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jennifer rose

Aug 28, 2005, 9:20 PM

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House Paint

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It's time to paint the gate again, and it's time to give one of the rooms a facelift. The gate will enjoy a coat of some kind of matte enamel, and the bedroom an acrylic. But what brand to buy? Each time I go to Comex, pick out a paint sample, have the smallest quantity possible formulated, and each and every time the sample doesn't resemble what's applied to the wall. And after a couple of those experiments, I always end up at HomeMart, going for the Glidden or Dutch Boy. (I used to swear by Ace, that is, until some clerk gave me grief about those little paint samples painted on paper.)

So, what is the best brand of paint in Mexico for the money?

jennifer rose

Aug 30, 2005, 11:19 AM

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Re: [jennifer rose] House Paint

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Here I go, answering my own post. This morning I went to HomeDepot to pick out paint for the gate. Thinking I'd change the color to sort of an olive drab, a change from the old black-paint-mixed-with-green which always looks sort of dirty from the dust in the street, I labored over paint strips until I found what I wanted and ordered a liter to be mixed up as a test. The end result looked like a freshly squished tomato worm, and I brought it to the attention of HomeDepot's paint mixing professional. He proceeded apply the tomato worm to a piece of paper, revealing the same color that I had in mind. I went home and asked my employee to try a sample out on the gate. Nope, nada, no way. It still looks like freshly squished tomato worm, not what I had in mind!

We will go through this process, and believe me, I am not that picky about color, over about three times before I give up. Is there a brand of paint which actually does mix true to the sample? Or should I just become color blind?

ncferret

Sep 10, 2005, 7:49 AM

Post #3 of 28 (21449 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] House Paint

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Try Wal-Mart. We have used the paint strips for selecting colors 3 times. Each time a, dare I say, "prefect" match. Cheaper than Comex as well and the quality is very good.

Cynthia7

Sep 10, 2005, 3:20 PM

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Re: [ncferret] House Paint

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I believe Walmart paint is made be Sherwin Williams. I find it to be very reliable and wears well. I have problems getting the Mexicans to prime the wood before slapping the enamel on and they do not like to sand before or after painting. I finally figured it out. I hire one to sand..then have one person prime..then sand ..then enamel. Works and lasts for a long time. Smooth and beautiful.

sfmacaws

Nov 20, 2005, 8:35 PM

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Re: [Cynthia7] House Paint

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I'm reviving this thread because I'm out shopping for paint, post-Wilma. I was in WalMart Cancun today and they had no more of the little strips you can take home (I'm sure there has been a LOT of painting going on here) but the ones they had to show me all said Dutch Boy on the back. The guy assured me they could make up those colors in their house brand, which is called Color-something. The big buckets, approx 5 gal or 18+ liters, cost $810.

We then went to Home Depot which had plenty of the exact same paint strips WalMart didn't have, and that also said Dutch Boy on the back. The same size bucket there was $710. Mimi says she thinks that Sherwin Williams owns Dutch Boy so do you think I am right that all of this paint is Sherwin Williams?

To make it more confusing, on our way home we passed a paint store near Playa that was called Sherwin Williams. It was closed by then but I guess I'll go there too for a price. There is a Comex here in Akumal but I didn't like their colors, didn't like what you guys said here about them and the guy working there was surly. So, I'm willing to drive as far as Cancun for the paint but if it is all Sherwin Williams and I can get that in Playa for about the same price I'll get it there.

Anyone with more paint advice??

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

jennifer rose

Nov 21, 2005, 7:03 AM

Post #6 of 28 (21303 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] House Paint

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I went back to Comex, accepting that the colors never were true to the sample and that they were a cash-only operation. This time I just picked out four color possibilities, had the smallest amounts possible mixed in each, and tried them until I got a color that I liked. It seemed to work for me.

Cynthia7

Nov 21, 2005, 7:58 AM

Post #7 of 28 (21296 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] House Paint

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Sherwin Williams makes Color Mate for Walmart. I have had good luck with Sherwin Williams, Dutch Boy and Color Mate. They all come with a certain number of years guarantee. You get what you pay for...Paint at Sherwin Williams, Walmart are all mixed with machines and are fairly accurate. Gloss, satin and matte reflect the light differently so the same paint in different glosses may look differently. I can't emphasize enough to be sure the concrete is cured, very dry and sealed with a sealer before putting the paint on. This will blow your Mexican painters mind..You will get THE LOOK. It can give you years of wear.. Mexico invented vinyl paint and I have had good luck with Comex also..

sfmacaws

Nov 21, 2005, 10:11 AM

Post #8 of 28 (21283 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] House Paint

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Thanks. I've always felt that paint is one of the few areas that more money usually equals better. Perhaps not in the $100 difference between WalMart and Home Depot cited above but generally.

The concrete is cured, it's not new. It just went through a couple of direct hits from hurricanes and is blotchy and worn off in places. Primer is another question, the answer here is to just use 2 coats of paint. Also, most people here use matte because there is so much light but I'm a satin paint person and may try that. I don't much like the chalky look that the matte paint gets. Jeez, all these dilemmas and I haven't even started picking colors yet.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Cynthia7

Nov 21, 2005, 10:29 AM

Post #9 of 28 (21277 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] House Paint

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You can mix Satin and matte to get just enough gloss not to show all those imperfections that gloss can. I even think some paint companies make an inbetween. If you have a sample of the color you want..from a magazine or piece of fabric they can often match it. We have a genius at one of the paint stores in SMA that has an uncanny color eye..Does anyone have one of those paint sample wheels?? they are great!!

sfmacaws

Nov 21, 2005, 11:10 AM

Post #10 of 28 (21272 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] House Paint

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There were 3 choices at WalMart, brillante, semi-brillante and satinada. The guy there said satinada was the least glossy. I promised the management here that I would only pick numbered colors not custom as they may have to get more for touch ups when I'm not here. Actually, he wants me to use Comex which is closer, I may look there again but may not buy there.

