Good Paint vs Cheap Paint

I've decided to paint the living room. A color selected (wild ochre), but not after the great debate on paint brand. When you're trying to manage a budget, save money, find a bargain or save yourself some effort - how do you tell the difference between good paint and cheap paint? Is Behr paint different from Valspar or Olympic? Who is Benjamin Moore and why should we buy his paint over Sherman Williams? How much is too much to pay for a can of paint? Is $50 can of Benjamin Moore that much better than $30 can of Behr?

The answer - Yes. Paint professionals will tell you "You get what you pay for." Price is a good indicator of quality. While good paint and cheap paint look the same when you pop off the lid, the differences lie in the materials used to make the paint (technically speaking, it's the binders, pigments, and additives). How long the paint lasts, how easy it is to apply, scrubability, mildew resistance, sheen, and hiding (e.g., how it hides surface imperfections all depends on these ingredients.

To learn more, here's a great article "Why Pay More for Paint" by Scott Cohen of Fine Homebuilding. You'll learn how paint is made, how to select paint based on your project, and when to turn to Ralph Lauren, Laura Ashley and Martha Stewart. (Answer: for unique color, textures, and finishes).

Related articles:
What paint type is for you?
Short cuts that make painting less of a chore
Estimating the amount of paint to buy
Paint Calculator