What Kind Of Paint For Garage Walls?

Painting your garage is a great way to improve the look of the space and make the walls easier to clean. But you might be struggling to figure out what kind of paint to use on garage walls. Your garage is sort of inside but sort of outside, so what paint is best?

Interior latex paints designed for high-traffic areas and in a satin or semi-gloss finish are best for garage walls. These paints dry quickly, emit minimal odors, and provide easy clean-up. Avoid using exterior paints, since they have more intense fumes and toxins, and garages aren’t always well-ventilated. Top picks for garage wall paint are Glidden Interior Paint + Primer and Montage Signature Interior Paint.

If you plan to paint your garage, there are a few tips worth checking out first. At the top of the list is using the right paint, so you don’t end up regretting your choice.

The best paint for your garage walls is interior latex paint. It’s understandable if you assume that using exterior paint in a garage makes the most sense. After all, your garage is sort of outside and likely exposed to more intense temperatures than the inside of your home.

However, exterior paints typically emit more potent odors than interior ones because of the anti-mildew components and higher VOCs. These exterior paints can produce harmful fumes without proper ventilation, which is why they’re specifically for outdoor use. Therefore, interior paint is your best option.

Choosing latex paints over oil-based versions is also ideal. Oil-based paints indeed deliver a hard shell that offers extreme durability. However, they take longer to dry, are challenging to clean up, and require more painting savvy.

In contrast, latex paints emit less odors and fumes, are easier to clean up, and dry more quickly. Look for latex paints designed for high-traffic areas that offer more durability, provide mildew resistance, and hide stains well.

Many paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are gasses that seep into the air. When the paint is high in VOCs, you’ll notice a much stronger odor. It’s critical to work with proper ventilation and safety gear, as overexposure to these gasses can cause a host of issues.

You could experience irritation in your eyes, throat, nose, and airways, get headaches and feel dizzy or nauseous. If you use this type of paint in areas with poor ventilation, overexposure can lead to even more severe issues.

Even though your garage will receive some decent ventilation whenever you have your garage door open, it won’t always be this way. Therefore, it’s wise to look for paints with low or no VOCs.

Technically, even no-VOC paint still has a minimal amount. The EPA distinguishes these paints as having a maximum of 5 grams of VOC per liter. For low-VOC water-based paints, there should be no more than 250 grams per liter.

Before any painting project, make sure your surfaces are clean and dry. Wipe down the walls, get rid of any grime or gunk, and allow them to dry completely.

You’ll likely want to prime your garage walls first, unless they’re already painted with a light color and have no stains. Otherwise, priming keeps unfinished surfaces from soaking up all of your paint. Priming also helps block stains from seeping through your finished paint job.

An exception is if the walls are painted with oil-based paint. You can’t paint latex paint directly over oil-based paint. First, sand down the walls to remove the sheen so your latex paint adheres properly. Dust the walls to remove any residue, then use a bonding primer for the best coverage.

Likewise, if your walls are painted with a dark color and you plan to change them to a lighter color, use a primer. You won’t have to use as many coats of paint to cover the darker color, saving you time and money.

After painting, allow the walls at least 24 hours to dry before you start putting things back in place or installing shelving, etc. For best results, avoid anything touching the walls for at least 48 hours.

It’s also important to allow enough time for the paint to dry between coats. When using latex paint, typically, the suggested time is four hours, but consult the recommendations on your specific paint’s instructions.

If you’re planning to paint your garage walls, water-based interior latex paint is easy to work with and provides great coverage. Choose a high-quality paint and opt for a satin, eggshell, or semi-gloss finish. Avoid exterior paints, since they typically have higher VOCs and won’t get an adequate amount of ventilation in an enclosed garage.

Check the label of any paints you consider to make sure they’re a good match for your wall’s surface. Some paints work better on concrete, while others are ideal for drywall, etc. Once you know the type of paint you plan to use, you can test out various colors.

Giving your garage a makeover with a fresh coat of paint makes it nicer to look at but also makes the walls easier to clean. You can tackle the project in a weekend, then kick back and relish in a job well done.