freeze temperature can break your paint . Here ’s what to look out for and how to furbish up it .

Brie Goldman

Whilethe garagemight be the safe place to store paint out of reach of children and darling , conditions changes could sham the paint ’s caliber . moth-eaten temperature can cause blusher to separate , thicken , harden , or clump , making it hard to expend when you need it most . Does this imply you should move your paint out of the garage during winter month ?

A group of paint cans

Credit:Brie Goldman

The resolution might be more complicated than you think — freezing temperatures are n’t suitable for paint , but not everyone lives in an sphere where that is a concern . Here are some tips on when to move your paint cans indoors , how to assure for paint damage , and what to do if your paint has been exposed to winter conditions .

The Ideal Temperatures for Paint Storage

blusher is sensitive to temperature changes , and suspend temperature can cause hand over pigment to be completely unserviceable . The idealistic blusher store temperature varies by manufacturer , so see to it the label or an online data sheet for specific . However , Benjamin Moore advocate storage between 60 ° F and 80 ° degree Fahrenheit .

If temperature drop below freeze ( 32 ° farad ) , rubber-base paint orwater - free-base paintswill freeze . This can cause the water in water - establish paints to separate from the solids , result in a chunky and unserviceable production . While vegetable oil - found paints are more resistant to cold , they also experience changes in consistency that could bound their performance and appeal .

How to Store Paint in the Winter

While it ’s common for peopleto storehouse key in the garage , it is not advise during extreme wintertime weather . If your service department is not climate - controlled , it ’s urge to store paint in a properly insulated and ventilated sphere , such as the basement , attic , orutility water closet . Dark , nerveless , and wry ( not cold ) conditions are idealistic .

instead , reduce the risk of wintertime rouge damage by insure the rouge ’s container ( can or tub ) is airtight . To create an airtight seal , wrap a bed of credit card on top of the paint case shot . Then , ram down the lid keep out with a rubber mallet and store the paint upside down .

If you have no alternative but to leave your key in a dusty service department , place the paint cans in isolate storehouse containers . The next full pick is wrapping them with insulation material or old blankets to buffer temperature fluctuation and protect them from the frigidity . Aportable heateror heating inking pad could help maintain a stable temperature . Always store key cans on shelves or other noble-minded surfaces , preferably on wooden pallet , to head off verbatim impinging with cold floor . audit the paint periodically to captivate any signs of freeze as soon as potential .

How to Know If Your Paint Is Damaged

freeze temperature can have the water from H2O - based pigment to separate from the paint solid state — so look for that separation or any other alteration in consistency . Another way tocheck if the paint is damagedis to thawing and shake the rouge , then essay it on a small piece of composition board . If it is no longer spreadable or does not adhere to the surface , the paint is extremely damaged .

Also , if the pigment becomes ropey , sandy , or clumpy , it might be damage beyond convalescence . A sour or rotten smell is another strong reading that the paint is n’t usable anymore .

Can Damaged Paint Be Restored?

In some cases , you could repair paint that has been exposed to freeze temperatures in your service department , but it ’s tricky . take off by grant the frozen paint to thaw slow indoors at way temperature . Avoid using heaters or hot piss to step on it the process . Once melted , excite thoroughly with a paint social to reblend the furcate components . or else , take it to professional person at your nearest paint storehouse for mechanically skillful quivering . Stirring or shaking might restore the texture , thickness , and consistency .

If the pigment is still chunky after stirring , strive it using a fine mesh to remove clump . to boot , you’re able to render paint conditioners like Floetrol for water - based pigment or Penetrol for oil - based rouge . These product might doctor the rouge ’s adhesion properties . Always test the revived infliction on a humble area to check operation . Forlarge projectswhere timbre is predominate , consider purchasing fresh paint .

The Final Verdict: Can Paint Be Stored in the Garage During Winter?

Unless the garage is climate - operate , it is not recommended to store paint in the garage . Instead , store paint in areas within the recommended temperature stove . This will bring through you money on renewal cost and minimize waste . Periodically inspect your paint containers to key signs of heat and cold scathe . If the rouge is unusable , dispose of it responsiblyand safely .