Paint freezing over the winter is a common issue. Especially if you don’t store it properly. Although compared to used paint a factory sealed paint lasts longer and has a much better chance of being safe during cold weather.
If you’ve been painting for a while, you must have faced the paint freezing problem once or twice, right? Then you know it’s not a fun experience. Paint freezes because it’s a solvent component, and like any other solvent material, it gets frozen over winter.
If you’re suffering from freezing paint, and don’t exactly know what to do? Then you’ve hit the jackpot. Because here we'll discuss different aspects of paint freezing, and also will share tips to avoid paints from being frozen during winter.
Frozen Paint- Is It Safe To Use?
Can paint freeze? well as mentioned earlier, paints getting frozen is quite common. So there’s no need to worry. However, frozen paint can get ruined, the reason being the main cause for concern among paint users.
Oil-based paints are much safer to use compared to water-based paint. It’s because of their slippery solvent components. But once it gets frozen it’s unusable, unlike the water-based paint. But you need to restore it before it's ready to use. But if you can store it properly you won’t have to go through the restoring process.
Just so you know, paint storage shares similarities with food storage. Because storing it both needs proper temperature management. There’s also a factor that unopened cans of paints last longer than opened ones. Therefore they tend to be much safer to use than unopened cans of paints.
How Fast The Paint Will Freeze?
Indeed the paint will freeze when it comes in contact with cold weather. However the rate it’ll freeze depends on three things such as:
- Paint’s internal component.
- Paints Storage.
- Initial temperature.
Take water-based paint for example. With it, if the temperature is lower than usual, it starts freezing. On the other hand, with oil-based paint, you need at least -4 Fahrenheit to begin freezing. So as you can see, water-based paints have a much faster rate of freezing compared to oil-based paints.
Where do you store the paint? is also a factor. If you store the paint outside in the garage, where there is no way to produce heat indoors, your stored paint will surely freeze faster than in well-heated storage. Furthermore, the outside temperature also affects the rate of paint’s freezing.
How To Use Frozen Paint?
By now you’re aware of the fact that, due to the paint's solvent component, when it comes into contact with chilly weather it gets frozen. Many people tend to throw them out.
But you shouldn’t do that, because you can restore it. However, the paint's usability depends on its quality and how you restore the frozen paint. Follow the given steps to restore your frozen paint.
- When your paint gets frozen, first you need to thaw it out with a sharp pointy object.
- Then place it in a room where the temperature is even. Then wait for it to liquify.
- After the paints are liquified, take a flat stick and stir it for 3 to 5 minutes and mix it through and through.
- When you’re done mixing it, check if the paint is smooth or if it has any lamps in it.
- If it’s smooth then it’s safe to use but if it has small/big lamps inside, then the paint is no longer usable.
Note- before you apply the restored paint on the intended surface, test it on a cardboard or any other surface to check the paint’s integrity, first.
How To Store Paint In The Winter
Your paint freezes during winter because of poor storage methods. Especially with used paints. You can’t just put it inside your garage and hope it’ll be fine during winter.
If your garage place can’t provide the necessary room temperature your paints will surely freeze. So to store your paints during winter you need to place them in an even-tempered place to maintain them properly. It can be either in your basement or inside your house closet.
Basically, you’ll need to store your paint in a place that can block the outside cold temperature and maintain at least 60°F. Within this temperature, you’ll be able to keep your paints intact for a long time.
Tips To Keep Used Paints From Freezing Over Winter
As mentioned in a previous segment, the used paints have a much faster freezing rate, compared to unused paints. However, it doesn’t mean you should throw them out like many people will suggest, just because it’s a hassle to store them.
The leftover paint comes in handy during touchups. So it’s a good idea to keep them, even in winter. And now that you know how to store it properly, you’ll have no problem keeping it stored.
However, leftover paint’s consistency depends on how it is sealed & stored and whether it’s contaminated with any bacteria. These given tips will definitely come in handy while storing your leftover paints during winter.
- Don’t place your paint on a concrete floor, as they tend to get cold during winter. Place cardboard or a carpet under the paints, it’ll prevent cold from reaching the paints.
- You must seal the paint cans properly. Use a plastic wrap to cover the paint and shut it properly. You can gently pound it with a hammer.
- To provide extra protection to the paint cover, you can use a rubber mallet. And remember to avoid damaging the lid while pounding with a hammer.
- You can mark the paint cans according to their color. So that you can easily find out which color you need to use. In doing so, you’ll avoid going through the storing process again.
- Don’t put the leftover paint in an outside shed. However, if the shed is well isolated and heated, you can store it. But it’s a hassle compared to other storing methods.
Final Thoughts
Bottom line is that it’s natural for paints to freeze during winter. But its freezing rate and reusing it depends on how well it’s being stored. And you can find proper methods for doing both in the above discussion.
Before we depart, we just want to share a tip for extreme cases when your paint goes bad. In such cases, it’s obvious you’ll throw it away, but remember to do so with care.
Because it can contain hazardous components that are harmful to you. So while disposing of it, make sure to wear a face mask and a pair of gloves and make sure to bury it deep into the ground.
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