[toddcla2002]

I am curious as to what exterior paint makes you the most money? Taking into consideration initial costs, application time, coverage etc. My SW sales rep tells me they are beefing up their SW super paint.....I hope so because I have never liked the coverage. I like to use Rodda AC series and also have access to Parker Paint, Kelly Moore and Benjamin Moore.

So what exterior paint are you able to sell with either one or two coats, applies well and is easy to sell? I'm sure Duration is great but it covers half as much, costs twice as much per gallon therefore the paint costs goes up four fold and then it also takes longer to apply. Thank you for your feedback

 

[timhag]

Duration here.......no need to explain this one.:thumbsup:

 

[HomeGuardPaints]

duration-- It covers better than the rest, painters like it and when a customer sees that it costs over $50 a gallon retail they understand that its quality.

 

[plainpainter]

Pratt&Lambert Accolade or Redseal - take your pick.

 

[Rich]

I'd also have to say duration. The only reason it made me the most money is because it's the paint I used the most! It's an absolutely amazing product. And honestly, the $45/gal I was paying was worth it since coverage was amazing and it formed such an impermiable result.

 

[Dave Mac]

durations here, I have gone back to jobs close to five years old and they still look like gold:thumbsup:

 

[YubaPaintPro]

todd,
I can't speak to Duration other than it is really good material. I think the guys were heading in the right direction in answering your "makes you the most $$" question. I would answer that in 2 ways.....
1. You make a living @ point of application. That's were you make your $$. You don't really make it in prep or bidding. While those things certainly matter, at the end of the day application of the material is were you need it to be "easy".
2. No other manufacturer to my knowledge offers the standard color selection that we do. 1240 & 1245 are 2 of the best architectural premium coatings out there. Flat and Lowsheen respectively. The major benefit to a repaint specialist is the opportunity to return unopened cans for full credit. So stay on the job w/ a few extra gallons and finish the job, instead of running to the store to get 1 more gallon.

You can take a page from the book of one of my customers.... He offers a 5% discount to his customers who choose KM standard colors for his ext. repaints. BTW, those products cover great!

Go to the Bellingham store and get in contact w/ your rep there. He/she will be very happy to talk w/ you. Thanks for your business Todd.

 

[vermontpainter]

todd,
1. You make a living @ point of application. That's were you make your $$. You don't really make it in prep or bidding. While those things certainly matter, at the end of the day application of the material is were you need it to be "easy".

Actually, the application of paint is the easiest part of the job. We spend more time prepping initially and in between coats by far than we do applying paint. We also spend more time trying to dial in our systems and processes for prep than any other aspect of our field operation.

In terms of the actual paint, several of the premium lines from the major manufacturers are just about interchangeable from a practical standpoint. We all develop preferences and favor one over the others, but in a pinch, several of them would do just fine. While Duration is great, Moorglo is our preference.

I don't look at the exterior paint product as the money maker any more than I look at the people applying the paint as money makers. Those are costs. The possibility for money to be made (profit) begins with marketing and sales. That is the framework that allows for profitability in the field. Which premium line from which manufacturer does not have such a strong impact on our profit. Never underestimate (pun intended) the bidding as critical to how we make our living.

 

[AALory]

I have to agree with Scott's view. I never looked on a product as a money maker. The strength of my contract plus the efficiency and skill with which I complete the work equals my bread and butter. The product must be reputable and reliable of course. Moorglo is my choice most often.
Adam

 

[plainpainter]

Products that make you money? Are you kidding me? Yeah - sure, if a paint doubled up as a primer and looked as good as two coats all with one application - and no jobs peeled - sure that would make me money - but then all these other painting contractors that are about as useful as month old dirty dish towels would lower the pricing to 'compete' If everyone else is a total moron - and I am the only one with the advanced products - then sure it's plausible. But these retards that I am forced to compete with are constantly going to customers lowering and lowering and lowering their price - because they have no sales skills. Marketing and advertizing is what makes me money, then service, then prep, then perhaps last is the product.

 

[vermontpainter]

Plain! Are you having a bad day? :lol:

 

[JNLP]

Gotta go with Duration. :thumbup:

Interior has the same coverage as the rest, and exterior has slightly less coverage but also acts as a primer & alot of times covers in one coat resulting in less product & time needed.

The cost is higher, but it doesn't come out of my pocket & depending on the job it could save on the overall costs.

 

[Dave Mac]

I am curious as to what exterior paint makes you the most money? Taking into consideration initial costs, application time, coverage etc. My SW sales rep tells me they are beefing up their SW super paint.....I hope so because I have never liked the coverage. I like to use Rodda AC series and also have access to Parker Paint, Kelly Moore and Benjamin Moore.

