Why high end paints are the best value

Whether you are painting walls, trim or ceilings, a cheaper grade of paint is almost never better. The fact is that 75% to 85% of the job cost is labor, overhead & profit. Therefore, even if you cut your material cost by 20% (using a less expensive paint and the labor stayed the same) your savings would only be 5% at most. You may think 5% is 5%, but there is a catch.

The reason the high end products cost more is because they are more sophisticated coatings; with more of the most important resins and less fillers. Using the cheaper paint many times will not save anything at all and may cost more. They usually do not cover as well; therefore, requiring more coats. It may show spackle work that a better coating would hide. Also they are less washable and touch ups a few months down the road are harder to accomplish.

The point that I am trying to make is that the real value in paint choices are the higher end coatings. There are many paint manufactures we have worked with and for the most part, all have just about equal high end products. Each company has its advantages & disadvantages. So on your next painting project, here are a few things to consider when choosing a product:

1. Are you changing color (if so great coverage will save you big)
2. Will it be a long time before you will paint again (if yes, the better paint will be the best value)
3. At some point before the next repaint will the area be touched up (the high end paints tend to touch up easier)

Another area of consideration when selecting paint would be the sheen. The sheen refers to the gloss level of the paint. Flat has little or no gloss to it. Eggshell or satin has just a bit of gloss. Semi gloss is even glossier. And full gloss is very shiny. Each has its good and bad points. Flat hides flaws in the surface it’s on and evenly disperses light. However, it gets marked up easily (even if the paint is a washable flat) and it will require washing more often than higher sheen paints. Eggshell and satin both have some of the benefits of flat. They hide flaws somewhat, are a little more resistant to marking up and they are also washable. Semi gloss & gloss are very washable and are the best at resisting marks. However, they will show every flaw on the surface they are applied to, and they disperse light unevenly, This is why they should not be used on ceilings or in display areas; instead use a lower sheen.