Best budget paint

[garrett1812]

I am looking to paint my 2.5 car garage with 10' walls, about 1500 sq ft total (walls + ceiling). I am estimating this is going to take 4-5 gallons primer and 8-10 gallons paint for two coats. Was thinking of eggshell, with white for the ceiling and top of walls, medium grey for the lower 4', and a black stripe between.

Kilz PVA primer is on sale at Home Depot for $40 for a 5 gal bucket. This seems like a deal.

What is a good paint for the rest? Hoping for a good paint under $20/gal.

 

[tthornto]

I'm sure plenty of people will disagree with me but I picked up a cheap gallon of Glidden from Walmart to do a wall in the garage and a closet. That cheap Glidden seemed better to me than the more expensive Behr and Valspar we used in the living room and bed rooms.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Glidden-Quick-Cover-Interior-Paint-Flat-Finish-White-1-Gallon/45297672

 

[EOC_Jason]

I like the Kilz primer, good stuff....

I've used Glidden too for some projects, never had any issues.

If you aren't *that* picky on a color, you might check HD, Lowes, and Walmart to see if they have a couple 5-gal pails of mis-tinted paint that is a nice color. Usually they are gallon or quart but I have seen 5-gallon ones plenty of times before. Usually they are marked 1/2 price...

 

[aandpdan]

I agree with the Kilz!

I'm partial to a "name brand" paint such as Ben Moore or Sherwin-Williams. That way you can always get more that matches if/when the need arises.

Get the mildewcide additive put in it too if it's humid where you're at. While good paints have it it can't hurt to have some more protection.

 

[garrett1812]

I use Sherwin Williams for everything inside my house, and right now they have their 30% off sale, but not sure if their paint that would be near my price point is any good.

 

[PWC Repair]

Wife and I have had great results with the cheap Behr paint from Home Depot.

 

[yeldogt]

I always use Sheetrock "first coat" -- for taped drywall. Great stuff - Makes for a uniform surface -- especially if any sheen .. it's more $$ vs kilts.

I normally use BM for most regular stuff now .. but SW is fine paint. The value line from either company is fine for what you are doing.

I would take the gray up to the white and paint the black over the gray. Quality matters when painting dark colors. Depending on the width -- you may only need a quart of good black over the gray to get coverage. May need three coats over white

 

[garrett1812]

Looks like the Sheetrock first coat primer is only $10 more for a 5 gal bucket than the Kilz PVA. Not a big difference. Both sound good.

Edit: Actually looks like it is more. Sheetrock is $50 for 5 gal, covering up to 1000 sq ft. Kilz PVA is $40 for 5 gal covering up to 2000 sq ft.

 

[garrett1812]

Anyone know how this paint is? Comes close to the budget.

https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/products/hgtv-home-by-ovation-interior-latex-paint

 

[77Birdman]

Kilz is a good primer. Sherwin Williams has a builder grade paint that is less than $20 a gallon. It isn't that bad of paint. I prefer their better quality stuff but this is good for a budget job.

 

[garrett1812]

Thanks. Will have to go in the store. Didn't see that on their website.

 

[oldmxracer]

I usually use Sherwin-Williams also, but as tthornto said I was very pleased with some of that cheap Glidden from Walmart !

 

[yeldogt]

First coat is more than a primer -- simple primer can't get you what first coat gets you on taped drywall.

It's a garage ... I get it ... but you are tying to do something that will look best with a uniform surface.

Super one coat on the ceiling -- think they call it pro hide now (P&L). I like it for white ceilings.

 

[6768rogues]

I went to a seconds store and bought 5 gallon buckets of gray floor paint for the bottom and white wall paint for the top; they were $30-$40 for a 5 gallon bucket. Then I bought an expensive quart of bright red for the stripe separating the two.
I worked on a house that my son owned and the painter put paint on wallboard without primer. I tried to use blue painters tape (not real sticky) to mark out cabinet locations and it took the paint off the wall. I know the walls were not dusty because I wiped them down and hit them with a leaf blower before the painter came. And he use expensive name brand paint. I do not recommend skipping primer.
In a previous life I worked for Glidden. They make good paint and they invented latex paint in 1949.

 

[KenC]

Look a locally made product. Most larger cities will have one. Probably can be found at a large lumber yard that caters to builders or pro paint stores. In Tulsa, we have Anchor, who makes a great line of paints much cheaper that equivalent big brands. They also handle and service a pro line of equipment. I got a kit for my 60s/70s vintage airless there. The old Graco with an external cylinder/piston and large accumulator.

 

[Viper98912]

After primer on fresh walls (I used Sherwin Williams builders craft), I personally prefer the home depot Behr Ultra. Relatively good price, feels thick, rolls on well, and with two coats you're completely covered. One coat just looks a little thin, uneven, and has pinholes. Two coats, perfect.

For a large room like that, look into using an 18" roller. Goes SO much faster; make the investment in the expensive $10 roller covers and $25 roller.

