Using Quality Paint

When it comes to painting, about 90 percent of a good paint job is in the preparation. This, however, doesn’t mean that the other 10% should be ignored. Preparation gets the surface ready for paint, but if the paint isn’t of good quality then it will soon fall apart from cracking, peeling and chipping. The quality of the paint, therefore, is vital to a good, long lasting paint job. And furthermore, the more you know about what makes good paint good will improve the chance that the job will be a good one.

Paint contains three main ingredients: pigment, solvent and binders. The pigment provides the texture, color and the hiding properties of the paint. Titanium dioxide and iron oxides are pigments that are used in better quality paints. You will also find clay and silica being used, but these pigments don't hold up as well. The texture of the paint is a good way to determine if it’s of good quality or not. Cheaper pigment materials, such as clay and silica, cannot be ground as finely as the better ones.

There is a very simple way to test whether paint is of good quality or not. It is sometimes referred to as the touch test. Once you have selected a paint product and shook it well, you should then remove the lid and put your index finger and thumb into the paint. Then rub the paint between the tips of your fingers. If it feels gritty then it probably contains a cheap pigment or a lot of cheap filler such as clay. Quality paint will feel smooth and silky.

Solvents

Solvents give the paint the proper consistency. They are used to keep the ingredients in liquid form. They also act as a "carrier" for the binders and pigments. Oil-based paints use thinner (petrochemical distillate) as a solvent. They are the most hazardous because the solvents are toxic and flammable. Latex and acrylic paints use water as the primary solvent which make them much less hazardous.

Binders

Binders are the one ingredient that is absolutely required. The binder is the part which eventually solidifies to form the dried paint film. Typical binders include synthetic or natural resins such as acrylics, polyurethanes, polyesters, melamines, oils, or latex. Linseed oil, tung oil or alkyd resins are the primary binders for oil-base paints and 100% acrylic or vinyl acrylic are the binders for water-base paint.

In addition, there are other additives that help make paint of higher quality. The additives can make the paint flow better, reduce bubbles, control consistency, and control thickness, transparency, sheen, drying time, absorption rate. Keep in mind, high quality paints also contain mildew inhibitors and ingredients that minimize running and splattering.

Always remember that using paint of a good quality can make a surface more abrasion-resistant, easier to clean, more durable, long lasting and capable of washing without the risk of removing the paint. High quality paint is definitely a great investment.

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