Thoughts on Expensive House Paint?

[bwringer]

I hate painting, but you have to do something to keep Mother Nature from destroying your house.

I've always just gotten whatever the store's "top of the line" paint is. I know nothing at all about paint and very little about painting, so I figure I'll spend a few extra bucks and eliminate one potential source of problems. And so far on my various projects I've been very pleased with how well the paint itself works. (My lack of skills and taste are another matter, but that's not the paint's fault.)

I am about 99% done with painting the outside of my house (turns out I really hate the color, but screw it -- I'm not starting over), and throughout the project I wondered whether I really needed to be spending $150 for each five gallon pail or nearly $40 for each gallon (Pittsburgh Grand Distinction from Menards). We caught a few rebates and sent them in, but you can't count on that.

What say the more experienced GJ crew? Is the mid-level paint any good, or does the expensive stuff save enough time and aggravation to be worth it? Again, the paint worked great. It really did cover any previously painted wood in one coat. Bare wood on the panels I had to replace took two quick coats. Hell, it even smelled nice -- very mild, with hints of vanilla.

By the way, we painted the bulk of the house with this Harbor Freight sprayer (#60600), which also performed flawlessly. Soooo nice, soooooo fast. I am never painting a large area with rollers again...

 

[ahab]

Cheaper paint won't flow as easy, cover as well requiring more coats, and won't dry as quick.

High end paint I've had dry on me in 20 minutes and be ready for a 2nd coat. Low end paint will still be wet and pick up airborne crud.

 

[Holzarbeiter]

I will buy the good (expensive) paint. I happen to like SW Duration, on average we get 30-40% off just by buying when the sales/rebates run and since we are on their list we often get a coupon via e-mail 25-35% off.
I hate painting as well, so I do a good prep, use good primers/caulk/fillers and use quality brushes, rollers, spray equipment.


"Do it right the first time or don't do it at all"

 

[gc427]

YES!

I like higher line paint too. I have bought some cheap paint trying to save a few buck and it bit me in the ***. Having to coat a wall 3-4 times is a huge waste of time and energy and is no money saver at all.

 

[PeterT]

FYI,, Sherwin WIlliams has 35% off this weekend, and will have 40% off around labor day. Their Duration and Super Paint is top notch, although I really like the way Benjamin Moore paints go on.

 

[bwringer]

No point in doing something you hate twice.

And I think we all know that the cheap stuff is no good.

Is there a sensible middle ground, though?

For example, the next step down at Meanard's (Pittsburgh Ultra Exterior Flat) is $99 for a five gallon pail (sale and rebate make that about $79 right now.)

The Pittsburgh Grand Distinction Exterior Flat (which is what I used) lists for $164. If you catch a sale, it's just under $150, and there's sometimes a $40 rebate available. Although it's never a good idea to count on a rebate -- these often never arrive.

 

[Trainman]

Another vote here for SW Duration. For several years I used whatever the top of the line Olympic paint was from Lowes. It seemed pretty good, but I became less and less satisfied with it with each passing job. Duration was in a different class....went on smoothly and really did cover with one coat. Especially like their interior flat. It hides a multitude of sins on a less than perfect wall.

 

[stikman56]

I have learned from experience on house paint. No more Glidden etc. I use Miller, it runs around 40 bucks a gallon or a bit more. Excellent, lasts well, looks good. Never again will I use cheap paint on my houses.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I've had good luck with Benjamin Moore paints. Good stuff costs more initially, but it will generally go on better and last longer so in the long run you will be money ahead.

Of course, with any paint job, preparation is the most important thing - even the best quality paint won't last long if the prep is bad.

 

[DekeT]

Sherwin Williams duration. Worth every penny.

 

[cwlo]

Considering the labor is far greater than the paint nowadays, top quality paint is an easy choice. I like the Benjamin Moore Aura, and Regal Select.

Chris

 

[reader2580]

I am using the SW Duration bought when they had 40% off in June. Downside is that it has a fairly low coverage per gallon. It goes on very well and creates a surface that appears to be very durable.

The paint was around $45 a gallon. There are 30% off sales frequently and 40% off sales less frequently.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

No point in doing something you hate twice.

And I think we all know that the cheap stuff is no good.

Is there a sensible middle ground, though?

For example, the next step down at Meanard's (Pittsburgh Ultra Exterior Flat) is $99 for a five gallon pail (sale and rebate make that about $79 right now.)

The Pittsburgh Grand Distinction Exterior Flat (which is what I used) lists for $164. If you catch a sale, it's just under $150, and there's sometimes a $40 rebate available. Although it's never a good idea to count on a rebate -- these often never arrive.

I have never had a menards rebate not show up, and I shop there over 100 times a year as a contractor. Mail in the slip, and the rebate will come.

