Only the Rich Can Afford to Use Cheap Paint

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.