Are Paint Suppliers Overestimating the Amount of Paint Needed?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the perceived discrepancy between the amount of paint recommended by suppliers and the actual amount needed for painting projects. Participants explore various factors that may contribute to this difference, including application methods, paint quality, and environmental conditions. The conversation encompasses practical experiences, technical considerations, and anecdotal evidence related to home decorating.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the accuracy of paint coverage recommendations, suggesting that suppliers may not provide truthful information regarding the amount of area a can of paint can cover.
  • Others propose that the type of roller used and the method of application may significantly affect paint coverage, with thicker rollers potentially applying more paint.
  • Several participants mention the impact of lighting on the perception of paint colors, indicating that different light sources can alter how a color appears on the wall.
  • One participant notes that coverage numbers on paint cans may refer to ideal conditions, such as using a sprayer, rather than typical application methods like brushing or rolling.
  • There is a discussion about the importance of considering additional factors such as drips, absorption by tools, and the need for primer when switching colors.
  • A few participants share personal anecdotes about their experiences with paint colors and the outcomes of their projects, highlighting the variability in results.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the accuracy of paint coverage claims made by suppliers. Multiple competing views exist regarding the factors influencing paint usage, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the reliability of recommended amounts.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention that the coverage numbers may not account for all variables, such as the type of surface being painted or the specific conditions under which the paint is applied. There is also an acknowledgment that personal experiences can vary widely based on individual circumstances.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to homeowners, DIY enthusiasts, and individuals involved in home improvement projects who are considering painting and want to understand the factors that influence paint coverage and application.

wolram
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Its time for me to do some decorating, the trouble is i all ways seem to need twice as much paint as the suppliers recommend, am i using the wrong method of putting paint on a wall, or are the recommended spread for paint bull s--it
 
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wolram said:
Its time for me to do some decorating, the trouble is i all ways seem to need twice as much paint as the suppliers recommend, am i using the wrong method of putting paint on a wall, or are the recommended spread for paint bull s--it
I always buy more paint unless it's a very expensive one that's guaranteed to cover with one coat. The cheaper paints tend to need more paint to cover suffiently.

Also, it could be the type of roller you're using, is it thick and applies heavily? (assuming you're using a roller).

What colors/rooms are you doing?
 
Funny, when I moved in here earlier this month, the apt had changed the wall colour from a cheery pale butter cream color to, well, if you had diarhea...

My neighbor came over before I started moving in, and when she walked in, she just fell silent and looked around at the walls. I said, "they did this". And she let out a breath and said, oh, I thought maybe you had requested it since they have color options, and I was afraid to say anything.

:smile: :frown:
 
wolram said:
Its time for me to do some decorating, the trouble is i all ways seem to need twice as much paint as the suppliers recommend, am i using the wrong method of putting paint on a wall, or are the recommended spread for paint bull s--it
Yes, the recommended spread for paint is bulls**t. Whatever paint you buy, it will not cover the square footage that it says it will cover. It's not a matter of doing it correctly or not. They're simply not telling the truth on the product labels.
 
ThomasT said:
It's not a matter of doing it correctly or not. They're simply not telling the truth on the product labels.

...would be the first time in history a brand tried to undersell you on product...
 
Evo said:
I always buy more paint unless it's a very expensive one that's guaranteed to cover with one coat. The cheaper paints tend to need more paint to cover suffiently.

Also, it could be the type of roller you're using, is it thick and applies heavily? (assuming you're using a roller).

What colors/rooms are you doing?

I will be using soft cream color for my hall way, it doesn't look cream when it's on it is more
a light yellow.
 
wolram said:
I will be using soft cream color for my hall way, it doesn't look cream when it's on it is more
a light yellow.
Yes, that was the color of mine.
 
Don't forget to add a quart for splatter on everything you didn't want to paint but now have to.
 
wolram said:
I will be using soft cream color for my hall way, it doesn't look cream when it's on it is more
a light yellow.

That may be due to the type of lighting in your hallway, is it fluorescent or incandescent? The different spectra they emit can make the same color look significantly different. I used to work in a paint store and we would always recommend to customers that they take a sample or swatch home and see how the color looks in that particular room before they bought several gallons.

Also, the coverage numbers printed on the cans usually refers to the area covered by a sprayer applying a thin coat, not brushed or rolled. I don't know if every brand makes that distinction clear on their labels though.
 
  • #10
Okay, I know this isn't constructive, but when I saw the thread title I had grouped the words totally differently...

You intended: [verb] [noun] [adjective] (i.e. I am calculating the paint that is needed.)
I read it as: [adjective] [noun] [verb] (i.e. Calculating paint needed.)

Obviously I was interested int this new product known as "calculating paint."
 
  • #11
This is physicsforums.com!

Find the total surface area you need painted, determine the suggested thickness of the paint and let's do some mathematics!
 
  • #12
Are you counting one coat or two? Plus all the drips, and the paint absorbed by the brushes/rollers. That suggestion about the sprayer makes sense too. The company is probably testing in a lab with uniform coverage and no waste. anyway, as long as you know it takes twice as much, buy extra! But not too much... My mom bought some dark brown paint for an "accent wall" and then decided she thought it was too dark. Solution? She mixed the dark stuff with white paint until she was comfortable. Result? 800$ worth of paint, and the entire interior of our house which used to be a pleasant yellow is now sadly light brown (because she couldn't stand to waste all that horrible paint she mixed up).

As for the shade, the lighting can definitely affect it. We have two bathrooms painted in the same shade of light green. One bathroom has round bulbs for lighting and the walls appear pale yellow. The other has fluorescent lights and the walls are distinctly light green.
 
  • #13
QuarkCharmer said:
This is physicsforums.com!

Find the total surface area you need painted, determine the suggested thickness of the paint and let's do some mathematics!

Not enough constraints! :-p :devil:
 
  • #14
QuarkCharmer said:
This is physicsforums.com!

Find the total surface area you need painted, determine the suggested thickness of the paint and let's do some mathematics!

That is not worthy for physicsforums!
Here is what we need to solve: assume that we have an n-dimensional wall...
 
  • #15
micromass said:
That is not worthy for physicsforums!
Here is what we need to solve: assume that we have an n-dimensional wall...

Alternatively: Assume the room is perfectly spherical...
 
  • #16
Paint's expensive. Primer is cheap.

If your new coat is close in color and hue to the previous coat, use a thin nap roller. A single coat of a good quality paint should do it. If it's significantly different, it's cheaper to use a same-hue primer, followed by a second thin-nap coat of the actual paint. I'd still recommend a good quality paint.

Your best bet these days is to check with both Home Depot and Lowes paint departments. Neither have let me down since I started repainting my digs in the early 80s.
 
  • #17
FlexGunship said:
Okay, I know this isn't constructive, but when I saw the thread title I had grouped the words totally differently...

You intended: [verb] [noun] [adjective] (i.e. I am calculating the paint that is needed.)
I read it as: [adjective] [noun] [verb] (i.e. Calculating paint needed.)

Obviously I was interested int this new product known as "calculating paint."

Me too, I thought it was going to be that paint-on white board stuff they have now. It's like $70 though for enough to paint about one board worth.
 

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