Not All Paint is the Same
We all know that not all paint is created equally. There is quite a difference between high quality paint and its cheaper alternative. The difference in paint has to do with the amount of solids within the paint itself. When we say solids within a paint, we are talking about the pigments and the resin that make up the paint itself. Since solid materials are difficult to spread across a surface, solvent is also added to the paint. The solvent is what makes paint easy to work with. Once the paint is spread out on the surface, the solvent evaporates into the air leaving behind the solid material.
A main difference between high-quality and low-quality paint is that high-quality paint has less solvent, so when the solvent evaporates, there is more solid material left over giving the surface a thicker and sturdier coat of paint. Lower quality paint has more solvent, so while you may not be able to tell the difference between the different paint while you are putting it on the surface, you will definitely be able to see the difference when the solvent evaporates, and far less solid material remains.
This is yet another case where cheap doesn’t necessarily mean less expensive. With cheap paint, you are going to have to use more paint to get the coverage you need, and you will have to repaint the surface more often than if you had used the better paint from the start.
The quality of the paint is not the only thing that differentiates one type of paint from another. There are also subtle, yet important differences between interior and exterior paint.
The expectation of interior and exterior paint is quite different. For interior paint, you want to be able to properly clean the surface. You are going to need to be able to scrub the surface clean without damaging the paint for having it fade. After you clean your interior walls, you want the paint to still be as uniform as possible. For exterior paint, the requirement is quite different. You are probably going to be less concerned about cleaning the surface than you are about the sun’s UV light causing the colors to fade. If you have ever left something like a soda can outside in the sun for an extended period, you will see that in relatively short order, the colors on the can will start to fade and eventually you will be left with a can that has been completely bleached of it color. When it comes to architectural signs and other materials designed to be outdoors, the problem of fading has been tackled with the invention of UV Ink. When it comes to paint, the solution is in the aforementioned resin, which is one of the solids in paint.
The job of the resin is to bind the pigment to the surface. The type of resin used will give the paint the qualities it needs to be considered an interior or exterior paint. Remember that the requirement of indoor paint is that it has to be able to survive being cleaned and scrubbed. This is done by using a harder resin. The harder resin gives the paint far more versatility when it comes to being physically handled.
Exterior paint won’t come into contact with as many physical objects as interior paint, but exterior paint has to survive the weather and the elements. Exterior paint must survive a wide range of temperatures as well as moisture from rain and snow, and it has to keep its color when the sun bakes down on it all while not chipping or peeling. To achieve these goes, exterior paint uses a softer resin. Exterior paint also uses more resin, which is why you do not want to use exterior paint indoors. The additional resin causes gases to emanate from the surface for at least 48 hours, however, there can still be small traces of gas coming off the paint for years.
As you can see, when it comes to paint there is more to think about than the color you are looking for. You need to have the right paint for the job, and if you expect the painted surface to last, you need to make sure you are using a high-quality paint.
When you work with One Source Supply, you have a team that is always looking out for your best interest. Even if you are not sure what the differences are between different paints, we do, so we can guide you in the right direction so your project is completed with the best possible results.