Interior Painters in Greenwood Village Choose Paint by What's Actually in the Can
Here's how professional interior painters actually shop for paint.
The Price-Per-Gallon Math Is Backwards
Just because paint seems inexpensive upfront, that rarely ends up being the final cost. Budget paint costs around $20 per gallon versus premium paint at $45. However, lower-end paint takes an average of 3 coats to cover the same size area that high-quality paint can do in two. That sucks up any savings you might have initially had, and the job now takes nearly twice the labor time from interior painters to complete the Greenwood Village project. Plus, this focuses only on coverage, without considering aesthetics or long-term results.
What's Actually Inside the Can
The materials, or "ingredients" that make up a paint option play a huge part in its quality. There are three main parts: solvent, pigment, and binder.
Solvents are typically made up of water, which evaporates as the paint dries, leaving the other two ingredients known collectively as "solids." Because of this, the more solids paint has, the thicker it will be once dry, offering better coverage with fewer coats and a longer life on your walls. Cheap paint will have about 20-30% solids by volume compared to premium paint's 50% or higher.
Pigments create the color. This will be a mixture of different pigments to give paint that perfect color you want. Prime pigments provide the color and hide, and extenders that bulk up the product. Good paint will rely largely on titanium dioxide pigments, while lesser options substitute these with talc, calcium carbonate, clay, and silica. While this lowers the cost, it also lowers the durability at the same time.
As the name implies, the binder is what holds all the other ingredients together and determines how the paint will adhere to the wall. As the most expensive part, this is where many paint brands start to cheap out to cut costs. Common binders are: acrylic, styrene-acrylic, and vinyl acrylic. High-end paints will use smaller-particle binders to penetrate the surface more deeply. The result is better stain resistance and gloss, and fewer chances of the paint cracking, peeling, or blistering as time passes.
Brand Tiers Are Real—But Not How You Think
There are no completely good or bad brands when it comes to major paint manufacturers. Companies such as Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Behr sell multiple product lines that vary widely. It's not just the price that changes from one to the other; it's the formula. Consumer-grade paints in the $20–$30 range are average quality. Professional-grade paint in the $40–$60 range uses finer pigments and higher-quality resin, making it longer lasting and easier to apply. Above $100, some designer brands use specialty pigments.
Our Interior Painters in Greenwood Village Always Choose the Best Paint for Your Home
The right paint + proper prep + correct conditions = an interior job that holds up for years, not months. At Orix Contractors, we excel at all of these for a finished result you’ll love from day 1 to day 3,000. With decades of experience and a partnership with premier brand Sherwin-Williams, you can trust our interior painters with your Greenwood Village home.
Contact our team for a FREE estimate and consultation. Your dream paint job is only a few steps away.