How to Choose Interior Paints - Quality Painting Systems.

A little interior painting help from Quality Painting Systems 

Tackling a home improvement project can quickly devolve into one of the most frustrating endeavors a homeowner can experience. You may not know it, but there are dozens of varieties of interior paint to choose from.  Some may be easier to clean; others may be more environmentally friendly.  One is best suited to fit your needs.

Here at Quality Painting Systems we have faced some unimaginable painting challenges while working with virtually every type of paint available.  When you take the plunge and walk into your neighborhood Sherwin-Williams we want to ensure that you have a greater understanding of the pros and cons of each type of interior paint and how that paint may be best suited to complete your project.  Quality Painting Systems has worked closely with Sherwin-Williams paints for many years, through our experiences we have absorbed a lot of information about their product.  The following tips can help steer you toward the optimal paint for your project.

Durability

Kids, pets and cooking are factors to be considered when choosing an interior paint.  If you are the proud parent of a creative toddler who prefers the wall to a paper canvas you may want to consider Duration Home as your next paint purchase.  Duration Home is a comparably durable and washable paint that is low in volatile organic compounds or VOCs.  VOCs are emitted as gasses from various liquids and solids.  They are found in household products such as cleaning materials and paint among other things and can include chemicals which may cause long and short-term adverse health effects.  Needless to say, a low level of VOCs is another feather in Duration Home’s cap.  Yet, Duration Home does have several disadvantages to consider.  It is on the high-end of the cost spectrum typically pricing out at over $55.00 per gallon.  The paint is often difficult to touch up, tends to bleed through trim tape and does not come in a flat finish.  Lastly, Duration home does not provide the most glamorous “final coat” finish available.  If you are looking to awe your next house guest with a lustrous coat of paint you may want to look elsewhere.

Going Green

If you are a more environmentally conscious consumer Harmony may be the right paint for you.  Harmony is a zero VOC paint that emits very little odor.  Harmony provides above average final coat coverage that will make your finished product look good.  The paint touches up a little better than most so when that inevitable ding in the wall occurs, a touch up is not a major problem. On the flip side, Harmony is not very durable and gets dirty rather easily.  Overall the paint gets, and this seems to be a pattern, average marks while costing a little over $38.00 per gallon. A great alternative and can save a few dollars is the new Promar 200 Zero VOC line. Available in all the deep tone colors and every finish including our favorite for this paint "Low Sheen Egg Shell"

Most Aesthetically Beautiful Paint

Do you need to dazzle that perspective buyer?  You may want to indulge yourself inCashmere, which is arguably the most eye popping paint available.  Cashmere goes on smooth and lies beautifully flat.  Sherwin-Williams’ magnum opus also touches up quite nicely.  

Best Value

We endorse Super Paint as a great all-around value.  Super Paint has an appealing final coat finish for the money.  The paint touches up quite well and is surprisingly durable.  The price ranges around $40.00 per gallon.  The only down side to Super Paint is that it is not a low VOC paint.

On a Budget

If you are like most Americans and are feeling fiscally pinched during these difficult economic times, fear not, there are a few more affordable options at your finger tips.  The Sherwin-Williams Classic 99 and Design Basics paints can give your home a face lift on a budget.  The Classic 99 will provide decent (for the money) coverage and final coat finish for around $33.00 per gallon.  Design Basics is the lowest quality of the low as far as interior pants are concerned, but if your current decor makes you nauseous you can slap on a fresh coat of this for $20.00 per gallon.  Neither Classic 99 nor Design Basics are durable paints, but they do touch up relatively well.

Consider the Options

Painting your home is a visibly tangible investment that will be a part of your life for years (barring a change of taste), to come.  Make sure to take your time when selecting your paint.  Prepare yourself and match your needs to the proper selection.  We hope this primer on interior paint has been helpful.