Make sure your garage lives up to its full potential by giving it an affordable paint makeover. The best paint for garage walls will give it an instant aesthetic lift, assuring you can effectively maximize every square footage of your home.
However, like homeowners, you most likely do not fret over your garage. It is often taken for granted during the renovation because you mainly use it for storing your vehicle and other home items that you do not need.
But remember, your garage is an outdoor extension of your livable space, so strive hard not to leave it dirty. By sprucing up the walls, your garage will look more inviting. Besides, nicer looking walls will inspire you to keep the whole garage neat. It can even serve as your mini workshop.
Feeling ready for a DIY right now? Well, you have come to the right place. Find out more about the best paint for garage walls from the experts at Coastal Garage Doors below, including other nifty tips and tricks for keeping your garage organized all year long.
The Best Types of Paint Suited for Garage Walls
If you have never done something like this, you will be happy to know that your garage walls are forgiving. In fact, they happen to be the best first project for newbies. However, if you truly don’t feel confident, a garage door specialist can certainly help you select the paint, especially if you want it to match the design of your existing garage door.
In the olden days, white oil-based paint was the industry standard for garage walls, even if they take longer to dry. They also have a strong odor, which can trigger allergies and asthma for some people. On top of that, you will need a paint thinner to thin this out for easy application.
Thankfully, recent technological developments produced a latex-based version that performs as well as oil and offers better safety for applying the paint. After all, you do not want to risk your health, especially your lungs when latex paint does an effective job.
The Perks of Using Latex Paint
Latex paint is the best paint for garage walls and even ceilings. Now, many industry professionals choose latex paint for their projects. There is no surprise there because it comes with a chock full of benefits. Look at its perks below:
1. Quick to Dry
It is easy to apply and dries off quickly. Best of all, many latex brands now offer a 2-in-1 paint and primer. This will cut down priming work. As a result, you save on time, money, and energy holding that paintbrush.
2. Healthier Choice
Latex certainly has lesser VOCs or volatile organic compounds. As a result, it would expose you to fewer toxic materials. Clearly, latex is the healthier and safer choice for your paint projects.
3. Minimal Odor
Having low VOCs means you also deal with a less foul odor. When you use latex paint, your family does not need to leave the house as you paint your garage walls. There will be no paint fumes that feel suffocating.
4. Water-Based
Most of all, latex paint is water-based, so you can thin it out with ordinary water instead of paint thinner. Remember, paint thinner is harder to handle and a lot smellier, too. Nothing can be purer than water. Besides, this is also free from your tap, unlike paint thinner, an added expense.
The Differences Between Interior VS Exterior Paint
You can utilize interior and exterior paint on your garage walls since they meet varying needs and purposes. But as the name suggests, interior paint is best left for rooms inside. Using interior paint outdoor will not last long because it is exposed to harsh elements.
In the same token, you can use exterior paint to redecorate the family room or the bedroom. However, you can use both materials for your garage project because this part of your home is somehow in the “in-between” category. To help you decide, look at the details of each kind below.
1. Exterior Paint
If you have a detached garage exposed to harsh temperature changes and inclement weather, exterior paint may be the best bet for your garage walls. The primary difference between exterior and interior paint is the mixture.
You will find resin mixed in with the color pigment and solvent. The resin binding everything together is more flexible. Hence, it is best suited for temperamental weather conditions. As a result, exterior paint can:
- Adapt well to different changes in temperature
- Handle moisture exposure well
- Resist molds and mildew, which often come with outdoor exposure
- Cope with harsh UV rays extremely well
- Proffers better longevity and durability, with lesser chipping or peeling with age
However, the caveat to this paint is the VOC content. Even those brands that claim they have low-VOC still carry harsh odors. Having offered garage door services in San Diego for years, we know the reason for this is exterior paint is laden with tons of chemicals. It is why they resist molds and mildew, along with better resistance to fading for years.
Therefore, professional painters will never use exterior paint for indoor use. The paint fumes are toxic. It can lead to allergic rhinitis, asthma, sinusitis, and other breathing issues.
2. Interior Paint
For most attached garages with moderate climates, interior paint is the better choice. Though it is not as flexible as the exterior variant, it will not expose you to harmful VOCs.
When compared with exterior paint, many will say the interior version is fussier. The resin used for the mixture is stiff. Hence, it will not hold well against temperature changes or dampness. Interior paint lives up to its name by working well indoors because it can:
- Handle cleaning and scrubbing
- Won’t readily smear or scuff
- Offer high-gloss or semi-gloss sheen for different areas
- Contain less harmful chemicals
- Stink less
Do take note that if you have a detached garage that is always damp or a non-insulated garage, interior paint will not last long. The moisture and temperature of your garage will make the interior paint peel and crack. And keep in mind, though interior paints do have low to almost non-existent VOC, you still need to keep the area well ventilated as you paint for your utmost protection.
