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Expensive vs. Cheap Paint: Why Pricier Options Are Worth It
Sam Lutz • May 13, 2014
While inexpensive paints are acceptable for some paint projects, the old adage “you get what you pay for” is especially true when it comes to buying paint. Before you can understand the differences between inexpensive and good-quality paint, you must know the different ingredients contained in paint and how these ingredients can vary from one paint quality to another.
What’s in Paint?
- Solids – Solids are the portion of the paint left on the wall when the paint has dried. A dense coating of solids on the wall contributes to the durability of the paint. Quality paint products will contain a percentage of solids measuring 45% or more, but a high percentage of solids does not always mean that a paint is of good quality. Some cheap paint products inflate their solids percentage with cheap fillers. Don’t trust a cheap paint just because the percentage of solids is at or above 45%.
- Pigments – Pigments give the paint its color. High quality paints will contain a dense concentration of fine particle pigments. Inexpensive paints will have fewer pigment particles, but the particles themselves will be larger. Titanium dioxide is the best type of paint pigment, and will be mentioned on the ingredients list on the back of the paint can.
- Binders – The binder is the liquid part of the paint that binds the solids and the pigments together. All-acrylic binders are tougher and more weather resistant than vinyl or vinyl acrylic binders. Since all-acrylic binder is considered a positive thing, many paint products that contain 100% acrylic binder will advertise this somewhere on the front of the paint can.
Between cheap paints and quality paints, the binders, solids and pigments will differ, but how does that affect the paint process? What is the practical difference between these two types of paint?
Better Coverage
Due to the high ratio of fine-particle pigments, quality paint products will provide better coverage with fewer coats. For big jobs, like painting the exterior of a home, this can be a significant time saver. Poor quality paints will need more coats applied over a longer period of time, and may even mean extra trips to the home improvement store to purchase more gallons of paint.
Cost-Efficient
Ironically, buying expensive paints can also save money, because streaky coverage can only be amended by purchasing more paint and applying additional coats. Ultimately, this can lead to purchasing many extra gallons of paint, which increases the overall cost. In addition, poor quality paint may not last as long, requiring you to redo the job sooner. Over many years, the cost of repainting may be exponentially higher when using cheap paints.
Durability
Properly applied, high-quality paint products will last for years and years without chipping or fading. This is why most high-quality paint manufacturers provide a warranty for their products that ensure customer satisfaction. For example, Benjamin Moore exterior paint products come with a 25 year and lifetime-limited warranty. This warranty guarantees against blistering, peeling and general wear if the paint is used in accordance with the instructions on the can.
Paint products with lesser quality ingredients will not be able to make this type of claim, because the paint simply won’t last as long. Although durability is especially important for exterior-grade paints, interior paints must be durable as well.
Paint Is Protection
Exterior surfaces and even some interior surfaces depend on paint for protection from moisture and exposure to the elements. Outside, wooden surfaces are exposed to endless cycles of rain, snow and scorching heat. Paint seals exterior wood and keeps out the rain and sun.
Inside, paint serves as a shield in moisture-prone rooms like bathrooms and kitchens. Mold-resistant paint can prevent the growth of fungus in these areas. Buying cheaper quality paints can actually lead to damage from these elements in a shorter period of time.
Know How to Pick the Right Paint
While there may be occasional paint projects that don’t require high quality paint, most paint jobs will benefit from the best quality paint you can buy. In general, the bigger the job, the more important it is to buy quality paint. If it’s important that your paint project look good for years to come, then cheap paints can only cost more money and create more work in the long run.
For more information about purchasing the right type of paint, you can find some excellent tutorials online. Or, if you’re still feeling uncertain about what type of paint is best for you, speak with a professional at your local paint retailer.
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