Exterior and interior paints are formulated for different conditions. Exterior paints are built and tested for sun, rain, mildew and temperature swings and can often be applied in colder weather; interior paints are formulated for washability, low odor and indoor surfaces. Using one in place of the other usually shortens its life.
Benjamin Moore's current Aura exterior is listed from 35°F to 100°F surface temperature, while its Regal Select interior paint is listed from 50°F to 90°F. Exterior products are made to be applied outdoors in cooler conditions and to tolerate sun-heated surfaces.
Exterior data sheets reference outdoor conditions throughout. Benjamin Moore lists Aura exterior for wood siding, trim, shakes, masonry, stucco, vinyl, aluminum and fiber cement, with specific primer systems for each, and limits colors on vinyl to protect siding from heat. Its masonry and stain products list waterproofing and mildew resistance among their purposes.
Washability and indoor use. Benjamin Moore describes Regal Select as a durable, washable finish with stain release technology so household stains come off with soap and water, ideal for surfaces subject to abuse and soil, and lists it for wallboard, plaster, masonry and wood indoors. Its interior enamel, Advance, is formulated for doors, trim and cabinets that are handled and washed often.
Both can be low. Benjamin Moore lists Aura exterior and Regal Select interior each at under 50 grams per liter VOC. The bigger VOC differences are among primers: the alkyd Fresh Start Undercoater is listed under 350 grams per liter.
Interior paint used outside is not formulated for sun, rain and mildew and tends to fail early. Exterior paint used indoors is formulated for outdoor exposure, not for indoor washability and low odor in occupied rooms. Use each where it is intended; for surfaces such as garages and porches, choose the product whose data sheet lists that use.
Joseph Assise III Painting is based in Easton and serves towns across eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey, centered on the Lehigh Valley. Town pages:
Allentown, PA | Bangor, PA | Bath, PA | Belvidere, NJ | Bethlehem, PA | Blairstown, NJ | Brodheadsville, PA | Califon, NJ | Catasauqua, PA | Center Valley, PA | Chester, NJ | Clinton, NJ | Columbia, NJ | Coopersburg, PA | Coplay, PA | Delaware Water Gap, PA | Doylestown, PA | East Stroudsburg, PA | Easton, PA | Emmaus, PA | Flemington, NJ | Forks Township, PA | Fountain Hill, PA | Frenchtown, NJ | Hackettstown, NJ | Hellertown, PA | High Bridge, NJ | Hope, NJ | Jim Thorpe, PA | Kutztown, PA | Lehighton, PA | Long Valley, NJ | Macungie, PA | Mendham, NJ | Milford, NJ | Mount Pocono, PA | Nazareth, PA | New Hope, PA | Northampton, PA | Oxford, NJ | Palmer Township, PA | Palmerton, PA | Pen Argyl, PA | Perkasie, PA | Phillipsburg, NJ | Portland, PA | Quakertown, PA | Riegelsville, PA | Roseto, PA | Sellersville, PA | Slatington, PA | Springtown, PA | Stockertown, PA | Stroudsburg, PA | Tatamy, PA | Topton, PA | Upper Black Eddy, PA | Upper Mount Bethel, PA | Walnutport, PA | Washington, NJ | Whitehall, PA | Williams Township, PA | Wind Gap, PA
Local guides with housing-age and climate data: Lafayette College, Easton | St. Luke's Easton Campus | Lehigh University, Bethlehem | SteelStacks, Bethlehem | Wind Creek, Bethlehem | Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest | Dorney Park, South Whitehall.
It is not recommended. Exterior paints are formulated for sun, rain and mildew outdoors, while interior paints such as Benjamin Moore Regal Select are formulated for washability and indoor surfaces. Use interior paint inside unless a product's data sheet specifically lists both interior and exterior use, as some primers and masonry products do.
No. Interior paint is not made for UV exposure, rain, temperature swings and mildew, and tends to chalk, fade or peel outdoors. Exterior paints such as Benjamin Moore Aura exterior are listed for siding, trim, masonry and metal outdoors, with primer systems for each surface.
It is durable in a different way: built for weather rather than for scrubbing. Interior paints such as Regal Select are formulated to be washable with stain release technology. Each is more durable in its own environment, which is why they are not interchangeable.
Yes, certain primers and masonry products. Benjamin Moore lists its Fresh Start High-Hiding All Purpose Primer for interior and exterior surfaces and its Ultra Spec masonry sealer for interior and exterior masonry. Finish paints are usually one or the other; check the data sheet's recommended uses.
Sources: Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Exterior Soft Gloss (N632) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Regal Select Interior Eggshell (N549) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Advance Waterborne Interior Alkyd Satin (792) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Fresh Start Undercoater and Primer/Sealer (032) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Fresh Start High-Hiding All Purpose Primer (046) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Masonry 100% Acrylic Sealer (608) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Advance Waterborne Interior Alkyd Semi-Gloss (793) technical data sheet. Figures checked October 2026.
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