The sun is out and we are painting homes all over the Portland area. At the end of every job we will usually have left over paint that we like to leave behind for the customers to use for touch up painting later. This paint can stay in very good condition for many years if stored properly.
We recommend keeping the lids very tight to avoid air getting into the cans which can harden the paint. It is best to keep the cans indoors in a warmer place such as a garage that is heated or inside the home. Outdoor sheds are not a great option as they will have bigger temperature variations and have lots of moisture. It is best to keep the cans off of the floor and especially off of concrete as they will get colder.
If you choose not to keep large quantities of paint you can transfer them to smaller quart sized containers for easier storage but make sure you copy the label very carefully for future color matches. Make sure to keep the brand name, type of paint, color and sheen when transferring to new cans.
If you are concerned that your paint may not be good anymore you can smell it to see if it has a funny odor. Look at is after you stir it up and see if it appears to be ok. If it appears to be very lumpy it may no longer be good. You can also take it to your local paint store and have them inspect it and put in on a shaker to have it mixed up again.
Following these simple steps will help your paint last many years so touch ups will be much easier. Call Absolute Painting & Power Washing with any questions you have about paint storage.
