Part 2 - Quality, the breakdown.

Before choosing paint based on the price tag, consider this: lower-quality paints require more coats to cover and, because they aren't as durable, need maintenance much sooner. This is especially true with exterior coatings.

To get the true cost, look beyond the initial price tag and compare the cost per year. For example, say you're painting your home that requires 20 gallons of exterior latex. You have two options:

• Buy a lower-grade paint at $20 per gallon with an expected life span of 6 years.
• Buy a high-quality 25 year paint at $35 a gallon.

In the first scenario, your out-of-pocket cost would be $400. Since the paint is expected to last 6 years, the cost per year is $67. In the second scenario, your material cost is $700. But because the paint has 25 year lifespan, your cost per year is only $28.

Choosing the higher priced higher-quality paint, you actually save yourself $39 per year in paint expenses.

When it comes to selecting paint, quality does matter. Whether you're looking at interior or exterior paint, and whether you're considering adhesion, durability, or hiding properties, a better-quality paint will give you better service both short and long term.

We only use high quality paints, they will outlast any fad or trend. You'll be looking for a change in colour before they have deteriorated. However, if you are tackling your home yourself and would like some extra advice don't hesitate to give us a call, we'd be more than happy to help!

Part 1 - Benefits of Quality

Painting your home or business is an investment. You may have already heard that it pays to spend a little more when painting your home, or business but you don't completely understand why. Here are a few facts that may help you out.

A high-quality coating starts with ingredients that allow the paint to apply more easily, look better and last longer. The following four key ingredients affect the quality of paint.

Pigment

There are two types of pigment that go into a can of paint. First of all, there is "prime" pigments, they help provide colour and hide others. Secondly, the lower-cost version, "extender" pigments add bulk to the product, but add very little in terms of colour. Higher-quality paints have more of the all-important prime pigments, which provide easier applications, greater durability and better colour retention.

Binders

There are several different binders used in today's paints. Latex paints contain either 100% acrylic, styrene-acrylic or vinyl acrylic. Oil paints usually use linseed oil, soya oil or modified oils. The type, quality and amount of the binder affects everything from stain resistance and gloss to adhesion and crack resistance.

Liquids

There is no added performance benefits from liquids. They serve the purpose of allowing you to get the paint from the can to the surface. Top-quality paints have a greater ratio of solids - pigments and binders - to liquids.

Additives

Additives are just what they sound like, ingredients that are added afterwards to add a specific benefit. Common additives in higher-end paints include:

·         Rheology modifiers to provide better hide through flow and leveling of the coating

·         Mildewcides to keep mildew in check

·         Dispersing agents to keep pigments evenly distributed

·         Preservatives to prevent spoilage

Next time you are wondering if you should splurge and go for the higher quality keep these four ingredients in mind and the benefits they bring to the table compared to their counterparts.

Stay tuned for Part 2 - Quality, the breakdown.

What is "Sustainabiltiy"?

What is sustainability?

With all the buzz around this fancy word many people are probably wondering "what the heck is sustainability?" Well, we're glad you asked!

Sustainability is the relationship between environmental, economic and social dimensions. Some may refer to these as the three pillars. As you can see in the diagram, it's suggested that both economy and society are constrained by the environmental limits.

This is why becoming more consciences about our environment has become so important. Healthy ecosystems provide vital goods and services to humans and other organisms. Without a healthy ecosystem we would not be able to function, there would be no clean water to drink, no fresh air to breathe and no usable land. Thus why so many corporations and businesses are doing their part to become as sustainable as they possibly can.

The Brundtland Commission of the United Nations defined it best, "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs". If everyone could adopt this attitude we'll have a planet suitable for living for many generations to come!

Trendz Painting is committed to working towards becoming sustainable. Check out out our website for more information on our practises and efforts to become more environmentally friendly, and sustainable.