Part of the thrill that comes with DIY projects is the satisfaction of accomplishing something with your own hands and being resourceful. Often, doing a job yourself  saves tens, hundreds, even thousands of dollars. However, as veteran DIYers can tell you, there are times to cut corners and times when quality materials matter. When it comes to painting, it’s very tempting to skimp on paint quality to save on price.  However, in this case, you’re spending a dollar to save a dime.

This might be hard to believe. After all, paint is paint, right? As long as it does what you want (color your walls), who cares about the quality? However, when you start to look at the composition and chemistry of paint you begin to realize, not all paints are created equal. Sure, you might save some cash, but you’re sure to lose other valuables, like time and the longevity of your work.

5 Reasons to Use High-Quality Paint

 Paints are composed of additives, binders, solvents, colerant, and pigments. Additives are boosters that give paint special “powers,” like mildew resistance and extended drying time.  Binders are composed of resins that turn the paint into a solid when the liquid dries. Solvents maintain the paint’s liquid state in a can until it’s been brushed onto a wall. The liquid tint that gives a paint its color is called a colorant. Pigments are a fine powdered material that covers whatever you want to paint over. 

When you start cutting corners with paint quality, then these compromised ingredients start to affect your painting experience and finished product. 

1 – Higher-Quality Additives Protect Your Wall & Are Better for Your Health 

Additives are what protect the paint from mildew and spoiling. Skimp on this and you’re risking health hazards and wall damage within a few years. Additives also slow your paint’s dry time, allowing you to catch drips and even out brush strokes as you work.

2 – Your Paint Job Will Last Longer

Binders protect your walls from scuffing, fading, mildew, bubbling, cracking, blistering, and chalking. You want binders made from a fine material so it can deeply penetrate your painting surface’s pores. Low quality paints have cheaper binders with larger molecules that don’t bind to your wall as effectively. Choosing a high-quality paint means your paint job will last longer and will have a reduced risk of peeling, blistering, and chalking.

3 – It Goes On Smoother

Solvents make your paint go on thick and smooth, creating a superior final look on your wall. Low quality paints tend to have a higher water content which can mean uneven coverage and a sloppier finished look. High quality paints are thicker and go on more smoothly for a beautiful and consistent final look.

4 – Colors Are More Beautiful—And Longer Lasting

Colerants capture that exact shade of eggplant grey you’ve admired in magazines, creating a dramatic effect upon the interior design of an entire room. Higher quality paints will have better quality colorants, which combine more effectively within the paint for a smooth and even tone. The colors also typically last longer than those colorants in lower quality paints, which tend to fade or break down over time. High quality paints also tends to be truer to color than low-quality competitors.

5 – You’ll Have Better Coverage (With Less Paint)

Pigments determine how many coats of paint you need to completely hide the previous color. High-quality paints usually have binders made of a fine white powder called titanium oxide, whose tiny molecules penetrate the pores and save you the tedious task of painting the same thing two, three, or even four times. 

When you invest in high quality paint, these ingredients combine into a more beautiful, longer-lasting paint job.