When it comes to choosing paint, you often find yourself bombarded with a multitude of choices. You want a paint that won’t require multiple coats, is resistant to mildew and grime, and can stand everyday wear and tear. Though there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all paint, choosing high-quality paint can pay off in the long run. Knowing the difference between low-quality and high-quality paint can be a challenge, but understanding the ingredients in the paint you choose and how they affect your paint job can help you make the right choice.
Something to keep in mind when choosing your paint is whether you should use latex paint or oil-based paint. Though latex paint can be found in abundance at any paint store, it does not mean that it is the best fit for every project. Latex paints are best suited for more general projects, like the walls of your home. Latex paint tends to dry with more of a matte finish, but many latex paints come with options for choosing the type of finish. Oil-based paints are more durable and are best used for areas of your house that see the most wear and tear, like your baseboards or trim. Because of oil paint’s slow dry time, it tends to hold a glossier finish but may lose its shine over time.
Inside each can of paint are four main ingredients that will help you understand the quality of the paint: pigments, resin, solids, and additives. Pigments are the particles that give paint its ability to cover the surface it is applied to and provide color. A pigment that is found in high-quality paints is titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is a pure white powder that gives the paint its hiding ability and, in turn, provides better coverage. Lower-quality paints use pigments, such as talc or clay, which do not provide as much of a hiding ability. This means you will have to add more coats of paint to get your desired coverage. Using higher-quality paint will provide more pigments, which will make it easier to apply your paint and give your paint job a longer life.
High quality paints will have high-quality binders or resins. These create a film to hold the pigments together once the paint has dried. Binders in the paint penetrate the wood’s pores and hold on to the surface it is applied to. High-quality oil paint will use linseed or safflower oil as binders. Oil paints that use linseed oil have a tendency to yellow with age but create a more durable hold on your surfaces and resist cracking. Safflower oil is a less durable alternative, but it does not yellow over time like linseed oil. A high-quality latex paint will use an acrylic resin. If choosing to use latex paint, look for one hundred percent acrylic. Latex paints that use acrylic resins are more resistant to blistering or peeling and are better able to withstand wear.
High-quality paint will have more solids than liquid. Solids are the pigments and resins inside the paint. The liquid in your paint allows for the paint to be transferred from the can onto your walls but does not have any performative value. A greater number of solids provides a thicker paint film and a better hold on your walls.
Every can of paint has additives, but a high-quality paint will have more. Additives are ingredients that give paint certain benefits like mildew resistance and better hiding ability. Additives like thickeners will keep your paint from running when applying it on surfaces and will provide an even, smooth coating. Other additives, like solvents that are used in oil paints, help the paint to dry faster, whereas surfactants help the paint to soak into the wood, giving the paint better hold and durability.
The benefits of high-quality paint will likely prove worth the amount you’ll pay for it in the long run. Though less expensive, low-quality paints will ultimately end up costing more. Low-quality paints require more coats to get the same coverage of higher quality paint and do not last as long. Knowing what is in your paint will save you money and time and give you a long-lasting paint job that is sure to handle all that is thrown at it. 
Aliyah Robinson
Home & Yard Magazine
