Why Paint Quality Matters for Your Home

The truth is better ingredients result in better performance. A quality coating starts with high-quality ingredients that allow paint to be easily applied, have a better overall appearance, and last longer. It’s why CertaPro Painters® of Minnetonka, MN proudly utilizes Sherwin-Williams® paints and stains in our interior and exterior painting projects, and why it pays to be sure that the painting company you hire isn’t cutting corners on materials.

Here’s a simple guide to the components that go into a typical can of residential paint, how they affect quality, and the immediate and future benefits of opting for the good stuff:

The Four Main Paint Ingredients

Pigment

Pigment, quite simply, is what gives paint color. High-quality paints will be made primarily with “prime” pigments, which contain rich colors that will stand the test of time and make a stronger impression from the first stroke, resulting in more attractive colors and more complete coverage of the previous color being painted over. Prime pigments can be created from a variety of organic, inorganic and synthetic materials depending on the desired color and richness. For example, iron and titanium oxides may be used to create to create shades of white and grey, whereas a plant like indigo may be used to create shades of blue and purple.

The counterpart to “prime” pigments are “extender” pigments. The primary purpose of these are to thicken the paint and extend the volume of the color, and they typically use more economical materials like clay and talc. While they do play an important role in the final product, it’s prudent to avoid paints that use extender pigments as their primary means of coloration, as the colors are less vibrant and they’re less effective at hiding the color of whatever’s being painted over.

Binders

Paint manufacturers use a number of different binders. Latex paints usually contain some type of acrylic binder and oil paints contain soya oil, linseed oil, or modified oils (alkyds). Cheaper paints will typically contain less expensive binders and will generally be comprised of a smaller amount of binder. This has a huge impact on the paints ability to stick to the surface (adhesion), overall appearance (gloss) and resistance to staining and cracking.

Liquids

The liquid in a can of paint provides no value other than allowing you to get the paint out of the can and onto the wall. High quality paints have more solids and less liquids – resulting in a thicker paint. Lower quality paints tend to have a high ratio of liquids and will appear watery when applied.

Additives

Additives are chemical ingredients that give paint a special characteristic. Common additives include:

• Rheology modifiers, which give the paint better hide and allows the coating to level after application.
• Mildewcides, which reduce mildew growth and are great for high-moisture areas like bathrooms.
• Dispersing agents, to help paint to maintain its true color by preventing color separation.
• Preservatives to keep paint fresh and prevent spoiling.

Benefits of High-Quality Interior Paints

One of the first benefits of using a high-quality paint inside your home becomes obvious the moment the first brush or roller stroke is laid, as the application will be much smoother and more consistent than what you’d get from a cheap or off-brand formula, which often have irregularities in their viscosity. The result is fewer brush/roller marks left over when the job is done. By the same principle, a well-mixed and formulated paint will also run thicker, therefore reducing the risks of dripping under normal application. The consistency in color and viscosity also makes it easier to cover up the previous colors used on a surface.

The benefits continue after the painting is done, too. Well-blended, high-quality paints will have increased resistance to the normal types of stains and blemishes that can occur in everyday life. In the event that the coat does take on a stain that needs to be addressed, you’ll find that opting for higher-quality coats (and a professional painter that knows how to use them) will also save you some headaches, as they will generally do a much better job withstanding repeated cleaning in one area, lowering the risk of “shiny” spots appearing on a surface.

Benefits of High-Quality Exterior Paints

Many of the benefits of high-quality paint inside your home apply to an even greater degree on the outside of your home. For one, the sheen will be much more consistent and attractive, and will be more resistant to fading in the sun over time. As with interior paint, it will also do a more effective job of covering whatever previous color was used.

High-quality paints are naturally more resistant to dirt, grime, dust and airborne pollutants as well. Many of these weather factors can contribute to mildew build-up and “chalkiness” on a home’s exterior when cheaper paints are used. By stepping up to a higher-quality coating, there will be both greater resilience to these unattractive blemishes, and less hassle in washing them away if they do begin to appear.

And as for the long-term picture, higher-quality paints will also bond better to a home’s wall surfaces, meaning less peeling and less need for touch-ups as the years go by.

Why Paint Quality Matters for Your Home

Low quality (cheaper) paints are comprised of less expensive ingredients. Application of these products may result in short- term savings but in the long-term, may end up costing you money if the overall life of the coating is compromised.

High-quality paints contain quality pigments and binders, a smaller ratio of liquids, and often have special additives that enable them to perform well over the long-term. This means less money, time and hassle spent maintaining the coats inside or outside of your home.

At CertaPro Painters® of Minnetonka, you can be assured that we will recommend the right paint for your project based on what is important to you. A representative will discuss your expectations and your budget and take the guess work out of selecting the right paint for your project.

Ready to get started? Give us a call at 952-994-4443 or schedule your free estimate online!