It is extremely rare that any paint project done by weekend warriors or professional contractors utilize the perfect amount of paint. There is almost always some paint leftover when the project is finished. Disposing of unused paint or recycling it takes time. Plus, it’s wasteful.

Furthermore, it may be good to have some leftover paint lying around just in case you need to do some touch-ups in the future. If you have the space, it is generally a good idea to hang onto that leftover paint. But how long can you keep it? How do you know it’s still good?

These are the questions we will be addressing in today’s post. If at any point you have any painting questions or wish to discuss a project, give us a call here at Century Painting.

How long can you Keep Cans of Paint

The shelf life of paint will depend on the type. For instance, oil-based paints can last up to 15 years if the cans have never been opened. Acrylic, latex and water-based paints will only last about 10 years if the cans have never been opened.

But what if you have already opened the cans up? If you have already broken the seal on a can of paint you should do your best to seal it back up. You can use plastic wrap to go over the opening before hammering the factory seal back into place for an extra layer of protection.

But even when you take extra precaution sealing up opened cans of paint, you may only be able to store them for about 2 years before they become unusable. That leads us to our next topic…

How can you tell if Leftover Paint is Still Good?

Most paints start to congeal when they have been stored for too long. This is a result of the paint surface being exposed to and interacting with outside air. The first thing you should do to test the paint is to stir it with a brush or any implement that you don’t mind getting paint on.

If you can see that the paint is mixing smoothly and that there are no lumps or clumps of hardened paint, you’re in good shape. But you should still test it to be certain. Try applying some of the paint to some scrap wood or paper. If it applies smoothly and you can’t see any lumps, the paint should still be good.

You can also use your nose and your eyes to spot bad paint. When paint is past its prime, it will emit a harsh, chemical stench. You may also see some mold or mildew around the can or even on the surface of the paint. These are tell-tale signs that it’s time to discard your old paint.

In any case, for the maximum shelf-life of opened and unopened cans of paint, you should store leftover paint in a dry area where the temperature does not get too hot or too cold.

Century Painting also serves as a single source for every painting need, including Residential painting, Interior & Exterior Painting, Commercial painting and New Construction painting projects . Whatever your project needs, our team is ready to give your home, business or property a fresh, updated appearance. For Hassle Free Estimates give us a call at; (704) 245-9409!