Should I buy expensive paint?
When you put a gallon of milk beside a gallon of gas and a gallon of paint, why do the first two cost less than $5, but the paint can cost 10 times more? Is it really worth it to buy high-end paints? Well, unless you plan to paint with milk or gas, you’re going to have to spend more than five dollars! But should you spend more to get expensive paints?
Why is some paint more expensive?
That colored liquid looks so simple, but paint is really a high-tech product, including binders (to make it stick), solvents (to keep it liquid until it’s on the wall), pigments (providing the color) and other additives for stabilizing, thickening, preserving, or for killing/preventing mildew.
Most of the cost of expensive paint is because of higher-quality ingredients that go into the mixture. They will hide the previous coat better. They will provide more consistent color. They will adhere better, resist scrubbing and staining longer, and they will brush on smoother.
What’s the difference between cheap and expensive paint in terms of results?
A good painter can make a wall look good using cheap paints. However, that same painter can make a wall look spectacular with high-quality paints. But the initial look is just the beginning; lower quality paints may fade or change color, may stain or scuff, or they may lose their sheen with scrubbing. In the case of exterior paint, they may begin to flake and peel long before you are ready to paint again.
Quality paints with premium ingredients will not just look great on the day you move back into the painted rooms; they will look excellent for many years to come!
Can you tell the difference between budget paint and expensive paint?
Most people looking at a freshly painted wall won’t be able to tell the difference, as long as the painting procedure was done correctly. However, time will make the difference obvious, as cheaper coatings wear out, while quality paints still look great.
Expensive paints often come with a warranty.
One oft-neglected feature of paints is the warranty. A quality name brand paint will stand behind its product, and if it is proven that your paint failed prematurely due to a product failure, they will replace it for free. Additionally, some professional painters offer warranties that cover not only the cost of the paint, but also the labor for applying the replacement coating. Make sure you talk to your paint store or your painting contractor about the details of their paint warranties.
MB JESSEE is a professional painting contractor serving the San Francisco Bay Area, including Marin, Contra Costa, Hillsborough, East Bay, Pacific Heights and more.
