Pavel Rombakh Gets Real On the Topic of Paint that Regulates Home Temperatures

“I get many questions on thermo-insulating paints, and many people think they sound too good to be true,” said general contractor Pavel Rombakh. Here’s what he tells his clients and what you need to know about insulating paint that claims to regulate the temperature inside your home.

Insulating paint is made to reduce heat transfer. “This idea actually originated with NASA because they wanted to protect their space shuttle from extreme heat,” said Pavel Rombakh. After that, other companies started producing brands of insulated paint with a powdered paint additive that creates a heat barrier when mixed with regular paint. Today in stores, many brands sell insulating paint or the additive that can be mixed with regular exterior or interior house paint.

Since this technology is relatively new, there hasn’t been much large-scale testing of the paint’s effectiveness, according to Pavel Rombakh. However, small tests have been done that show the paint may help reduce energy costs. EnergyIdeas Clearinghouse reported that the paint reduced heat gain by approximately 20 percent when fully exposed to the sun.

“For the paint to be most effective, it should be painted on the side that faces the sun,” said Pavel Rombakh. “In my experience, its potential is maximized when used on the exterior of homes rather than the interior.”

Though paint can provide a boost and may help reduce energy use, having good home insulation is still crucial, Pavel Rombakh pointed out. If you want to use insulating paint, use it with other best insulation practices. Refer to your building codes for the proper amount of insulation needed for walls and ceilings and use energy-efficient doors and windows in your house.

If you choose to buy insulating paint, it’s available as premixed paint or as an additive to the paint of your choice. It’s important to choose a brand of paint suited for the environment it will be in, whether indoors or outdoors, said Pavel Rombakh. The additive is an insulating powder that can be stirred into your preferred brand of paint and it blends in smoothly. Insulating paint is not cheap, however, and sells for around $50 a gallon. The paint can be used on exterior or interior walls, storage sheds, playhouses or other paintable surfaces you wish to cool down.