Painting contractors generally pride themselves on utilizing top-quality paint. In fact, having high-quality paints used for the work done on your home is one of the many perks of hiring a licensed painting contractor.

A good contractor knows the best paint brands and about the lines within each brand, and they can guide you in choosing the right paint for your project. Does the quality of the paint really matter, though? Is choosing a top-quality paint actually going to help you in the long run? In short, yes. High-quality paints help maintain your project’s longevity, improve your project’s final look, and save you money in the long run.

The quality of the paint will enhance the longevity of a paint job, but great surface preparation is the key to quality. A great paint over a poorly prepared surface is a recipe for failure. More on paint surface prep further down below. We’ll look at paint quality first.

The Longevity

All paint brands and lines have binders in them. Binders are the chemicals that hold your paint pigments together and help them to stick to the surface on which the paint is applied. High-quality paints are going to have more and better binders than their cheaper and lower-quality counterparts. This means that better quality paint will stick to the surface of your wall better, allowing it to last longer.

Additionally, high-quality paints are often specially formulated to be more durable. This means you will be able to wash your walls, live your life, and use your rooms without fear of the paint peeling, chipping, or washing off. Some paint brands, such as Sherwin-Williams, back up the longevity of their paint with a lifetime warranty that protects against peeling and blistering.

The Look

Higher-quality paints also have a higher volume of pigments. Every type of paint is made up of three main components- the binder, the pigments that give the paint its color, and liquids that help turn the paint into a liquid so it can be painted onto walls.

In top-quality paints, you will see a much greater volume of pigments and binders in relation to the liquids. This means that better paints will be thicker, glide on more smoothly, and will dry to create a more uniform and beautiful look for your home.

The Long Run

The draw of low-quality paint is usually the cost. Top-quality paint does tend to run a little steeper than cheaper paints. However, when you use low-quality paint, you’ll likely end up paying more in the long run. Low-quality paints require more coats of paint to create a perfect and opaque surface. While you may be saving money on each gallon, you will need more gallons of lower-quality paint to cover the surface area.

Additionally, because lower-quality paints generally do not last as long, you will pay more to re-paint surfaces as they crack, peel, and scuff throughout the years. According to the Sherwin-Williams quality guide, you can save over $60 a year by using  better quality paint that will last 25 years over a low-quality cheaper paint that will last only 6 years.

Other Paint Quality Factors

There are additional factors that make high-quality paints a smart choice. There are a number of top-quality paint lines that have additional properties that you would not find in any other paint brand.

For example, the Sherwin-Williams Harmony line says it actually cleans the air in your room. Other brands have lines with zero VOCs (the compound that makes paint smell), which can make your overall painting experience a much more pleasant one.

Paint Surface Preparation and Why It’s So Important

Painting over ill-prepared or non-prepped surfaces is a rookie mistake and it will keep your paint project from lasting. In fact, prepping your walls, trim, doors, and other surfaces before they’re painted is one of the five “Essential Interior Painting Steps You Won’t Want Your Professional Painter to Skip.” Without thorough surface prep, you’ll soon see bumps, chipping, peeling, and other poor results.

Overall, the quality of paint does matter. While it may seem tempting to save a few bucks by going with a budget paint brand, it truly is worth it to invest in a high-quality paint when having your home painted. When your painting contractor uses the highest quality paint, it will last longer (especially if well-prepped), and protect your investment.

At Flying Colors Painting, we use paints from reputable brands like Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Kelly-Moore, and Rodda, so you know we’ll always use high-quality paint for your painting project. And rest assured, Flying Colors Painting will always complete a thorough preparation of every surface we paint.