The Gull's Call - Jan/Feb/Mar 2025

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have to look at labor costs, as well, because the majority of a paint job is labor—typically around 80% to 90% of the total project cost.

is, how much of the primer was absorbed, application method, etc. But again, we’re going to keep things simple here.

Assuming the contractor charges $1 per square foot per coat, or for our purposes roughly $300 per gallon, three coats of Paint A would incur labor charges of $10,800. Paint B, on the other hand, requires one less coat and therefore would only incur labor charges of $7200. The net savings on the project using the more expensive, but superior, Paint B are $3240, a significant savings of more than 25%. But that’s not all! Another thing to consider is that lower quality paints typically aren't as durable and will require maintenance or repainting much sooner. This is especially true with exterior coatings. Because the premium paint utilizes more advanced resin and colorant technology, the paint will look better longer, and require less maintenance and fewer repaints over time. We can look at this by comparing the cost per year of service. Paint A may require repainting in as little as five years. The material cost for Paint A was $1080, which amounts to $216 per year of service for those five years. Paint B cost $1440, but is expected to last 15 years, which amounts to just $96 per year of service. Take into account the labor to repaint a house originally painted in Paint A after five years and the potential savings from using Paint B become exponentially greater. So now ask yourself—would you pay significantly less for a product that looks better longer, offers superior substrate protection, and requires less maintenance and fewer repaints? Who would say no to that?

LET’S COMPARE TWO PAINTS FOR THE PROJECT Paint A is a conventional paint that costs $30 per gallon. Paint A has 30% volume solids. (Volume Solids are what are left behind after the solvent evaporates.) Now remember, a dark shade will likely take a few coats to achieve true color representation. With a product like Paint A, likely three coats. So, Paint A will require three coats at 12 gallons per coat, for a total of 36 gallons, at a cost of $30 per gallon, for a total of $1080. The other option is Paint B, which is a premium paint with a price tag of $60 per gallon. Paint B has 40% volume solids, which is excellent. Paint B is also endowed with advanced technology in the form of better resins and colorants, so it not only leaves a thicker dry film, it also hides better. We can achieve the dark color in fewer coats. Paint B will require just two coats at 12 gallons per coat, for a total of 24 gallons, at a cost of $60 per gallon, for a total of $1440. Paint B may cost twice as much per gallon, but it requires less paint to achieve the same results as Paint A. The increase in material cost is only $360 (or 33%). If you only had to pay $360 more for a product that looks better and saves time on the project, you would probably say yes. Now what if you'd actually save money? For the true cost of a project, we can’t simply compare material costs. We

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