When Does Paint Expire?

Does paint expire? Yes, paint expires, but the timing depends on the type of paint. How can you tell if your paint is still good if there is no expiration date on the packaging?

The Fundamentals of Paint Types

You’re likely to use a variety of paints in your home on a regular basis. If you’re an artist, you can also use acrylic or oil paints. Oil and latex are frequently used in the home.

Oil-based paints can last up to fifteen years if properly cared for and stored. Oil-based paints contain synthetic or natural oils, which take longer to dry both in storage and when used. However, it is a more durable paint option, which makes the lengthy drying time worthwhile.

Latex Paints – Latex-based paint has a ten-year lifespan. This type of paint dries faster than oil-based paint, but it is less durable. It also has a lower shelf-life.

Acrylic Paints – Depending on packaging and storage, acrylic paints, which are most commonly used in art, can last for more than a decade.

Proper Paint Storage

Properly storing your paint, regardless of the type, will extend its life and ensure it lasts as long as possible. Proper storage begins with tightly sealing the paint can or tube, but the temperature is also important. Keeping your paint tightly sealed prevents it from drying out and prevents all those valuable compounds from wafting away and curing the paint in the can.

Extreme temperatures, either too cold or too hot, will destroy your paint immediately. Paint should be stored at temperatures between 55 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that if you want your paint to last, don’t keep it in the garage or a shed. Keep it in a room with more control over the temperature. Latex paint, in particular, is susceptible to freezing, and one solid freeze is usually enough to turn it into a strange-coloured spongey mass, ruining it.

How to Tell If Your Paint Is Already Malfunctioning

Here are some signs that your paint is in poor condition:

l It’s all dried up.

l There’s a fishy or strange odour that wasn’t there before.

l It’s substantial.

l When you stir it, it loses its smoothness and quickly separates again.

So, if it smells strange—even stranger than VOC-laden paint—and won’t blend back together, it’s time to get rid of it.

How to Determine the Age of Your Paint:

Aside from improper storage, time and the breakdown of the compounds in the can are the primary causes of paint deterioration. By clearly writing the date of purchase on the container with a permanent marker, you can save yourself a lot of time and trouble.

Keep track of your paint purchases, especially if you’re painting your house. If you ever want to paint in scrapes on the wall or repaint the entire room in the same colour, you’ll need the exact paint mix, and you may run out at some point. Take note of the following:

• The brand name of the paint
• The purchase date
• The hue of the paint
• What type of paint it is and what finish it has
• The formula numbers come from a can.

That may appear excessive, but trust us on this one. If you decide to repaint in ten years and you really like the colour, the information above will make it simple to get a new can in the exact shade you want.