Premium Exterior Paint vs. Low-End Exterior Paint: 5 Key Differences

If you are thinking about painting your home’s exterior, you may think, “This has got to be one of the easiest projects I could take on!”

A new coat of exterior paint is a simple and effective way to bring new life to your home. 

But, if you enter your project with the mentality that it is so simple and not a huge project, you may become complacent in your decisions on paint products, techniques, and companies.

While an exterior paint project is a more minor project to take on than, say, a full siding replacement, you must still know what to look for to ensure you find quality products for a successful outcome. 

Like any product, there is a wide range in quality out there. The quality of a product affects how durable it is, how it will perform, how long it will last, and so much more. 

So, when it comes to your new exterior paint, you must find the right product that will meet all your needs for your project. 

Southwest Exteriors has been a San Antonio remodeling company since 1989. We offer premium exterior painting services and use the highest quality products and installation practices to ensure your paint will look amazing and protect your home and last for years. 

Our exterior paint is made to last for as long as you own your home. We believe you should paint your home once and have it painted right. 

We want you to understand the vital differences between high-quality exterior paint and lower-quality paint so you can know the importance of choosing the right products for your home. 

This article will outline five key differences between premium exterior paint and low-end exterior paint. 

After reading, you will then be able to find the right paint products and a company that offers them, so the outcome of your project will meet your expectations. 

What’s the difference between premium exterior paint and low-end exterior paint? 

One misconception about paint products is that they are all the same. You may think, how different can paint be anyways?

We’re here to debunk that myth and tell you it is false. 

There is a wide range of paint products available on the market. You must know how to differentiate between a high-quality and low-quality product to choose the best one for you and your home. 

There are five major differences between high-quality and low-quality exterior paint. They are: 

1. The way the paint is made
2. How durable the paint is
3. How well the paint adheres to the surface
4. How well the paint covers the area
5. How well the paint is applied

Now, let’s dive into each of these differences to understand better how the quality of paint can affect the outcome of your project. 

1. Premium and low-end paint are not made the same way

The first major difference between high-quality and low-quality exterior paint is how they are made. 

Just like with any product, how paint is manufactured directly impacts the quality and performance. If the paint is made cheaply, it will perform like cheap paint. 

How paint is made will also affect how it looks and how long it will last (which we will discuss further in this article).

Most low-end paints do not provide even coverage when applied to a surface. Some companies will even water down their paint to save money on supplies. 

How paint is made is the first thing to differentiate between high-quality and low-quality paint. If you want exterior paint that will last on your home, you want to find a paint made well with proven durability. 

2. Low-end paint is not as durable as premium exterior paint

As we alluded to in the above section, the second largest differentiator between high-end and low-end paint is their durability and performance. 

Because of how low-end paint is made, it will not last on your home. It is not made to withstand the weather and will easily peel, chip, and fade. 

Maybe you’ve never considered exterior paint an added protective barrier for your home, but it is. High-quality exterior paint is durable on your siding. 

This means it can stand against rain, sunlight, hail, and snow. Because of this, it will also protect your siding from these elements and increase the longevity of your siding. 

A high-quality paint will protect your siding, last longer on your home, and look better for much longer than low-quality paint. 

3. Premium paint will adhere to your siding better than low-end paint

You know how we keep mentioning how paint is made will affect many things? Well, how well the paint adheres to your siding is another one. 

When painting your home’s exterior, you want paint that will stick. 

Because low-end paint is not durable and does not last on your home, it does not adhere to the surface as well as high-quality paint. This causes the paint to chip, blister, peel, and ultimately disappear from your home. 

A high-quality paint will adhere and stay on your home, providing your home with added exterior protection and beauty for years to come. 

4. Premium paint will provide better coverage on your home than low-end paint

The quality of exterior paint will ultimately affect how the final product looks on your home. Now we may be getting repetitive here, but this is a direct effect of how the paint is made and how it is applied.  

Low-quality, diluted paint will not provide the full coverage that thicker, high-quality paint will. 

If you paint your home with a low-end exterior paint, it may appear patchy and uneven all around. Even if multiple coats are applied, there will still be areas where the colors vary in vibrance. 

To have a successful exterior paint outcome that looks great and will hold up on your home, you must choose a high-quality paint product that is applied properly (which we’ll get into more below).

5. High-quality paint applied with the right tools and techniques will last longer and look better

One of the most important factors of any home remodeling project is the installation. Now, this differentiator is sort of like a bonus. 

While it isn’t necessarily a difference in the quality of the product, the application of the paint will determine whether you have a high-quality, long-lasting outcome. 

Paint must be applied with the proper tools and techniques in order for it to look great and last. For example, using a sprayer to apply the paint will allow for more even coverage than a roller.

Paint must also be applied to the proper mil. The mil of paint essentially means the thickness the paint must meet for it to show its true color and perform as it should. 

Even if you choose high-quality paint, it will not look and perform as it should if it is not applied properly. 

This is why it is crucial to not only find the right products for your project but work with the right company that you can trust to provide you with a successful exterior paint job. 

Finding the right high-quality exterior paint for your home 

Now you know five major differences between premium exterior paint and low-end paint. This means you can find the right paint product for you and your home when you are ready to start your project. 

The quality of the paint you choose affects how durable the paint is, how long it lasts, and how it looks on your home. 

If you want to paint your home once and have it last for the rest of your time in your home, you will want to choose a high-quality exterior paint and work with a quality contractor that uses the best practices for exterior painting. 

How do you find the right contractor? By doing your research, asking the right questions, and having the right information. 

Check out this article that outlines five things you need to know before hiring a home remodeling contractor for your project. Then, you’ll be able to start looking for the right company to paint your home with high-quality products. 

Are you looking for a high-quality company to paint your home?

Southwest Exteriors offers high-quality exterior painting using the best products on the market. 

Our expert installation crews take the time to prep your home properly because we know the difference it makes. We use Sherwin-Williams Loxon primer and paint because of its extreme durability and longevity. 

Paint your home once, and paint it right. That’s what we believe in. 

So, are you ready to upgrade your home with a new color? Schedule your free, in-home consultation with a design consultant today, and get the look you love coming home to!