I used leftover paint from 2010 on my fence and it came out a totally different color

3 comments

3 Comments

Read something from a paint chemist a while back. Said the binder and resin break down over time, not just the pigment. That's why old paint gets clumpy and weird. You can mix it all day and it still won't bond right with the wood. Your fence is probably going to peel in a year or two.

julia8433mo ago

That's a classic paint science fail right there. The pigments can settle and separate over a decade, no matter how well you mix it. Sunlight and temperature changes in the garage probably broke down the color agents too. Always test old paint on a scrap piece first, because the can label becomes a lie after a few years. Learned that the hard way on a bedroom wall.

riverp373mo ago

Actually had good luck with ten year old paint in my shed, just shook the can for a solid five minutes. Maybe garage conditions vary a lot, @julia843. What brand were you using back then?