Whether you’ve found unopened cans in your basement from previous owners or have paint cans past their lifespan in your crawlspace, our painting experts will help teach you how long does paint last.
Commonly Asked Questions
Answer: The walls need to be thoroughly washed with a mix of water and sugar soap such as Haymes Unikleen, rinsed and sanded so that no gloss remains. One coat of acrylic sealer undercoat is necessary for adhesion before two topcoats of preferably a satin acrylic is applied.
Answer: Lighting plays a huge part in the appearance of a colour, but generally the colour will look darker when seen on a large, interior area.
How much paint do I need to paint a small bedroom?
Answer: As a rough guide, most acrylic interior wall paints will cover about 13-16m2 per litre, but always check the manufacturers label. Remember to calculate enough paint for two coats. The Haymes paint calculator can also help you to estimate how much paint you may need to paint other rooms.
Answer: To ensure the proper durability and washability of paint, two coats must always be used to obtain a thick enough film build. Two coats are also important for even colour coverage.
I want to paint a hallway in a very dark, bright colour and still have good washability and scrub resistance. Is a low sheen acrylic good enough for this use?
Answer: Generally speaking, the lower the gloss and the darker the colour, the more noticeable marks, such as scuff marks, will be. For high traffic areas the choice of a satin acrylic or oil based finish may be the better option. Where scuff and scrub resistance is a high priority, (irrespective of colour) enamel paints are the preferred option. Resistance properties generally improve with increasing gloss level.
Answer: Because strong colours are tinted from a Clear or an Accent Base, the opacity of the finish comes mainly from the tinters. Some tinters, especially the yellows and reds, do not have the opacity to provide good coverage, regardless of the brand of the product or the tinter. A grey undercoat underneath helps these colours to have an even finish and to provide a solid colour.
Does Paint Go Bad?
Yes, all types of paint go bad eventually. A previously opened can of paint lasts 5 years on average if properly sealed and stored. Old paint shelf life can also vary among different types of paint.
In particular, an unopened can of latex or acrylic paint lasts up to 10 years. For unopened paints that are oil-based or alkyd-based, the shelf life could be up to 15 years. Additionally, chalk paint has a shorter lifespan from 1-3 years, and milk paint only lasts 1-2 weeks after its mixed.
But how long paint lasts depends on the kind of paint being stored and the storage conditions. Unsealed paint stored in a garage with freezing temperatures will not last much past 1-2 years.
Damage from extreme temperatures affects all paint types in the same way. This includes paints and primers from Sherwin-Williams, Dulux, Glidden, Kilz, Zinnser, Benjamin Moore, or Behr.
Don’t worry, we will cover how to safely store paint and proper disposal methods in the section after next.
Thinking about painting your exterior? Check out our latest article on ideal outdoor painting temperatures.
How Do You Know if Paint is Bad?
You can tell paint has gone bad by the smell and texture. A rancid or sour-smelling paint means your paint has gone bad. In particular, the smell of bad paint is similar to sour milk.
Other indicators of expired paint include a lumpy or chunky paint consistency. For one, the expired paint will have adhesion issues. More importantly, it can be hazardous by giving off excess VOCs or paint fumes. In this case, it’s best to get new paint.
However, the paint may still be good if the water has separated from the solids. Over time, gravity pushes the solids to the bottom of a can. Despite this, the chemical makeup of the paint is the same.
In this instance, be sure to thoroughly shake or stir after opening the paint before you use it for any painting projects. This is shown in the photo above. After a good mixing using a paint stir stick, the exterior paint in the picture was still good.
Keep in mind that this is not the case if the paint has been frozen at any point. Upon a deep freeze, the solids and water will have separated permanently. If this is the case, you’ll want to buy new paint instead and properly dispose of the leftover cans.
Accordingly, a few keys to properly store paint include:
- An airtight seal or fully closed lid on a paint can
- Storage in a temperature-controlled room
- Kept in a dry place without mildew or direct sunlight
- Placed on a shelf, away from the reach of children
Mixing Old Paint
As a rule of thumb, you should always mix any old paint thoroughly prior. Even matching paint colors will look “off” color-wise when you apply it if not mixed well. Another best practice is to strain the paint. Straining removes the thin film or skin that forms on top of drying latex paints.
Without compromise, any mold or mildew inside the can is a huge red flag. This means it’s time to dispose of the old paint. One final indicator of if it’s time to toss the paint is a broken seal or if a lid was not secured properly on a can.
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How to Properly Dispose of Old Paints
If you find paint that has gone bad, do not use it to paint your walls or drywall touchups. Instead, you should properly dispose of the paint at home. Alternatively, you can drop off expired paint at a designated disposal facility if your city or county has one.
Oil-Based Paint Disposal
Proper disposal of oil-based paint is a giant hassle, which is why most new paints found at Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, or even Home Depot are water-based. In case you find leftover oil or alkyd-based paint, there is one very important thing to consider.
It is actually illegal in most states to throw away oil-based paints in the trash. Due to the solvents in oil-based or alkyd paints, they are considered hazardous waste and can contaminate soil and water.
Given that states like California prohibit tossing any old paint in your garbage, its best to check local paint recycling regulations. Luckily, many regions have designated paint drop off facilities. Not to mention, improper paint disposal is terrible for the environment whether it’s in a landfill or not. Moreover, never pour a substantial amount of old paint down a drain or toilet.
Lastly, some paint stores like Sherwin-Williams or Ace Hardware may still have a paint recycling program. Most have phased out paint drop-off services so make sure to call ahead.
Latex Paints Disposal
Most new, modern paint formulations are acrylic latex or water-based. In addition to having lower VOCs compared to oil-based paints, acrylic paints are better for the environment. Not to mention, latex paint is much easier to store and dispose of properly. Courtesy of Chicago’s public health department, here are a few options to properly dispose of old latex or water-based paint at home:
- If the paint is still good, donate it or use it by adding another coat of paint to a wall or by brushing or rolling some cardboard Amazon delivery boxes.
- Dry up the old paint by leaving it out. Now if there is a lot of old paint, you can add kitty litter or shredded paper to soak up and absorb it. Once dry, you can toss it out as normal.
In order to avoid costly headaches, let’s go into more detail on how to store paint so it doesn’t go bad in the first place.
