(Image Source via: Anete Lusina from Pexels)

Everyone wants to have a good-looking house but how much are we willing to spend to get the look that we want? Interior paintinghas to be one of the most common updates to a home and it’s not just to keep up with the trendiest colors. Keeping a home looking fresh and clean is more livable and of course, ups the resale value should you decide to put your home on sale.

Putting together a color scheme for the home is already daunting. Add to that picking out different types of paint that all look the same but differ in price. Take a look at what makes the pricing of paints different.

To start, paint is made of the following ingredients:

•         Pigment: This is what gives paint its color. The more pigment paint has, the more it will retain its color.

•         Solvents: Water-based paints have water as its solvent and oil-based paints have thinner as its solvent. High quality paints have more pigments and binders. The more solvent paint has, the more it will evaporate and thus creating the need for additional coats.

•         Binders: Aside from making the paint stick to the surface, this helps the paint resist peeling, cracking and chipping off.

•         Additives: Special additions that give paint properties such as mildew resistance.

(Image Source via: Fatima Valer from Pixabay)

These ingredients affect the price and color of the paint. Aside from that, paint types also affect price.

•         Flat: This gives off a matte paint finish that is good for hiding imperfections. It’s the least durable option, however, and easily collects dust and dirt, which are harder to scrub off on this type of paint.

•         Satin: Satin has a slight sheen to it and may highlight some holes, cracks or poorly patched and primed areas.

•         Eggshell: Eggshell finish is like the combination of flat and satin. It’s shiner than flat but not as shiny as satin and is a good choice for bedrooms and living areas.

•         High-gloss and Semi-gloss: These two are the most durable types of paints and because it serves to highlight features, it’s best to use these on architectural features like trims, mantels and corbels. These are also easy to clean and wipe down.

Some brands of gloss paint may be more expensive than flat paint and because it tends to show more imperfections, it takes great effort for painting contractors to work with gloss and semi-gloss paints.

Are low or zero VOC paints more expensive than traditional paints?

The Environmental Protection Agency has made it a regulation for most paint companies to produce more of their products with low VOCcontent. It used to cost more than traditional paints but not anymore. If you find low VOC paints that are expensive, it’s more of the quality of ingredients used that impacts the price.

What are the cheapest paints available?

Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean low quality. Ultimately, it boils down to the type of paint, what you’re going to use it for and the brand. Some brands have specialties that other brands don’t have like being good at hiding imperfections, resistance to cracking and mildew, low odor and adherence to surface.

Water-based paints are more affordable than oil-based paints. These are also widely used today and are preferred over oil-based paints because it produces less odor and dries up more quickly.

Another option is to pay your local recycling centers a visit and ask if they have recycled paint available. This is not only an eco-friendly solution to repainting, it’s budget-friendly and mostly free. This a good option if you’re looking to paint a rental house that you just want to give a quick makeover.

You can also try going to your local hardware stores and ask for mistint paint. These are paints that were returned by customers because it is in the wrong color or finish. The hardware then sells these paints for a lower price.

Getting swatches and samples and the right square footage will save you a lot of money too. You might only need a few cans of paint for your living room. Ask you hardware or contractor to help you compute how much paint is actually needed. Sampling the paint will save you money and heartaches before committing to the color. A lot of homeowners dive right into a color only to find out that they don’t like it when it’s already painted on huge surfaces.

While it’s great to have budget-friendly options, don’t skimp out on better quality paints that come in higher prices. Instead look for high quality paints that are worth your money. A good rule of thumb is to get paints in higher quality if you’re looking to do a major update on your house. Small areas and rentals could do with cheaper paint. In the long run, good quality and expensive paints will come out cheaper because it’s more durable and long lasting and doesn’t need as much replacement.

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