When it comes to paint you get what you pay for. So, how do you identify top quality paint? Well, we are not all paint chemists, and know everything there is to know about paint, and the make-up of it that will determine the durability, cleanliness, etc. So, an easy solution to this problem is that you should simply purchase the best paint within your favorite manufacturer's line of products. This may seem trite, but the fact remains, the best they have to offer is going to cost more, but be worth every penny.

More costly paints typically contain a higher percentage of better quality ingredients that are critical to superior paint performance. When it comes to money though people tend to shy away from spending more than they think is necessary. So, lets look at some of the ways top quality paints outperform ordinary grades of paint, which would justify spending more on them:

• First, paint quality determines how long the paint will last. Top quality paints are more durable and long-lasting, which means you spend less in the long run because you do not have to pay to upkeep the paint, or repaint.


• Second, paint quality can determine how well the paint hides defects. Top quality paints often have better hiding characteristics, which is especially important when you are painting over a darker color.


• Top quality paints are easier to apply.


• Top quality paints have more uniform color and sheen, and they maintain their original color and sheen better over time, so your paint job will continue to look good for a longer period.


• Top quality paints frequently contain higher levels of additives-for example, more mildewcide to help keep unsightly mildew in check.

As you can see the paint quality is equivalent to the paint value. Painting with a top-quality paint can add years to the life of a paint job and save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in the form of lower home maintenance costs.

Paint quality is especially important, and the amount of money that can be saved is especially significant with exterior paints. With proper surface preparation, top quality exterior paint can last 10 years or more, compared to about 4 years with ordinary exterior paint. The best way to appreciate this "investment value" of top-quality paint is to compare the life-cycle cost or "cost per year of service" for high quality and ordinary paints.
Let's just look at the savings with 20 gallons of exterior paint: At $15 per gallon for 20 gallons(1 US gallon = 3.8 liters) of paint, it would cost $300 to paint the home using an ordinary paint. If the expected lifespan is 4 years, the cost of the paint per year of service is $75. For the same home, if a top-quality exterior paint were used instead, and the cost per gallon were $25, the total paint cost would be $500 ($25 per gallon x 20 gallons). But this paint job will last 10 years or more, so the cost per year of service is $50! As you can see, top quality means better wear, less work, and more savings. The savings can be even greater if you were paying someone else to paint your house, you would save money in not paying them as often.

Obviously, your paint will last longer if you do a better job preparing the surface, and vice-versa. However, regardless of this, the fact remains, when it comes to paint, it pays to invest in the best. And that is true whether you are doing exterior or interior painting.