Can you use exterior paint indoors?

[Chris]

Can you use exterior paint indoors? The tin says "for external use only." Why?

[Christian McArdle]

No. It usually contains a fungicide which would be dangerous indoors as there would be insufficient ventilation to remove the dangerous chemicals. There is also an increased risk that young children may ingest the poisonous fungicide directly through licking.

Christian.

[LongYP]

Could be something to do with particular chemicals used to make exterior paint weather resistant..this same chemicals indoors could make you ill?

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Do kids lick the doors by you then?

[Christian McArdle]

I take it you have no children, then!

Christian.

[meow2222]

the solvents can sometimes be too toxic for indoor use. The finish is sometimes rougher than would be accepted indoors. And there may be toxins incorporated into the paint that are a risk to children. So not really.

NT

[Chris Hodges]

Small quantities of exterior gloss are very good at sealing problem areas (e.g. old stains that come through emulsion). The smell's pretty potent though, I wouldn't like to use too much. It seemed better for this than oil-based interior gloss, but I didn't do an experiment.

[Chris Bacon]

I tend to use gloss and undercoat suitable for exterior use both inside and outside.

I haven't come across much paint that says that, but I'd go along with what it says on the label....

There's something in it that makes it unsuitable for use inside (see: creosote).

What sort of paint is it?

[Chris]

International 10 year exterior gloss.