 

[PeterT]

Living in Cleveland for a number of years I usually stick with Sherwin Williams, they have a few 40% off sales per year. Being the frugal person I am I sometimes visit my local Ace hardware and on the back end caps they'll have paint mix returns. Usually 15 or so already mixed with a swatch of paint on the top lid. Someone ordered it, got it home and determined it didn't fit. The Ace I have carries Benjamin Moore and I say that paint goes on so smooth and many times 1 coat covers.

 

[Davefr]

First of all, have the paint store tint your primer to half the formula of the topcoat. That will get you a head start with coverage.

Sherwin Williams has good builders grade paint that's almost as good as their top shelf paints. Wait for one of their big sales or ask the store for a contractors cash discount.

Another option is regional brand paints. They are often high quality but at a good price.

Whatever you do, don't buy low end homecenter paints like Behr. The pro's say, "it's better to have bare walls then Behr on the walls". It goes on like molasses but covers like water.

Top quality paints will save you money by covering better, lasting longer and saving time. Low end paint is usually the most costly in the long run.

Don't forget the use quality brushes and rollers.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Whatever you do, don't buy low end homecenter paints like Behr. The pro's say, "it's better to have bare walls then Behr on the walls". It goes on like molasses but covers like water.

I used to say using Behr was like painting with milk.

When I worked at IDT they wanted me to use Behr instead of my go-to Benny Moore (Con-Lux for industrial stuff like 2 part paints). I made a deal with the boss that we'd test both and if the BM worked better it would be the only paint we use.

I bought a gallon of each, in a comparable quality level. It took almost a gallon of Behr to paint (2) flat 3-0 steel doors and they looked like poo. The gallon of BM completely covered 7 doors in one coat. My boss never questioned my judgement again. At least not about paint...

Tommy

 

[RStewart]

I used something called Maintenance White. 5 gallons for $31. Bought it at Lowe's. It is flat white and covered washed painted concrete block walls nicely. I was skeptical but figured for $30, why not.

 

[garrett1812]

Side question: What are thoughts on height to paint the black stripe separating the white top and grey bottom? My garage has a 1ft tall concrete stem wall, with 9ft of drywalled wall above. Make the stripe around 4ft up from the floor, or 4ft up from the stem wall? Not worried about lining up with outlets.

 

[yeldogt]

Side question: What are thoughts on height to paint the black stripe separating the white top and grey bottom? My garage has a 1ft tall concrete stem wall, with 9ft of drywalled wall above. Make the stripe around 4ft up from the floor, or 4ft up from the stem wall? Not worried about lining up with outlets.

Think you will have to paint the stem wall gray -- will be off otherwise.

Use the golden rule twice-- third the wall and third the center panel -- use that lower line for the top of the gray.

Some tape to see how you like.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I wouldn't go four feet from the stem wall, that makes it 5' off the floor. That would seem odd to me.

My stripes are two different heights (off the floor) on each side of my garage but are the same height overall. Effectively, there is a wall between them but they match at the door way as I was going to stripe the door so open/close it would match.


My walls are OSB and I used Kilz oil based primer, good primer but it does stink and you'll want some ventilation. Seeing that Winter is coming and you have an attached garage that may not work for you. I coated it with Kilz Pro-X 170 and it has seemed to be a decent paint. The house garage I used Glidden exterior paint. Even though it's inside, I believe the garage does get some moisture due to wet cars or melting snow. For that reason, I decide to go with an exterior paint.

I also used some Behr paint and wasn't too crazy about the coverage yet the stuff would seem to run.

 

[garrett1812]

I was also planning to trim the bottom on the drywall. I could paint this the same grey, or also pay black to break up between the stem wall. Hadn't planned on painting that, but I could do it some day.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Cheap wall paint will not hold up to dirt/scuffs. Get a good quality satin/semi-gloss wall paint. They are scrubbable or at least less likely to absorb grease and oil stains.

 

[Shark Pilot]

Having just done this in my garage with 40 year-old sheetrock which was yellowed and had to be completely re-taped and re-screwed (nail pops), I would strongly recommend against a dark color - particularly on the lower half of the wall. I went all white with a semi-gloss from Glidden and the difference in the amount of light in the room just going from yellowed bare sheetrock to all white is huge. I think just having the additional light you get from all white will make working in there a whole lot easier.

I used Kilz 2 latex primer and then had to spot prime with Zinsser "BIN"" shellac based primer to seal up bleed-thru from the yellowed drywall. I have tried the PVA type primers and much prefer Kilz 2 or Zinsser 1-2-3 (the 1-2-3 is thicker but more difficult to apply). At this point in the season you will need the surface temp of the walls to be a minimum of 50 degrees - unlikely you will be doing any painting until Spring if the garage is unheated. I suggest you prime in white and then consider how dark it will look with your proposed paint scheme. Also consider using semi-gloss instead of egg-shell.

 

[stikman56]

Wife and I just painted the bathroom in our rental home with Dutch Boy. Covered very well, painted on really nice and it looks really good. It was pretty cheap at about 28 bucks a gallon.

