Paint Selection For Pros

Select the best performing paint for any job. Learn more about the types of paints you can choose for each room or job.

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Like any smart investment you want the paint you select to deliver the performance you expect.

Here are a few tips to ensure that you choose a coating that will deliver the best balance of performance, appearance and lasting value for your job.

The first thing to ask is where are you painting?

For commercial or light industrial applications that require higher levels of durability than a standard architectural coating provides, you may want to consider an advanced high-performance coating.

These products include epoxies, acrylics and urethanes that are engineered to withstand the abuse of many commercial environments while offering a full range of colors and sheens in environmentally compliant formulas.

For most residential jobs however, a comprehensive selection of latex coatings are available to suit any area of the home.

A coating with a rich buttery finish may be perfect for a high-end appearance in living rooms and master bedrooms.

For kitchens, laundry rooms or kids rooms your client may prefer a coating that delivers a higher level of washability and stain resistance.

Choosing a paint with the right benefits for the application will keep rooms looking fresh for years.

A coating sheen is also a consideration.

Many new residential builders prefer a flat finish because it tends to hide imperfections and it's easier to achieve flawless touch-ups.

However a flat sheen may not have the washability required for higher traffic areas in the home.

Coatings with high gloss levels are often easier to clean and have a higher resistance to dirt and burnish marks making it especially well-suited to trim and wood work.

But on walls, a glossy sheen is also likely to emphasize the appearance of imperfections, which can add labor to drywall preparation.

A popular choice capable of satisfying a wide variety of preferences is Eg-shel, a high-quality eggshell paint will typically have better washability than a flat paint, yet is easier to touch up and maintains a more matte appearance than semi-gloss.

For a flat finish with the benefits of an Eg-shel, check out Sherwin-Williams high quality matte finishes.

They are great for hiding surface imperfections while providing outstanding durability.

Although some builders use two coats of a builders grade top coat over fresh drywall a better option is to use a primer, that's appropriate for the substrate followed by a compatible top coat.

For previously painted surfaces there are also coatings formulated to function as a paint and primer in one when applied according to the manufacturer's specifications.

While many builders opt for a single product to paint walls and ceilings, different substrates often require different types of coatings for best results.

Textured surfaces, drywall finishing levels and coating characteristics all play a part in this decision.

A high build formula, for example, can hide surface imperfections, minimize surface prep and reduce the number of coats needed for great results.

A high quality ceiling paint that resists patterning and dries fast will minimize cleanup and allow crews to move on quickly.

It's also no secret that homeowners are increasingly concerned about indoor air quality.

Fortunately there are many paints available that offer excellent performance and have low or no VOCs.

Some high-tech coatings even have the capacity to reduce existing formaldehydes in the area being painted.

If the painting must be done while the home or building is occupied select a coating with negligible odor to minimize disruption to occupants.

Certain high quality coatings also have the power to reduce odors that are already present in the environment.

When time is of the essence, understanding the key features of various products will help you make the best investment.

The next consideration is what material is the surface you're painting?

Wood, drywall, masonry, metal?

Although multi surface coatings are generally compatible with a wide variety of substrates some applications benefit from a coating that's specifically formulated for the type of surface you're painting.

Interior basement walls in particular post challenges when moisture transfer is a possibility.

If that's a potential issue, look for a coating that resists hydrostatic pressure.

Products like this will help keep moisture from penetrating into the walls.

Exterior masonry, brick and concrete, for example, can be porous so a primer or filler may be needed to fill porous prior to finishing.

In areas where wind driven rain is common a masonry coating with waterproofing features can keep moisture from penetrating the building envelope and creating problems in the future.

New or untreated wood may require a product with excellent stain blocking properties.

So tannin bleed is eliminated and knotholes are concealed.

A standard coating doesn't have the superior hiding needed to provide good coverage for this situation.

Generally speaking, exterior paints must have the flexibility to resist peeling or chalking even after years of exposure to freezing cold or hot climates.

And if construction schedules are delayed due to adverse weather look for coatings that tolerate low temperature application or have fast early cure times, so crews can paint even if there's rain or heavy dew in the forecast.

Inside or out, a high quality paint that provides good coverage in a single coat not only saves time, it saves material and labor costs.

Whatever paint you choose, one of the most accurate ways to determine its real value is to divide the cost of the product by the number of years the coating is expected to last.

Let's say you need 20 gallons of exterior latex and a lower quality paint costs thirty dollars per gallon.

It might have a life expectancy of six years or a cost of 100 dollars per year.

On the other hand, a high quality paint costs 45 dollars per gallon, but is expected to last 25 years.

That reduces the cost of the higher-priced coating to just 36 dollars per year.

That's a savings of 64 dollars per year.

Not including the dollar saved on labor costs because fewer repaints will be needed.

Regardless of whether painting inside or out, the quality of the paint you choose can significantly impact the satisfaction of the home buyer and research consistently shows that customers are often willing to pay more for an upgraded coating.

Every job is different, and choosing the right coating starts with asking the right questions.

Where will the coating be applied?

How will the space be used?

What special conditions exist?

And how long do you want the coating to last?

Smart answers to these questions will lead to a smart investment.