Of course, you can paint a car with house paint. But then, it not being the recommended product for this particular task, the results can be hideous and disastrous.
There are many stories out there of people who painted their cars with house paint. These should not mislead you into trying such on a car that you love and treasure.
The first thing that you can be assured of not getting from house paint is an appealing finish.
The second mistake you can make is to use a brush. This will leave brush marks all over the vehicle and it will look terrible.
And as if that’s not enough house paint won’t bond to metal and it will peel off easily. All your efforts and money used on supplies will go down the drain.
Why Shouldn’t I Paint My Car with House Paint?
The first reason is very obvious. House paint is meant to be used on houses and so is the case with car paint. Even though both are paints, they can’t be used interchangeably.
House paint because it isn’t formulated to bond with metal as well as automotive lacquer, won’t stand a chance against extreme temperatures. And that’s why house paint peels faster when applied on metallic surfaces.
Getting an even gloss with house paint on a car is nearly impossible even for professional detailers.
However, should you go ahead and paint a car with house paint, prepare yourself to repaint the car regularly because it will always fade after a short duration, even if you apply some clear coat.
There aren’t any reasons why you should use house paint on a car not unless you don’t care about how it looks or whether it will hold up or not.
If you plan on selling the car, the least you can do is be honest with the buyer. Anyway, no professional in the auto industry, who is in their right mind can advise you to use house paint on a car.
What Type of Finish Can I Get from House Paint?
A glossy finish on a car can’t be obtained from house paint. Quality car paint is the only product that can give you that.
A couple of DIY enthusiasts have in the past had success with powder coat primer and water-based paints, when it comes to getting an even finish on the car.
However, water-based paints are a recipe for corrosion, and is that a risk you are willing to take?
Can I Use House Paint on Art Cars?
If you own an art car, this is a thought that has crossed your mind severally. And even though you can use house paint to make decorations on an art car, you can be assured that it won’t last for long.
You will have to touch it up after every couple of months and this isn’t worth your time, especially when you consider that there are affordable car paints out there that will last for longer and look better on your car.
House paint is not ideal for art cars because the finish won’t look aesthetically pleasing.
Is House Paint Compatible with Car Paint?
If by any means you plan on foregoing the sanding process or prep work and plan on diving straight into painting house paint on your car, then you will have an enormous disaster.
House paint is not compatible with car paint.
Have you ever gotten some latex paint spilled on your car? Do you remember how terrible it looked? That’s exactly what will happen to your vehicle.
To be on the safe side, don’t mix these two. And for future reference, when painting a car the prep work which entails removal of the old paint is crucial. Never skip this step.
House Paint vs. Car Paint
Because these two products are created for different surfaces, we aren’t going to compare the individual features. We are going to compare the what-ifs, should one decide to use either car or house paint on a vehicle.
We all know that all paints have the same role and that is to enhance the look of items, be it houses or cars. Because of the nature of these two surfaces, the paint used on either has to be composed to adhere to that particular material.
And as you may already know, you can’t use them interchangeably. So, here are the differences between these two types of paint and how each reacts with the metal surfaces on cars;
1) The first difference relates to the adhesiveness of both paints. All paints, provided they are labeled as car paints will adhere to metal. House paint on the other hand isn’t formulated to adhere to metal and that’s why it peels off after some months.
2) In matters related to durability, car paint is more resistant to extreme weather than house paint. The latter is used in interiors that rarely face the extreme weather found outside.
Car paint is designed to handle exposure to UV rays, road salt, hail, and anything else that is thrown into it. One may argue about the paint used on the exterior of the house. Yes, it may be durable but don’t forget our first difference.
House paint can’t bond to metal and that’s why it can easily be removed from the surface of metal than it can be from a wall.
3) House paint is thicker than car paint. This is why house paint gives off a denser finish even with one coat. Car paint requires several coats for you to notice a glossier finish.
Here is where the difference comes in. The thicker the paint, the heavier it will be, and adding unnecessary weight to your car only lowers gas mileage and strains the engine.
Will a Roller Make House Paint Look Better on a Car?
Earlier, we dismissed the idea of using a brush when using house paint on a car. So, does that mean a roller can give a better finish with fewer marks?
A roller works wonders when you are painting walls. The same can’t be said for cars.
Unlike straight walls, car surfaces are curved and there are plenty of edges. You will need an accurate hand and a keen eye for you to avoid marks when painting.
A foam brush can help give a better finish. But as long as you are using a brush, the paint job won’t be close to perfect and you will need to do lots of sanding.
What Type of Car Paint Should I Use?
Now that we have seen house paint isn’t a substitute for car paint, you are wondering what type of paint I should use on my car.
You should use car paint, but there are different types of car paint and each has its pros and cons.
If you are planning to paint your car, here are three types of car paint that you can use on your vehicle and enjoy pleasant as well as lasting results.
• Urethane car paints
This can be sprayed over any type of paint and there will be no reaction, even on lacquer. The benefits of urethane paint are; that it’s inexpensive, durable, and dries very fast.
On the downside, urethane paint can leave a plastic-like appearance on the car and it should be sprayed when one is wearing protective gear as it is very toxic.
• Metallic car paint
If aesthetics matter to you, this is the ideal type of car paint you should use. The effects of metallic paint paint are impressive and it’s commonly used on sports cars.
They are highly reflective and switching to metallic car paint can increase your car’s resale value. There are disadvantages to metallic car paint.
The first one is that it’s quite expensive. It’s not the kind of paint you can touch up as it isn’t easy to match. And it doesn’t have lots of color options.
• Acrylic enamel car paint
This type is gaining a lot of popularity nowadays mostly because of its stunning glossy finish. Acrylic enamel is easy to apply and creates a hard shell when it dries.
Amongst detailers, acrylic car paint is considered a soft type of paint and hence doesn’t last long, especially when over-exposed to chemicals and UV rays.
Knowing what type of paint to use on a car is essential as it gives you the freedom to choose the features that appeal most to you. And, you can choose a car paint that suits your budget.
How to Remove House Paint from a Car?
There are several ways you can get house paint on your car. You could either paint it, bump your car against a painted wall, or spill some when painting the house.
Irrespective of how you get it there, you should know that house paint doesn’t belong on a car surface, and you should plan on how to remove it as soon as possible.
If you had painted your car with house paint, you should dedicate your time towards removing it and replacing it with one of the above types of car paint.
The vehicle will need to be sanded thoroughly so that you get rid of all the house paint.
Regarding minor house paint spots on a car, you can try to remove them with hot soapy water. If that fails a clay bar can get rid of house paint spots.
Try a rubbing compound first before using harsh products such as acetone or rubbing alcohol.