 

[stonesfan68]

Anyone know how this paint is? Comes close to the budget.

https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/products/hgtv-home-by-ovation-interior-latex-paint

I used that paint throughout the upstairs of my house. I was quite pleased with it for bedrooms and hallways. I think I'd use a higher quality paint for a garage that isn't climate controlled and would be subject to scrapes and some scrubbing.

 

[garrett1812]

Temp is a concern, but I will have to get it as warm as I can with my propane heater. Walls are insulated, so that should help. The garage was completely emptied to do the drywall work and I want to paint before hauling everything back in. As most of the garage is now in the dining room and living room this needs to happen asap to keep the wife happy.

 

[Bluedodge]

I've had great luck over the years with Lucite paint from Menards. Seems like they have it on sale every few weeks with flat coming in just under $10/gallon and semi-gloss around $12/gallon.
We've used it in our garage, home office, laundry room, guest room, and a little used bathroom. Stuff loads up on a roller nicely and covers evenly.
I've used the "free after rebate" Menards paint in a storage room and for the inside of our pool building (exposed studs and osb). I'd pass on using that in regular living quarters - it might be okay for a rental property....

 

[Shark Pilot]

Temp is a concern, but I will have to get it as warm as I can with my propane heater. Walls are insulated, so that should help. The garage was completely emptied to do the drywall work and I want to paint before hauling everything back in. As most of the garage is now in the dining room and living room this needs to happen asap to keep the wife happy.

Yes, I understand completely - I just finished painting a week and a half ago. The issue with propane heaters is they raise the humidity level which may cause problems. I would check with a Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore dealer and see what they have for low temperature paints. I know BM Aura goes down to 40 degrees. The Zinsser BIN shellac primer can be used down to 0 degrees F. Both are expensive! I used Halogen 500w work lights to keep the temps up without humidity issues. Really suggest you talk with a pro level paint dealer about which paint to get for the temps you will be painting in.

 

[Hollywood D]

For interior I’ve used glidden and had good results. I’m not impressed with Behr. For exterior I only use sherwin Williams.

 

[yeldogt]

Better paints on average cover better -- but, it's really about the final finish. Beautiful walls require proper prep -- technique -- and good paint.

Most drywall is horrible -- without prepping ...best you can do is change the color ... it's not going to be great.

 

[garrett1812]

My garage was previously only half drywalled (attached garage, only ceiling and walls shared with living space), and that was only finished to minimum for fire rating (tape slopped on top of mud, unsanded). I had the rest drywalled, and then all of the tape/mud on the entire garage redone. They did great work. Now my wall finish in the garage is superior to what is inside my house.

 

[yeldogt]

Not bragging -- but, I'm a great painter. I enjoy it .. and want perfection. The paint matters much more than people think.

It's difficult to get great results with anything under level 5 work -- it requires lots of prep work. I typically do a skim plaster w/ blue board when I build -- but did do level 5 a few years ago at the beach because of cost. I'm up against the same with my new build and may have to use both.

A plaster wall properly painted -- you can tell. Same with trim -- F&B or BM Advanced ... nothing looks like it. People notice.

Buy a gallon of the first coat and do one wall -- see how much better it looks and how easy it is.

 

[garrett1812]

yeldogt - cold beer in the fridge if you are coming over this weekend!

 

[Davefr]

Same with trim -- F&B or BM Advanced ... nothing looks like it. People notice.

Buy a gallon of the first coat and do one wall -- see how much better it looks and how easy it is.

I used BM Advanced recently on some trim and it's amazing paint. It levels out so well the finish actually looks like it was sprayed. It also covered very well.

 

[yeldogt]

I used BM Advanced recently on some trim and it's amazing paint. It levels out so well the finish actually looks like it was sprayed. It also covered very well.

I agree .. some people complained about it years ago ... ??? It's fantastic paint. It's even better if you use the advanced primer. The key is thin layers .. most people put trim paint on too thick and wall paint on too thin.

My local store does not stock the primer for advanced ... ?? Why would you buy a premium paint .. that has a matching primer ... and not use it? Primers matter.

People use all these universal primers -- say they are great .. but really never try other products. They also don't ask painters working at the highest level .. what they do and what products they use. I only use Kiltz as a stain blocker -- and I use a suitable primer on top of the Kiltz.

I just went through this. I decided to try Boral trim boards on my project. The painters at the job I inspected were complaining about the top coat coverage. First time using the product -- had three coats on some of the boards??? Using BM Moorglo? Nothing should ever need three top coats ..especially with Moorglo. Some boards they just painted over the factory primer .. others they used Kiltz. I did one coat of BM fast dry oil primer (tinted) and one top coat and it looked fantastic. One top coat! I ended up using the product .. we did two top coats for long term durability

I can paint a door with the BM advanced and it looks like it was sprayed --

 

[garrett1812]

Kilz is a good primer. Sherwin Williams has a builder grade paint that is less than $20 a gallon. It isn't that bad of paint. I prefer their better quality stuff but this is good for a budget job.

Any idea what the name of that paint is? I called today and they said they had nothing builder grade under $20.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I just did some painting inside the fire station and used some SW All Surface Enamel. It covered nice and I don't think I would have an issue using it in my home.

Checking out their website, they have a 30% off sale going on right now.