How long will leftover paint match existing walls colors?

pootza wrote: ↑ The sun can also fade the colour.

GoodFellaz wrote: ↑ just don't store paint cans in the garage, the cold from the winter and heat from the summer will make it spoil faster

Worriedone wrote: ↑ Thanks

I'm guessing my issue last time was the old paint was stored in the garage. The new paint has been stored in the basement

Tiberius wrote: ↑ A long time.

Your biggest concern is the paint cans deteriorating (and as already mentioned, don't store it in the garage unless it is climate controlled).

I have had to pry open some old paint cans where the lid had sealed to the can and I literally destroyed the can to get it open. You will also sometimes discover a skin in the old paint can.. I think it's a lining that falls off - at first I thought it was a layer of pain that peeled off the lid or bottom of the can or something - but after fishing a couple out, I'm pretty sure it's some liner that seperates. Anyhow... the paint itself if stirred properly has always matched. I have started to put old touchup paint into glass jars (a necessity once the can is destroyed). This should work just fine - but comes with it's own concerns (ie - be very careful to not break the jar! ) Also, if you have canning jars where the metal plate that seals it is seperate from the screw top, I imagine it could become stuck on pretty well if paint hits the top of the jar.

I have done touchups with paint a decade old... I also have used some where the can had rusted a bit, etc.... I was careful to minimize contamination... stirred and mixed it, then removed only a fraction of the paint to another container carefully (after mixing slowly/carefully... give it a minute so objects settle a bit, then slow pour some out to avoid having rust/chunks/etc.)

I went through this ordeal because a successful touchup would avoid having to do a full repaint - so it was worth the attempt. Happily, the paint has matched every time.

nielboy wrote: ↑ Additionally what often shows up isn't the paint colour changing but the different texture of the original job and the repair.