LITTLE ROCK — My house needs painting and I’m about to get some bids. I understand that house paints have been changed lately and am hoping you can clue me in on what’s happening and what brands I should consider most. The longer lasting, the better.
Manufacturers have been reformulating paints to meet lower limits for volatile organic compounds, noted the June issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
VOCs “are linked to ozone, smog, respiratory illnesses and memory impairment. All of this year’s fully tested finishes meet expected limits of 100 to 250 grams per liter for paints ... .
Several paints from Glidden and Sherwin-Williams also meet the more stringent, Southern California limit of 50 grams per liter and look promising.”
CR does accelerated tests under sun, rain and snow, which simulate up to nine years of exposure. Here are several aspects to consider when choosing apaint:
Buy paint in 5-gallon containers instead of 1-gallon cans, which can cut costs by up to 50 percent (figure on 12 to 25 gallons for a 2,500-square-foot house).
Your painter’s favorite paint or stain might not be a top pick in CR tests. The contract should specify the brand and line of paint, its cost, and how many coats the pro plans to apply. (Figure on a coat or two of paint plus a prime coat for most paint jobs.)
Own a house built before 1978 and have children under 6? Federal law requires that painters you hire be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency and be trained in lead-safe work practices (go to epa.gov/lead/ pubs/rrpfactsheet2008.htm for specifics).
Self-priming paints are passing muster. Valspar’s Duramax Flat and Satin, $33 and $35 per gallon, respectively, are among agrowing number of exterior paints that eliminate the need to prime bare surfaces. They are fine choices for shadier properties, CR says. Skipping the usual prime coat can also save you a significant part of a professional painter’s labor cost.
So which finish lasts the longest?
CR’s top honors go to California, a relatively small brand that isn’t sold in California.
But at $19 per gallon, Home Depot’s Behr Premium Plus Flat almost matched the $35 California Fresh Coat Velvet Flat at fending off cracking,dirt and mildew, and so was named the CR Best Buy.
The one other good buy, besides the Valspar mentioned above, was the Behr Premium Plus Semigloss for trim.
Consumer Reports also noted that some simple fixes exist that can make a paint job last longer if most of the paint is sound.
Clean dirt or mildew with a pressure washer ($100 to $300). Use a wide spray at least 12 inches away. Cover nearby shrubs.
If you find hairline cracks, but most of the paint is intact, touch them up to seal them until you’re ready to repaint the entire house.
HomeStyle, Pages 41 on 10/30/2010