Why All Paints Are Not Created Equal, and "Economy" Paints Aren't
Really a Bargain
(ARA) - You're standing in the aisle at your local paint dealer or hardware
store trying to decide which brand of paint to buy for your living room remodel.
Naturally, you want to save money, so you gravitate towards the less costly
product. What could possibly be the difference between the cheaper paint and
the more expensive brand --paint is paint right? Wrong. Before you cut corners
with your paint, you might want to think twice. Trying to save a few dollars
in this area could prove to be a costly mistake.
Painting is one of the least expensive and most popular ways to change the
look of almost any room in your home. For less than $200 and in a few hours,
you can easily transform a kitchen, bathroom or bedroom from drab to dramatic.
So why scrimp on what you're going to be looking at for years to come?
Economy paints may have an attractive price, but higher-quality paints are
formulated to produce the best results. According to Mark Kalinowski, former
director of engineering for the Good Housekeeping Institute "Even though
superior paints may cost a few more dollars, the benefits they provide over
budget paints can be numerous. For starters, compared with ordinary paints,
top quality finishes are much easier to work with and offer superior long-term
performances."
Water: Less Is More
Before you begin your project, how can you determine if a paint is premium,
other than by its price? All paints, oil based and latex, are made of four main
components: water, binder, pigment and additives. When purchasing paint, it's
important to look at these key ingredients to determine whether you are getting
your money's worth. As far as top quality paints are concerned; less is more
when it comes to liquid. A can of quality paint should contain a high volume
of solids (pigment and binder), approximately 35 to 45 percent, and less liquid
than ordinary paint. Economy paints are usually made up of only 25 percent solids.
Paints with less water and a higher solid content are more durable and resist
staining and dirt much better than those that contain fewer solids. And, even
if the walls do get spotted or stained, they can be washed off without damaging
the finish. That means you'll have to repaint less frequently, which will ultimately
save you money.
"When looking for quality paint also try to use one that is made of
100 percent acrylic, they are particularly durable," says Bruce Ziegler,
Pratt & Lambert senior product manager. "One of the more popular brands
of quality paints is Pratt & Lambert's newly reformulated Accolade. It's
made from an award-winning, 100 percent acrylic formula that is unlike any other
paint product available."
Is That Deal, Really A Deal?
After taking these long-term benefits into consideration, if you're still
hesitant to spend a few extra dollars on a higher quality paint, consider the
following: A superior paint may cost $40 a gallon while an economy brand is
priced at $20; however, by using a better quality paint, you'll need less of
it to complete a job. For example, you may have to use as many as three gallons
of an economy paint to achieve the same results you would receive using just
one gallon of high quality paint. The cheaper paint actually could end-up costing
you more!
In addition to cost, by using economy paint, you'll spend an average of two
additional hours on your painting project. And if you're using a contractor,
that means you'll have to pay him for the additional time spent on the project.
Why? Since you have to apply more coats of the cheaper paint to achieve the
coverage you desire, it will take more time. The bottom line -- higher quality
finishes are easier to work with because they are formulated with better ingredients.
Taking all these factors into consideration, remember that although you still
might be tempted to buy an economy paint in order to save a few dollars, in
the short-term and the long-run, what you think is a great deal could end up
costing you more than you bargained for.
For more information, go to www.prattandlambert.com
Courtesy of ARA Content
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