Getting your colours just right

Posted by Wall Treats on February 27, 2019

Whether you’ve chosen timeless, neutral tones or a bold scheme, the perfect paint colours will enhance and protect your home for many years to come.

As Auckland Master Painters working with many clients throughout the years, we know just how much time and effort goes into choosing just the right hues for your home. That’s why we think it’s important to understand the issues that come with ‘colour matched’ paint.

What is colour matched paint?

Colour matching is where one paint manufacturer attempts to mimic a colour that’s been developed by a competitor.

All paint is generally made from the same materials – the key difference is the pigments used to tint the paint. Each paint company uses different tinters to make up their colours, and each paint company has its own unique pigments. These tinters are their intellectual property and are never shared with other manufacturers.

So, while paint company A may try to colour match their paints to paint company B’s colours, in reality it’s impossible to achieve a perfect result.

Why do some house painters use colour matched paint?

The most common reason some house painters will use colour matched paints is to save money. Instead of using the brand and hue that you’ve chosen, they’ll source a less expensive paint and have it matched to the colour you’ve specified.

What does this mean for you? Well, if you’ve spent hours agonising over paint colours, it may mean the result you end up with isn’t quite what you specified. It also means that if you need to reapply paint in the future, getting a perfect match to the existing paint finish could be tricky. Finally, and most seriously, if your house painters have colour matched using a cheap and inferior paint, your paint finish may not last.

An example of paint colour matching gone wrong

We know of a situation where the paint colour was colour matched without the house owners’ knowledge or consent. When the paint was applied, everyone but the painting contractor was none the wiser, until, the new carpet was laid

The paint colour and carpet had been specifically selected because of their exact match. On its own, the paint colour that had been applied looked fine. However, when set against the new carpet, it was revealed that the tinters were too pink. All of the new surfaces had to be repainted with the new carpet installed.

How do you know if your house painters are using the paint you’ve specified?

Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to tell when house painters are using colour matched paint. We’ve heard of some Auckland house painters who transfer inferior paints into branded paint containers to make it look like they’re using the type of paint you’ve specified.

Before you engage your painter, make a point of checking that they will use the exact brand and colour that you have requested.

If your house painters argue that using a colour matched product will save on cost, don’t be fooled. The most expensive part of any painting project is the labour component – paint generally only constitutes between 10 to 15% of the investment. For that reason, it makes sense to use a high-quality paint product which will last.

High quality paints use more concentrated tinters, so the paint keeps it colour and integrity for longer. Good quality tinters provide good coverage too, so that you only usually need to apply two topcoats to get the shade you want, whereas it may take more coats of a lower grade paint to give you a true colour.

Where do Wall Treats Master Painters stand on colour matching?

Wall Treats only uses New Zealand’s trusted paint brands: Aalto Colour, Dulux, Porters Paints and Resene. These brands offer paint products that, when correctly applied, are fit for purpose and durable. In addition, the broad spectrum of hues means customers are spoilt for choice.

Wall Treats always uses the exact brand of paint colours you wish to have. We never colour match because we know the result will disappoint.

Looking for quality Auckland house painters?

At Wall Treats we take pride in delivering precise paint finishes in a highly professional manner. To learn more about the standard of workmanship we deliver, visit our project gallery.

If you want your home painted by award winning Auckland Master Painters who consistently provide excellent workmanship and superior customer service, get in touch for a quote.