Does paint go off?

[Screech20]

We're about to start decorating a room that has just been plastered.
We've got paint from 2 years ago, a part used b&q own emulsion which was used for miss coating, and an unopened tin of satinwood and an unopened tin of primer/undercoat. Both delux.
Are these likely to be ok to use or am I better off just buying fresh?

Cheers

 

[stem]

Certainly the unopened paint will be OK. The opened emulsion will also be OK if the lid has been on tightly and it's been stored indoors. The contents may have separated and it might not look OK when you open it, but a good stir will rectify matters. If it's been in a garage or shed and has frozen at some point then it won't be usable. I've used paint that's been up to 10 years old and it's been fine.

The problem you may have with the emulsion, is that when you open it, any dried flakes from the rim will fall in. So keep your eye open for any as you use it.

 

[ladylola]

Used paint that has been over ten years old with no problem. I have come across a couple of tins of emulsion that I reckon must have been frozen at some point and that had definitely gone off. Not only had it separated but it absolutely stank .
I also had a tub of fence guard that froze . That too separated but rather than chucking it immediately I put it in the greenhouse . The water evaporated leaving behind a thickish paste that painted on fine and has lasted well too.
Earlier this year a customer asked me to shift some rubbish from her garage. "There's some tins of paint that might be some use to you " she said. I picked up one and gave it a little shake , clunk clunk it went. I opened it up to find a rock solid lump of paint at the bottom of the tin

 

[Nige F]

I found a small tin of Walpamur once - a lump in the bottom of the tin - I "beat it up " with some water to remind me of my old Dad when he used it back in the day lovely smell - like Snowcem used to be too.