What Paint grade/Quality should I use?

 What paint should I use for my project? This is a question that is frequently asked. The first thing to answer is what are you painting? Is it interior or exterior? You will find that there are many different companies that make paint. Most people know Sherwin Williams, Behr or Valspar. This is a great start however each of these have different qualities and grades you'll want to pay attention too when deciding for your project. In realty your budget will play a big role on what you choose, and all paint will color and cover whatever you put it on. However, its these things you'll want to think about so that you can put yourself in the best position for a successful and lasting outcome. Unless your using interior paint for an exterior job you can't choose the wrong paint per say but you can set yourself up to have it done again sooner then you thought.

Overall if you choose the cheapest paint, you'll probably get a result that is similar and won't last as long. Chipping and peeling will most likely occur faster along with fading color. These price differences vs quality differences are major when comparing the most expensive product to the cheapest product. Sometimes slapping some paint on something is all you need while other times you want a nice long-lasting finish that can stand up to some abuse from humans or natural elements. Cheaper paints will not cover light stains or previous colors as well as a mid-grade paint. You usually need more coats when using lower grade paint to achieve a nice rich color. Cheaper paints are not the friendliest when it comes to cleaning them especially low-grade interior paint.

When going from mid-grade to top quality paints you'll notice the differences are a little more subtle yet effective. Fewer coats are needed with high quality paint. A rich smooth color can be achieved quicker and last longer. The paint may dry faster or be more resistant to moisture. Sometimes the formulas of higher-grade paint are modified so that it produces little to no VOC or so that stains can be cleaned off without affecting the paint. In the case for the applicator, you'll notice cheaper paints are usually thinner and don't roll or brush out as smooth as mid to higher grade products. More frequent paint drips and messy overspray are also things you can expect when using cheaper paint.

In the long run do a little research on what paint to use and don't go the cheapest route if you want a solid lasting outcome. To be honest I have used a lot of different paint brands and I believe there are some out there that are more expensive because of how they are marketed. For example, I have used a higher mid-grade paint to achieve the same result as a "high grade paint".  It's totally understandable that there are times when all you want is to spend the least amount of money as possible however just consider when it's worth it and why you're doing it. Some brands have very little differences in their mid to high grade products so just take a look at the cans and make sure you're actually getting some added benefit or quality with the price tag.