can.
Hope this information will help you and you will preserve your paint properly to use them. If you are still looking for professional assistance to paint your property, then you should contact highly skilled painters of Total Care Painting.
For more information about the service, you can call us at (774) 327-9118.