02 Mar Why Pay More for High-Quality Paint?

Why pay more for high-quality paint, you ask?

You purchase high-quality paint for the same reason you don’t purchase your wedding ring at some grungy swap shop. In the same way that a cheap ring doesn’t bode well for a lasting marriage, so cheap paint doesn’t bode well for a lasting finish.

What Is Paint?

Paint is a soup of four chemical families:

• Binders (aka, resins, polymers) act as the cement that provides strength, UV-resistance, flexibility, durability, sheen and other paint properties. Common latex binders include acrylic, vinyl acrylic and styrene resin.

• Pigments are chemicals, like titanium dioxide and phalocyanine green, which provide color. Some pigments, like a sunshine yellow, are best painted over an achromatic gray undercoat or primer. Bargain-basement bulk pigments are called extenders, some of which can add to the drying time.

• Carriers (aka, solvents) are liquids that absorb the “solids,” that is, the binders and pigments. Carriers evaporate after application. Only the solid residue stays behind. Latex paints use water as the carrier. Most oil or alkyd paints use mineral spirits.

• Additives endow paint with superpowers like mildew resistance, temperature elasticity, humidity resistance, etc.

Paint can be divided into three groups based on quality:

3. Inferior Paint

Paint comes cheap as dirt for one of two reasons:

1. It skimps on the quality and quantity of pigments and binders. Cheap paint may crack or bubble when exposed to thermal fluctuations or high humidity. It may require twice as many coatings or last half as long as high-quality paint. Sadly, if a surface is repainted many times over its lifespan, it may lose its original texture and cleanliness of architecture.

2. It is manufactured to loose tolerances. One gallon on the shelf might have 5-10 percent less pigment than its neighbor. This can create a garish patchwork effect when painting large walls and ceilings.

2. High-Quality Paint

High-quality paint is trusted for two reasons:

1. It is easier to apply. Thanks to its rich, deep color, high-quality paint offers more coverage with less work. Brush marks are smaller thanks to uniform viscosity. The paint splatters less.

2. It has superior optical and mechanical properties. It will withstand abrasion, thermal cycles, sunlight and humidity better than its cheap cousin.

1. Specialty Paint

Now, no one is suggesting that you must spend $50 on a can of everyday paint. But if you want your bathroom walls colored a shiny, fire-engine red, or if you want to repaint the wooden siding on your 1920’s Craftsman bungalow, then remember: You paint what you pay for. If all this discussion of pigments and thermal cycles sounds as exciting as high school chemistry, then give us a call. We’ll help you decide what type of paint you need. At Stephens Painting, we’ve been working with the local Dallas Fort Worth area for more than 30 years. We wouldn’t besmirch our reputation – or your property – with inferior paint. Let us know how we can help.