The Most Popular Paint Colors for Garage Walls
Now that you have an idea of what paint will work best for your garage walls, you may be determining what color is best for your garage area. Many households opt for white because it looks pure, fresh, and clean.
However, remember that white will only stay that way until something smears it. We do not recommend bright white for a garage because it will get dirty easily. Similarly, black will make your space look dim, cramped, and dreary.
Here are the most popular paint colors for your garage wall. Many vouch that they camouflage dirt well, hide imperfections, and look great with any theme:
- Classic gray
- Neutral blues
- Beige
- Tan
- Neutral greens
You must also consider the existing colors in your garage. Do not forget to make sure the garage walls complement your current garage door design. The other door it should match is the one leading to your house.
Be sure to work with these tones. You can either pick something that matches if you want a more serene look. But if you want a statement piece, you can also pick a contrasting color to make things pop.
The Garage Ceilings and Floors
When you are painting your garage walls, do not forget to give some much-needed TLC to your ceilings and floors. The same paint brand you will use for the wall can work for your ceilings.
As for the color, most people, even designers, prefer to keep the ceiling white. After all, white is a classic hue that matches everything. Besides, when it is on the ceiling, you do not need to worry about messy hands or pets dirtying the pristine color.
Similarly, do not forget to pay attention to your garage floor. If your flooring is a certain color, it must complement the walls. Should you decide to paint your garage floors along with your walls, keep in mind that the floor usually has an epoxy type of coating.
Thus, choose a paint designed to be over coated cement. And no matter what paint style or color you choose, always paint with good ventilation. On top of that, always allow the paint to dry between coats.
What You Need to Do for Proper Paint Application
Painting your garage walls will require a few more steps than painting a room in your house. Look at the best application tips to ensure your garage turns out beautiful:
1. Tidy Up Before Painting
Before you begin, clean your garage walls first. These are often unfinished and accumulate dirt because of their location. You can wipe down the walls with water and dish soap. Follow up with a dry cloth to get as much of the solution out. As you wait for walls to dry, vacuum the rest of your garage to remove any debris.
2. Prep the Wall for Paint Application
If the drywall is unpainted, you need to prime it first. The drywall is porous, so you need a primer to seal the surface. Putting interior paint directly on an unfinished wall will soak the material. The result will be a bumpy finish that looks uneven.
Should the walls be painted, it can be more complicated. If there are stains, you can cover them up first. But first, you must determine if it is latex or oil-based paint to choose the right priming material. To help you assess:
- Wash a section with mild detergent.
- Dip a cotton ball in alcohol and rub it on the area.
- Check the cotton to see if the paint comes off.
If it rubs off on the cotton, it is latex paint. Should it stay put, you have an oil-based paint. On top of that, if you have oil-based, you must sand the walls first and use a bonding primer before coating them with latex paint. If you want to skip that step, cover it with another oil-based paint.
3. Apply the Paint
Here are a few simple tips to help with the paint application:
- Ventilate Well: Open the garage doors and windows for proper air circulation.
- Protect Floors: Lay down protection for your floors to catch any drips. You can use tarps or old newspapers.
- Apply Tape: Put painter’s tape on window edges, ceiling edges, sockets, and switches.
- Mix Paint: paint. Even the best garage paint with the same color possesses slight variations in their gallons. To prevent noticeable changes in hues, mix all the paint, then pour it back into their respective gallons for uniformity.
- Brush Paint: After priming, apply paint on the drywall using even horizontal strokes. Work your way from top to bottom as this helps manage drips.
- Dry Properly: Dry each coat well before applying the next one. Two coats will usually suffice.
- Remove Tape: When the paint is fully dry, remove the tape. Pull gently at an angle to prevent any damage.
- Wipe Up: Use a slightly damp rage to wipe up any drips while the paint has not set. When set, you can use an old credit card or any stiff plastic like a spatula to scrape them off for the dried paint drippings.
And there you have it! Your garage walls will look amazing after you finish the paint job.
Call the Pros for An Assessment
Your garage is an unsung hero in your home. They quietly protect your vehicles from inclement weather. They also house shelves, sporting equipment, and many other things. However, you often forget your garage.
Remember, you can amplify the look of your garage with the right paint. Make sure it matches your garage door for a seamless, elegant, and classy look. If you need help, call our Coastal Garage Doors team for assistance. We can provide color suggestions to help you find the best complement to your garage door. You can also peruse our catalog to find a new door to complete your garage renovation.