In the past house painting has been a real chore,we are going change that and make your next painting project last longer, go faster and save you money too.
Selecting Materials
The number 1 reason why most homeowners have painting problems lies right here, selection of materials. There is no such thing as a Good inexpensive can of paint! You get exactly what you pay for.
Considering that it costs the Manufacturer appx $4.00 for the can, label, lid, bail and shipping box, now add the cost of raw materials, manufacturing, markup for factory profit, freight, then the retailer has to make his 30- 40% profit, what do you think is in a can of paint that sells for $10-$12.00?
A lot of frustration
Better quality coatings will give you better hiding power meaning more square footage per gallon, easy touch up and longer life.
When I was contracting I would tell my customers, "it costs you 5 cents a sq ft for me to drag the brush across a surface, what I put on the end of the brush is up to you, .03 cents per foot and I'll be back next year, .08 cents per ft and I'll see you in 6-8 years" Get the idea?
Invest in a quality product and get off on the right track. After all, you don't want to be doing this again in 6 months do you.
What Paint to Buy
Quality is determined by the grade and type of pigments, resins, and how much water is in the can.
Don't just buy a big name brand and think you are getting a good product.
Every manufacturer makes an inexpensive paint. A well known manufacturers name on the label does not necessarily mean that it is a good product. They have to provide for all markets.
An $8 a gallon of contractors flat offers dry hiding, a matte finish, and covers everything.
Don't try to wash it or touch it up. A $30 gallon of the same
manufacturers top line finish has premium pigments more resin, and less water. This paint will give you more sq ft on the wall per gallon, washes and touches up well, and therefore lasts longer. Stick with the medium and top of the line grades
Interior Paints
Enamels are less likely to be damaged by cleaning than are most flat latex paints. They come in a wide range of finishes including,high gloss,semi-gloss,satin or eggshell which is a hand rubbed look with a very slight sheen finish,not a color.
In high traffic areas and where the coating will be washed often such as kitchens, baths, and woodwork, an enamel will be your best choice.
Flat wall finishes are more desirable in other parts of the house like bedrooms,living and dining areas. 100% acrylic formulations touch up very well and are very durable.
Add Insulation to your Paint !
That's right, thanks to newly released NASA technology you can now add Insulating Ceramics to ANY Paint & Make That Paint Insulate!
Reduce Your Heating and Cooling Bills
Improve Your Comfort
Exterior Coatings
The same rules to selecting quality apply here, avoid the low end materials.
Due to the tremendous efforts of paint manufacturing companies having to comply with government regulations pertaining to new anti-pollution laws,
we now have fantastic water based paints available for exterior use.
Having been trained in the old school of "oil is better", I must now admit they are a thing of the past with a few minor exceptions. Modern chemistry now offers paint formulators a wide range of acrylic, waterbase resins that have the same, and in some cases, superior performance than the oil base paints with the convenience of easy water cleanup, low odor and much more earth friendly.
The selection of coatings available for exterior applications is quite extensive and your paint supplier can best advise you on which product is best for a specific application. Ask about the newest introduction to the industry, "Elastomeric" coatings if you are painting any stucco or other cement based areas. Elastomeric coatings look like paint but apply much thicker forming a rubber-like membrane that will expand and contract with the buildings movement eliminating cracks. These formulations are very high in resin, apply very thick (equal to 4-5 coats of regular paint) and reduce repainting frequency, average life cycle is 8-10 years. You will see these coatings advertised as "liquid siding", "lifetime ceramic paint" etc.
Figure on paying between $30 - $40 per gallon for a top quality elastomeric paint and don't fall for those "never paint again" complete repaint advertisements. Elastomeric coatings do last longer but nothing "lasts forever", read the fine print in the warranty! Most of the warranties state that "If the product flakes, chips or peels, we will provide you with sufficient material to correct the problem area". Consider This:
1.) These paint jobs cost you 2 - 3 times what the job is worth using top quality paint and a complete three coat paint job which in itself guarantees that it will not "flake chip or peel".
2.) If the product does fails they will give you enough paint to touch up the area only, no labor, just material.
3.) Nationwide, the average homeowner keeps his/her house 5 years only.
Why pay all that extra money for a "lifetime warranty"? You are far better off using top quality materials from a reliable supplier and either doing it yourself or hiring a qualified local contractor and supply him with the material you have chosen.
In 8-10 years if you still reside in the same home you can repaint it still be ahead of the game.
Where to Next?
Use the painting menu in the right column or
choose another department below.