And, $30/gallon is not 'top of the line' paint. Maybe at menards, but not a real store (SW or BM). I triple recommend duration by SW, my own house and many others are painted in it. Typically with the 40% off sale it's about $45/gallon for exterior, but it's even worth it's full price of $75/gallon. A typically house with Hardie takes maybe what, 10-15gallons? That extra $3-400 you spend on materials to save you from doing it again in a few years plus 20-30hrs of time is well worth the extra expense

 

[tcianci]

I had a job and part of it was to paint a bunch of new, primed interior doors. I figured that I could save a few bucks by using paint from the orange store. Well, 3 coats later when it still didn't cover, I tossed it an bought some Benjamin Moore. It only took 1 coat with the Benjamin Moore paint. You tell me which paint costs less!

 

[bwringer]

Very interesting to see so many people independently mention the Sherwin Williams Duration.

I mean, I figured there was another level of awesome beyond the Meanard's stuff, but I didn't know where to find it.

Good info!

 

[Joe B.]

Not the exact same comparison, but I have painted almost all of the interior of a large house with paints from Menards over the last two years. I have used a lot of the Pittsburgh Grand Distinction and the Ultra. From an interior standpoint I can't say I see a difference between the two in quality. Both went on fine a look great. I don't know what else I could expect that paints to do. I did use a lot of the Grand Distinction as I really liked the finish of their "Ceramic Flat Enamel" which is not available in other grades. It looks great like a traditional flat paint but seems to clean up well when my kids make a mess. for other finishes they were about the same. I did not like the Pittsburgh ceiling paint as it was a long ways from white.

I found both of these paints to be superior to the Dutch Boy paints sold at Menards. (Dutch Boy is made by Sherwin Williams.)

 

[JRC3]

I would say 20% of my business is painting homes inside and out. I am very good at what I do and have been doing it for 25 years. I give an allowance of $25-30 per gallon for whatever I do and extend the advice to pay for the better paint. If they decline, I spend at least $10 or so per gallon as it more than makes that up in work-ability and coverage. Period!

Same with brushes and rollers. Minimum for a brush is above $10 (minimum!) and buy the best roller cover you can buy. Brushes; buy Purdy or Wooster. Some of the box store "Best" brushes are okay for exterior.

I've had customers (normally interior) supply the paint, and the $12/ gallon is pure madness. It's like rolling and brushing milk and smells just as bad as spoiled.


BM is some of the best paint I've ever used. Most customers wont spend for it unless they request it.

 

[phiftyseven]

I've had very good luck with both Sherwin Williams and Behr paints ( interior painting ). Had enough experience with store brands and some top brand cheap paints, never happy with the covering or smell. I'll spend a little more for a better paint.

 

[Thumper68]

I hate paint as well and thanks to a bit of good luck I have always had a good source of paint, a local independent paint manufacturer Arrowhead paint, I don't know how common it is to have a small local company like this but worth checking for.

IIRC their paint runs around $22 a gallon, cheaper if I get 5gal buckets, they don't have any of the fancy paint/color matching stuff, but since I get all my paint there I never have an issue. I have used the high end national brands for others and find my supplier as good or better. Not to mention if I walk in and tell them what I am painting they know what paint to give me along with good advice on prep and what supplies to use with it.

 

[jask]

BM or Behr premium with primer if you shop at HD- they have regular paint sales this time of year. I like to put it up with an airless sprayer and then brush/roll it out.

 

[steve308]

Last time I was compelled to paint I used the then new "Paint and Primer' via Valspar. What a can of ****! Painting over the same color - paint was inconsistent in coverage, took forever to dry and was easily 'chipped' off weeks later. For the rest of the house I used "paint only' and primer where and when needed. The 'paint only' went on easier and covered better. I'd rather take a beating then paint and I'll never use a paint and primer product again.

 

[bwringer]

I think they've figured out the "paint and primer" thing a lot better now, or maybe Valspar's not the greatest -- the Pittsburgh Grand Distinction I used is touted as a paint and primer, and it worked great.

On my house, I went back to a few areas near the ground and applied a second coat (thinking maybe it would provide better water protection over the years from droplets splashing from shrubbery). Absolutely no color change, and you could not detect any difference between two coats and one unless you got close enough to see the added bit of thickness.

 

[Alan Douglas]

The local hardware store has carried Benjamin Moore "forever" so that's what I use on my 117-year-old clapboards. The barn is clapboarded too and that's what I'm doing right now. Oil primer and latex topcoat; the sections I did properly 20 years ago still look good; most problems are the underlying paint peeling later so I try to scrape as much off as possible. Some of the barn paint is original.

 

[straps57]

I must be in the minority. I bought the cheapest paint they had at the big blue home center. Made for sheds and barns etc. Loved it. I left the wife to pick out the trim color and she bought the $45 a gallon stuff. After painting with both we both agreed we liked the the cheap stuff better. Valspar storm coat vs Valspar duramax. Both for exterior.

 

[Casey69]

check consumer reports for reviews on paint. some $30/gallon stuff handily outperforms the $50+/gallon. i think the ace kensington brand interior & exterior paints are best buys right now & are ~$30/gallon.

 

[KenC]

There are usually some regional brands that are just as good as the national ones. Around here, Oklahoma, I have found Anchor to be excellent. Of course, SW is also, but IMO a large part of the price just pays for the ads, which don't do anything for my house!

Check with a local pro painter to see if there is a similar product in your area.