When it comes to cheap paints versus expensive paints, whether for interior painting or exterior painting, is there really a difference? In a lot of cases, cheap paint can be used for certain projects. Maybe not exactly for something like painting the inside or outside of a house, but they ARE suited for small craft projects. Cheap paints versus expensive paints are quite different. One of the first things you have to understand about paints, is what goes into them. Below, you will see a list of what ingredients are in paints and then you will be given a list of benefits when using expensive paints over cheaper paints.
Ingredients In Paint
All paints, even if they include other additives, include these three compounds/ingredients, they are:
Solids: Volume solid is the volume of paint after it has dried. Paint contains solvent, resin, pigments and additives. After applying the paint, the solid portion will be left on the substrate. Volume solid is the term which indicates the proportion of the solid contacting the paint on a volume basis. For example, if paint is applied in a wet film at a 100 µm thickness, and the volume solid of paint is 50%, then the dry film thickness will be 50 µm as 50% of the wet paint has evaporated. Suppose the volume solid is 100%, and the wet film thickness is also 100 µm. Then after complete drying of the paint, the DFT will be 100 µm because no solvent will be evaporated.
Pigments: Pigments are granular solids incorporated in the paint to contribute color. Fillers are granular solids incorporated to impart toughness, texture, give the paint special properties, or to reduce the cost of the paint. Alternatively, some paints contain dyes instead of or in combination with pigments.
Binders/Fillers: Fillers are a special type of pigment that serve to thicken the film, support its structure and increase the volume of the paint. Fillers are usually cheap and inert materials, such as diatomaceous earth, talc, lime, barytes, clay, etc. Floor paints that must resist abrasion may contain fine quartz sand as a filler. Not all paints include fillers. On the other hand, some paints contain large proportions of pigment/filler and binder.
The amount of these three compounds, as well as the addition of other ingredients, additives, chemicals and compounds is going to vary from product to product and brand to brand. But, when it comes to cheap versus expensive on the grand scale of “quality”, which one is really the best option? Is there a real difference? Well, here is a chance for you to decide; these are just a few of the benefits.
Better Coverage and More Cost Efficient
If you’ve ever used a cheap paint, you know that the wall you are painting will need 2, 3 maybe even 4 coats of paint. This is the biggest benefit of a better quality paint. It will have a higher ratio of fine particle pigments which means YOU will need less coats. Instead of 2+ coats, you might just need 1-2. Over all, this might not seem like a big deal, but if you add it up, it is pretty significant. Here are a few examples using different brands.
– Behr Interior Paint – Premium Plus – 1 Gallon = $31.98
– Colorhouse – Semi Gloss Interior Paint – 1 Gallon = $45
– Glidden – Latex Interior Paint – 1 Gallon – $24
– Ralph Lauren – Flat Paint – 1 Gallon – $37
– America’s Finest – Flat Paint – 1 Gallon = $11
– Majic Lifestyle – Semi Gloss Paint – 1 Gallon = $7.35
– Jeff Lewis Color – No Gloss – 1 Gallon = $7.60
Not to say that the second example is the cheap paint, as in horrible to use, but it is different from the first set of examples. Nonetheless, if you use something like the Behr Interior Paint – Premium Plus – 1 Gallon = $31.98, you might need one gallon for a whole room. On the other hand, if you use something like America’s Finest you might need 3-4 cans for one room. $11×3= $33 or $11×4= $44. In the end, as you can see here, it’s better to just get the more expensive stuff and have to buy less paint than get the cheap stuff and fool yourself into thinking you are saving money!
Better Durability and Longer Lasting
If you properly prep your walls, apply properly, and use quality paints, your paint should last for years to come without peeling, chipping or fading away. This is one of the biggest reasons why a quality paint company will offer warranties with their paint because they are willing to stand by the paint and assure you this IS a good product to use!
Obviously, the choice is up to you. But the way I see it, you either care about what your interior looks like and be proud of the work you’ve done or… you don’t. If you want the cheap way out, choose a cheap paint. If you want it to be of quality, last for years, look amazing and offer the colors you really want, choose anything but the cheap stuff!