How long does paint last?

Cluedo Monopoly · 28-02-2021 3:41pm #1

My shed is full of external and internal paint containers? Some of them are half full. How long does paint last before it's unusable?

romaderwdcsax · 28-02-2021 8:35pm

Cluedo Monopoly wrote: »

My shed is full of external and internal paint containers? Some of them are half full. How long does paint last before it's unusable?

General rule of thumb would be smell it, if it smells bad, get rid of, if it smells ok then use away. Paint should last a couple of years, even if previously opened and used some already

Cluedo Monopoly · 28-02-2021 8:44pm

romaderwdcsax wrote: »

General rule of thumb would be smell it, if it smells bad, get rid of, if it smells ok then use away. Paint should last a couple of years, even if previously opened and used some already

This paint is there for 10 years. Opened previously. I haven't smelled it but I will dispose of it.

BrokenArrows · 01-03-2021 11:01am

Cluedo Monopoly wrote: »

This paint is there for 10 years. Opened previously. I haven't smelled it but I will dispose of it.

Ya 10 years is too long. Even unopened paint will likely be bad after 10 years.

Mango Joe · 01-03-2021 11:22am

I put a load of work into a ceiling there recently (stripping paint, filling sanding etc) and painted after with a primer from my garage which looked and smelled absolutely fine.

Got an uneven, bumpy, orange peel effect and think its starting to crack now too - Its so demoralising!

I will never keep paint any length of time again and am 1000% throwing out all the tins I've been hoarding over the last while......

spakman · 01-03-2021 11:24am

where do you dispose of paint? Can you throw them in the general waste bin or have to bring them to recycling facility?

Ger Roe · 01-03-2021 11:26am

Remember that paint is classified as a hazardous and polluting substance. Unwanted paints should be disposed of responsibly - it's usually possible to bring them to a local recycle centre. They should absolutely not be thrown in the general waste bin.

awec · 01-03-2021 12:38pm

spakman wrote: »

where do you dispose of paint? Can you throw them in the general waste bin or have to bring them to recycling facility?

Recycling centres should take them.

Cluedo Monopoly · 01-03-2021 2:45pm

awec wrote: »

Recycling centres should take them.

I dropped them to a recycle centre today. 2.50 a can.

Ger Roe · 01-03-2021 2:50pm

That's one of the non joys of recycling in this country. Different recycle providers in different areas have different policies about what they take and different charges that they apply. Here in Wicklow, you would not have to pay to dispose of paint.

There should be a national policy of providing the same standard of service and range of options throughout the country, but unfortunately recycling is treated as a national requirement that is managed (or mis-managed) locally.

awec · 01-03-2021 3:50pm

I'm surprised you had to pay too, I use the Bray recycling centre and it's all free there.

IMO things like this should always be free to dispose of responsibly to remove any incentive to do the wrong thing.

Cluedo Monopoly · 02-03-2021 4:54pm

awec wrote: »

I'm surprised you had to pay too, I use the Bray recycling centre and it's all free there.

IMO things like this should always be free to dispose of responsibly to remove any incentive to do the wrong thing.

It might have been because there was some old paint in the cans. It was a recycling centre in Galway.

How long does paint last?

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