So you decided to start a residential painting project.
And hey, you’re pretty handy, so you figure you can probably do this yourself.
Maybe you can, we’re not here to judge.
But maybe you want to save a few bucks as well, you’ve been dreaming about a trip to Cancun.
So as you take a look at the paint cans on the wall, you figure you’ll go with the cheaper option.
After all, it’s just paint, right?
It’s just colored goo in a can, right?
There can’t possibly be that much of a difference in the different price points of paint, can there?
Believe it or not, yes, there’s a big difference.
And you don’t have to be a professional Willow Grove painting contractor to tell the difference (but it helps!)
Gather round, one and all, as I tell you the tale of the cheap paint nightmare…
What Actually Is Paint?
Have you ever stopped to wonder what paint actually is?
Yeah, it’s colored goo in a can, but there’s a lot more to it than that.
Humans have actually been painting walls for about as long as we have evidence of humans existing.
In a remote part of Indonesia, we recently found some cave paintings that are more than 35,000 years old.
Archaeologists believe this is the world’s oldest cave painting in the world.
Pretty cool, huh?
But of course, they used different stuff back then.
They used dirt, animal fat, ashes from their fires, and sometimes oils and even animal blood.
Today, paint is made of different stuff.
Paint today has three primary ingredients.
The Pigments
Pigments are what gives paint its color.
They can be made of all sorts of wild materials, from ash to iron oxide to crushed beetle shells and even some foods.
The Solvents
The solvents are what we use to mix all the ingredients together in the paint.
It’s what gives the paint an even, smooth finish.
The Resins
Resins bind the different pigments together in order to create a final product that looks great and consistent.
So What’s The Point?
“That little history lesson was kind of interesting,” you might be thinking, “but what does that have to do with the quality of paints?”
First of all, lower quality paint is diluted with more solvents.
That makes it look like you have a gallon of paint, but not only will it stick to the wall less, you’ll need extra coats to make it look better.
Think of it this way, when you go to the movies and you order a fountain drink, did they fill the cup with ice first.
Why?
It’s not to keep your drink cold, it’s so they can save money by giving you less of the actual drink you ordered, but you still think it’s a big drink because it’s a big cup that’s full.
The same goes for cheap paint, it’s just been diluted is all.
As well, cheaper paint uses larger pigments particles.
What does that mean?
It means that when you actually paint your wall with it, it will give you a more uneven finish.
By contrast, more expensive paint and to have a better quality ratio of solvent to pigments.
As well, the pigment particles are more finely ground.
Not only does this make the paint look better, but it lasts longer as well.
Good Paint Ain’t Cheap, Cheap Paint Ain’t Good
While you might think it’s a great idea to save a few bucks on that can of paint in the store, I guarantee it’s going to cost you in the long run.
First of all, you’ll need more cheap paint to properly cover the surface you’re working with.
But also, you’ll need to replace it sooner, because cheap paint is less durable than the good stuff.
Just like in our article on choosing the right paint brush, we always recommend spending the extra money to get high quality material.
The cheap stuff just isn’t worth it.
Contact PurcellPro Painters Today
Do you have a residential or commercial painting project you’d like to talk to us about?
Have you given up on the DIY approach, and want to leave it to the professionals?
If so, we can help.
Contact Purcell Pro painters today for your free estimate.
