Ever wondered whether there is a difference between cheap paint Vs expensive paint? I can answer that for you – there is. There are three main paint markets, these are retail, trade, and luxury. In this blog, I’m going to take you through each paint market quickly, and then give you my recommendations on the best paint for your home.
Retail is cheap paint. You can buy it anywhere, including DIY shops like Homebase and B&Q. Dulux, Crown, and Johnstone’s all manufacture retail paint, along with brands like Goodhome.
As it is cheap, retail paint is generally low-quality. It reminds me of that old saying, ‘a race to the bottom’. Retail brands seem to compete on price over quality, so manufacturers substitute some of the more expensive paint ingredients like titanium dioxide and replace it with cheaper materials like chalk.
As a result, retail paint doesn’t perform very well. If you choose retail paint over more expensive alternatives, your finish will have defects, won’t be as durable, and won’t last very long. Cheap exterior paints flake off or fade after a few years. Cheap emulsion scuffs or absorbs bad smells from a room because it doesn’t contain very much polymer binder. As a professional Decorator, I’d recommend you spend a little bit more on expensive paint and make your rooms look beautiful. You’ll save money in the long run!
Trade paint is more expensive than retail, but much better quality. Sold from places like Dulux Dec Centre, or Johnstone’s Trade Decorating Centre, it is primarily used by professional Decorators (like me). It’s worth noting that unless you are entitled to a trade discount, then it will almost certainly be cheaper to buy this paint from the Decorating Centre Online compared to traditional trade outlets. Click here to visit Decorating Centre Online.
Trade paint is competitively priced compared to luxury paint. Manufacturers have found the balance between price and quality, making it ideal for people wanting to achieve good results without spending a lot of money. I tend to stick to trade paint for 80% of my work, using brands like Tikkurila and Johnstone’s Trade.
Luxury Paint includes brands like Farrow and Ball (which a of Decorators hate), Little Greene, Neptune, Lick and COAT. GENERALLY SPEAKING, they are a step up in quality from trade paint, and miles better than retail. That said, I feel like the price is inflated in a lot of cases to cover substantial marketing costs.
However, I suppose it comes down to budget. If cost isn’t an issue and you want to ensure that you always get the best paint, then luxury brands may be expensive, but they are the way forward.
I’m a massive product geek and use a wide range of brands, so I’m going to try and simplify this section a little bit. If I was to recommend one trade paint brand over all others, it would be Johnstone’s Trade.
Their Aqua Guard is one of the best water-based satinwood products on the market, and their emulsions are fantastic. Also, if you buy online, not only will the paint be a reasonable price, but you can also have any colour from another brand matched into your chosen Johnstone’s Trade product. Click here to see online prices.
There are a few good luxury paints worth mentioning. COAT Paint is one of my favourite brands, and I like Little Greene, but I think the best paint on the market is probably Benjamin Moore. In terms of depth of colour, opacity, overall appearance and durability, nothing comes close for me.
Benjamin Moore Scuff X can be used on walls and ceilings as an emulsion, or on internal woodwork as a trim paint. It doesn’t need a separate primer, and although expensive, it is a joy to use. You can even get suggested colour schemes, which helps if, like me, you’re terrible at choosing more than one colour for a room. Click here to see online prices.
I hope this blog is straightforward enough. I could have gone into detail about the best masonry paint, best emulsion, best gloss etc, but it would have been too much information to take in. I suppose if you stay away from retail paint then you’ll be fine. Happy decorating!
Cheap Paint Vs Expensive Paint – by Pete Lane
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Ever wondered whether there is a difference between cheap paint Vs expensive paint? I can answer that for you – there is. There are three
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