So what exterior paint are you able to sell with either one or two coats, applies well and is easy to sell? I'm sure Duration is great but it covers half as much, costs twice as much per gallon therefore the paint costs goes up four fold and then it also takes longer to apply. Thank you for your feedback

I actually sell a longer warranty, when using durations. It is the clients chose, the mark up on the products are the same %. I will also use a lesser product and give a lesser warranty. Really at $42 a gallon verse $25 a gallon, with about a average exterior taking 14 gallons their is only a 240 dollar difference, and the client gets to choose. most of the time they go with top of the line. But its nice to have the option.

dave mac

 

[Joewho]

Used to be superpaint, now it's duration.

Even with my discounts, sw is just going crazy on prices, including superpaint.

 

[YubaPaintPro]

Actually, the application of paint is the easiest part of the job. We spend more time prepping initially and in between coats by far than we do applying paint. We also spend more time trying to dial in our systems and processes for prep than any other aspect of our field operation.

Scott, I hope I did not misrepresent myself. I absolutely understand that the actual "application" of material is the easiest/fastest part of your process. I think prep is so crucial and it shows attention to detail/professionalism or it doesn't. I think though that product application and product choice helps separate the men from the boys.

Most pro's use pro tools for application. How many of you have plastic handled brushes that you "go to" for that critical cut in? Likely, none. You grab your unfinished wood handled Purdy/Wooster/Carona. The trusted tool. That is all I meant by that. At KM, we love to service and continue to earn the business of pro's like you guys.

Thanks so much for allowing me to try and clear that up.

 

[slickshift]

...I'm sure Duration is great but it covers half as much, costs twice as much per gallon therefore the paint costs goes up four fold and then it also takes longer to apply.

What the heck are you talking about?
I'd say it covers just as much, costs a little more per gallon (than other top premium lines), the paint product costs go up around 25% and it covers in one coat (same color) and doesn't take any longer to apply.
I'm not sure "it" makes me any more money than any others, but I spec it for difficult areas as it does well in those situations.

Not everyone likes it though.
It's a bit thick and a bear in direct sunlight.

 

[Purdygirl]

I agree with Yuba-Dude about KM's stock colors, they don't call Kelly Moore "the Painter's Paint Store" for nothing. I had to laugh about the "men and boys" comment, I've heard that one before, I just can't figure out where I fit in.
I'll agree this time with the Moorglo guys. Ben Moore's colors speak for themselves and I have never had a problem with their products or service. I would use more Sherwin Williams and Kelley Moore if they had stores closer to where I live, but up to now it's Benjamin Moore all the way.
I have a lot of older customers that do research on the best paint. They read consumer reports and I've had people request I use Glidden and Behr.. no kidding!!! I've used it all. Made money with all of it.

 

[DW Custom Painting]

Used to be superpaint, now it's duration.

Even with my discounts, sw is just going crazy on prices, including superpaint.

There practically a monopoly:blink:

 

[YubaPaintPro]

I had to laugh about the "men and boys" comment, I've heard that one before, I just can't figure out where I fit in.

You are obviously in a "league all your own"!!!! I mean that as a compliment!
Thx for the reply.

 

[br1dge]

Slickshift says "What the heck are you talking about?
I'd say it covers just as much, costs a little more per gallon (than other top premium lines), the paint product costs go up around 25% and it covers in one coat (same color) and doesn't take any longer to apply."

Hi everyone, long time lurker - hope I can jump in to this discussion and add some value to the debate. I disagree with some of the assumptions that have been made here... So in the spirit of making a more fair comparison, lets first look at coverage, From SW's Data pages, Duration Ext covers @ 250 - 300 sq/gallon (lets use 275 as an average.) Compared to SuperPaint Ext @ 350 - 400 sq / gallon (take 375 as an average)

So SuperPaint covers 35% better.

As to cost - my Duration Ext paint costs double that of SuperPaint. If yours does not, you are paying too much for SuperPaint, IMO.. But our customers pay for the paint (on a per gallon basis anyway, so lets not harp on this too much yet.)

As to effort involved, Duration clearly takes longer to apply than SuperPaint (and therefore costs more in person-hours.) There is more brush drag making it harder to put on if brushing, and even when spraying, considering you are supposed to apply it almost twice as thick, (7 mils vs 4,) it just simply takes more time to apply. If no other reason - you are applying the material 75% thicker.

-----------------------------------------
Now - lets look at a couple of these factors together to see the total impact.

Let's say you are painting 5,000 sq ft of siding. And assume you pay $17.50 for SuperPaint and $35 for Duration

5,000 / 275 = 18.18 AND 5,000 / 375 = 13.13

Duration 18.18 Gallons - Paint cost = $636.30
SuperPaint 13.13 Gallons - Paint cost = $229.78

Overall Paint Costs increase by almost 177%

Time required to apply 18.18 gal over 13 gal = 38% - More paint so it will take 38% longer (simply due to the larger amount of material (not due to any coverage specifications.)

Don't get me wrong, I push for Duration on almost every home, but I make sure I factor in all of the true costs before I do in the interest of maintaining targeted gross margin %. There IS an impact to Cost of Goods Sold, so make sure you factor them in to your pricing model..

Cheers - Jeff