Quality painting is more than having a brush and sum paint.
Bargain Paint Prices Are Not Always The Low Priced Estimates
I received some bad news from my lead painter earlier today. He told me about a cabinet project in different rooms in the home. After discussing the project, I gave him the pricing information between $4500 – 5000, explaining to him that 1 part of the stain process is extremely difficult and takes a lot of time. The other cabinets – prime and 2 coats of paint were easier.
Unfortunately, the client gave the project to the flooring guy to do, for the price of $2500.00.
That was 2 weeks ago.
This morning, we got a call from them being so upset with the project they had left with the floor guy while on vacation for 2 weeks. They told us that it was a mess, the prime coat was never sanded. The doors are rough and with paint runs.
The floor guy used the wrong kind of primer and paint. We do get calls from clients asking us to fix another painter’s mistakes and stuff. I explained to them that the cost would be about $7500-8000 range to fix everything as our labor hours would double. Needless to say, they weren’t happy.
The reason I am telling you this homeowner horror story is I want you to know some important things we deal with on a daily basis. I have a few questions to ask yourself.
How often do you deal with contractors?
How well do you know the products, the processes and the value of a finished project?
Do you know what the repercussions are for making the wrong choices?
I would like you to really think about, is vetting the company that is doing the work for you.
Our pricing is set, in such a way where we know exactly how long it takes to do it right. Especially with staining difficult woods. Which maple is, plus, it’s a time consuming, complicated process. If you pick the low bid, you have to accept the results of the low bid work. It is a gamble at best. But, more times than not, we see the bad gambles.
The Paint Ovations team, focuses on top quality, in materials, methods and craftsmanship. That is how we work each project. We do our best for each and every client. We do not lower our standards to get the projects. We would rather do few jobs, get better reviews and meet our client’s expectations. Then have clients come home from vacation, see the headaches they are left and cost them more time, more money and more stress.
Our reviews speak for themselves, with over 160 five star reviews, we put quality above quantity every time.
10 Reasons to Use High Quality Paints in Dallas, Texas
While it’s nice to save money, there are a few things for which quality should not be compromised for a lower price. Paint is one of those items where you get what you pay for.
Here are 10 Reasons why high-quality paint is worth the money:
Easier application. High quality paints level better and tend to go on more evenly. Brush and roller marks flow out and become unnoticeable.
Spatter resistance. High quality paints are not as likely to spatter during application.
Concealing capability. High quality paints can usually hide the original wall color and imperfections in less coats, saving time (Labor) and money (Labor and Materials) from needing to apply additional coats of paint.
Touch-up capability. Touch-ups can be done easily and are unnoticeable with high-quality paints.
Stain resistance. Top-quality paints tend to have better grime and dirt resistance and keep dirt from sinking in, making for easier cleaning. You can wipe the walls, ceilings and trim without harming the finish.
Scrub resistance. These paints are tougher and usually can withstand scrubbing without the surface being damaged or effecting the finish.
Imprint resistance. Shelves, windowsills and other face-up surfaces can gather prints when objects are placed on them. This problem is significantly minimized with high quality paints (especially eggshell finishes).
Stick resistance. The smooth finish produced with high quality paints allows the paint to be less susceptible to sticking.
Mildew resistance. Mildew resistant agents are much better in high-quality paints. If you don’t want mildew, don’t compromise on paint quality. Think kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and in some cases garages and basements.
Fade resistance. To ensure your paint color stays just as you want it, use a high quality 100% acrylic latex paint. These paints maintain their fresh appearance for years.
Paint Ovations only uses high quality paints. Why are there so many different paint choices? Why do the paints range from $20 per gallon to $89 per gallon?
Get more inspiration join our monthly newsletter and get home improvement tips, tricks and ideas. Get “BRUSH STROKES” Paint Ovations Newsletter.
What’s the difference between the $20 paint and the High-Quality Paint?
Longevity
When you decide to use a high-quality paint, you are not only paying for the quality now, you are paying for not having to paint as frequently in the future. A high-end paint will extend the lifespan of your paint job by up to two or three times. With Sherwin-Williams Emerald, you get a lifetime warranty.
Pigment
Two types of pigments are in your paint. First are “prime” pigments. These provide color and hide. Second are low-cost “extender” pigments. They add bulk to the product, yet add little value.
Higher-quality paints have more prime pigments, which provide easier application, greater durability and better color retention.
Binders
There are a variety of binders in paint. Latex paints contain either 100 percent acrylic, styrene-acrylic or vinyl acrylic binders. Oil paints typically contain linseed oil, soya oil or alkyds. The type, quality and amount of binder affect everything from stain resistance, gloss to adhesion and crack resistance.
Higher-quality binders adhere to surfaces better and provide enhanced integrity and longer-lasting performance. This makes them more resistant to cracking, blistering and peeling.
Liquids
The liquid provides no added performance benefits. It’s simply the vehicle that allows you to get the paint from the can to the surface. Top-quality paints have a greater ratio of solids – pigments and binders – to liquids.
Additives
Additives are ingredients that give paint a specific benefit that it might not otherwise have. Common additives in higher-end paints include:
Rheology modifiers to provide better hide through flow and leveling of the coating.
Mildewcides to keep mildew in check.
Dispersing agents to keep pigments evenly distributed.
Preservatives to prevent spoilage.
Cost per year of service
Before you specify paint based on price, consider this: Lower-quality paints require more coats to cover and, because they aren’t as durable, need maintenance much sooner. This is especially true with exterior coatings. Paint Ovations only uses Durations and Emerald for a high quality paint.
So, to get a true idea of costs, look beyond the initial price tag and compare the cost per year of service. For example, say you’re painting a home that requires 20 gallons of exterior latex. You have two options:
Buy a lower grade paint at $20 per gallon with an expected life span of six years.
Buy a high-quality 25-year paint at $65 per gallon.
In the first scenario, your out-of-pocket cost would be $400. Since the paint is expected to last six years, the cost per year is $67. In the second scenario, your material cost is $1,300. But because the paint has a 25-year lifespan, your cost per year is only $52. Plus, the labor savings of applying the paint 4 times. Which is why Paint Ovations estimates may be a little higher than competitors. We look at the long-term investment.
On some estimates we may be a few hundred to a thousand higher in our initial bid. But, when we look at the bids, we aren’t comparing apples to apples. Those lower bids may be using cheaper product, which in the long run ends up costing you more down the road.
Even if you plan on selling your home before the paints life cycle is up, it pays to go with a high quality paint as it can be cleaned easier, blended if damages easier and makes for a faster, selling home.
By choosing the higher-priced, higher-quality paint, you actually save $15 per year in paint. And that’s just the material cost add labor into the equation and the money you save in the long run increases significantly.
When it comes to selecting paint, quality does matter. Whether you’re looking at interior or exterior paint, and whether you’re considering adhesion, durability or hiding properties, a better-quality paint will give you better service – both short and long term.
Have any questions about paint, give Ron Bledsoe and the Paint Ovations team a call and his years of expertise will guide you into making the right decision for your painting applications.
Give the educated painting professionals at Paint Ovations a call today!
