Are Premium Paints Worth the Extra Money?

When you go to buy paint for a project, you have a lot of choices. You may have noticed premium paint as one of those options. People often want to know if there really is a difference between premium paint and ordinary paint, and there definitely is. Most of the time, premium paints have better color quality, last longer, and produce better results. 

Applying Coats of Paint

Generally speaking, less expensive paints are thinner, and you will need to apply more coats when you paint. Although the paint itself is less expensive, if you need to use more of it, you will end up buying more paint. 

The difference with premium paints is that they are manufactured with higher quality pigments and finer particles of pigments, and they are made to do a good job of coating. You usually get better coverage and a brighter color from fewer coats. In addition, they are thicker, so the surface is coated more evenly when you finish.

The higher cost of premium paints is basically canceled out by the fact that you will use less paint and it will take you less time. 

Consider the Project Type

There are some projects where the quality of your paint will make a difference. If you are painting rooms that get a lot of use or the exterior of your home, you will want to make sure that the paint looks great and holds up. The exterior of your house will be subjected to different weather, and premium paints last longer and handle the elements better without chipping, fading, or cracking. 

What to Look for in Premium Paint

There are a few things to look for in premium paint. The most important difference is the ingredients. Paint is made of three primary parts, including pigments, binders, and solvents. 

1. Pigments

The pigment is what gives both color and opacity to paint. The quality of the pigments is one of the biggest differences between premium paint and inexpensive paint. High-quality paint has smaller and more pure pigments, and they are able to conceal well. For instance, look for titanium dioxide, which is the pigment found in quality paints. 

Inexpensive paint uses low-quality pigments, such as clay or silica. These are much larger pigments, so you need to use more coats of paint to cover the walls. 

2. Binders

The binders are what hold the ingredients in paint together. Premium paints have high-quality binders, so they are more durable and adhere to the walls better. They are medium in size, so they can penetrate surfaces. When you use inexpensive paint, it has resins that don’t adhere as well or last as long. The binders are the most expensive ingredient in the paint, and quality binders is one reason for the higher cost. 

3. Solvents

Lower quality paints will have more solvents in each gallon, and the paint is thinner as a result. On the other hand, high-quality paints have fewer solvents, which means that the paint is thicker and has better color retention.