Jennifer, why did you go back to Comex?

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Cynthia7

Nov 21, 2005, 11:48 AM

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Re: [sfmacaws] House Paint

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That translates to high gloss, semi gloss and satin.

sfmacaws

Nov 21, 2005, 4:48 PM

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Re: [Cynthia7] House Paint

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Yes, I know that. The question for me, in english or spanish, was whether semi-gloss is shinier than satin or not. I didn't know the answer to that in either language.

I'm going to buy a few litros of different colors and start putting swatches on the walls to see if I like them with different types of light. I kind of like this part, picking the colors.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Cynthia7

Nov 21, 2005, 4:51 PM

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Re: [sfmacaws] House Paint

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Satin is between matte and semigloss.

sfmacaws

Nov 21, 2005, 6:14 PM

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Re: [Cynthia7] House Paint

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Thanks, I'm going to try the satin.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Cynthia7

Nov 21, 2005, 6:53 PM

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Re: [sfmacaws] House Paint

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The satin will clean better if need be and will resist the ultraviolet light better.

sfmacaws

Nov 21, 2005, 8:00 PM

Post #16 of 28 (21226 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] House Paint

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That's what I need. We have a wall of sliding glass doors over the beach and it faces southeast. Before Wilma and Emily, there were tall palms that blocked some of the light but they are gone and the sun and the reflection off the water and sand are constant. The big mexican almonds in the back are gone or much shorter now as well. I never had to have window coverings in the bathroom since I'm on the top floor and the almond trees towered over us but now you can see into the bath from the road! The bonus is that we can now see across the jungle in back clear to the lagoon. Everything is leafing out again but the height of the jungle is about half, there are many, many huge trees down everywhere.

The matte white that they always have painted it gets a chalky look after a while. It's easy to patch and they don't clean so much as paint over major stains. The white is the only matte that looks good though, when I've seen other darker colors in it the chalkiness is more pronounced and it has a dusty look that I don't like. I'm tired of white and want to use some darker colors. There is so much light that it will reflect if the paint is too glossy, not good either.

My neighbors painted their place recently in lime green and turquoise. It's too much for my taste, mainly the green. I'm heading for a burnt orange/adobe in different shades on most walls with light turquoise sheer panels on the glass doors and perhaps a dark yellow on a support wall for the kitchen. I can't decide how or whether to paint the ceiling. It's very high but I think a really light shade of the dark red/orange in the walls. The neighbor told me I was going to make it too warm - in an already hot climate - but this is the woman who painted all the walls lime green and the door jams turquoise. Apparently her job in the US is as a color consultant!

If this gets too difficult I may just let them paint it matte white again and figure it out later. I'm doing some remodeling in May, perhaps then.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Cynthia7

Nov 21, 2005, 8:10 PM

Post #17 of 28 (21221 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] House Paint

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The chalky white may be calcimine. If it is you may have to do something to the walls to put acrylic on it. The matte acrylic will look different and wear longer than the calcimine. Calcimine is basically lime and water. It's what Tom Sawyer painted the fence with in the story. They put color in it. It can be beautiful but not very long lasting. Again..your original paint might be cheap acrylic.

JohnnyBoy

Apr 22, 2008, 6:39 PM

Post #18 of 28 (21042 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] House Paint

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I scoured these old posts about paint hoping to find some definitive word about paint quality in Mexico. My Mexican friends here are telling me they never buy paint here. They all go to Tucson and buy American paint. No one seems to know if the Sherwin Williams and Dutch Boy paints available here, at Home Depot, for example, are of the same quality as Sherwin Williams and Dutch Boy paints purchased in the USA. Until this issue arose, I just assumed they were the same. I also assumed the Mexican brands, like Comex, were probably inferior.

But people here say it is all inferior to paint from the USA and costs double.

I realize many MexConnectors do not have the option of running to the USA for these things and make do with what they can find inside Mexico. I am willing to do that, too. Believe me, it is no picnic driving to Tucson and back. But if I can truly get better paint at half the price, I better consider it. I have an entire house to paint...inside only.

Anxious to hear what you may know.

Thanks.

Judy in Ags

Apr 22, 2008, 8:30 PM

Post #19 of 28 (21026 views)

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Re: [JohnBleazard] House Paint

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I struggled with the paint thing, especially regarding the woodwork. I finally discovered McCloskeys at WalMart which is such excellent paint. I have brought it back from the U.S. for all the woodwork and even a few more areas. The type I use is interior/exterior and serves as a primer as well as the final coat.

jennifer rose

Apr 22, 2008, 8:57 PM

Post #20 of 28 (21025 views)

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Re: [Judy in Ags] House Paint

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Since we're necromancing, I'll update my experiences and recommendations for paint. Since the last time I posted on this topic, I've become a Comex evangelist. Comex has many grades of paint, so it's not fair to write off Comex as an inferior make. I continue to test out several colors before settling upon what will finally be applied, but it wears well and is worth the money.

Rolly / Moderator

Apr 23, 2008, 7:10 AM

Post #21 of 28 (21007 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] House Paint

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I agree with Jennifer. Comex makes some good paint and some not so good. My experience has been that their cheap paint is, well, cheap paint that does not cover well, etc. Their highest grade paint is very good -- covers well, goes on smoothly, and weathers well.

In my own house, I used their cheap paint because I didn't know what I was doing. It needs to be redone -- actually it needed to be redone the day after it was applied. At first I blamed the amateur painter for doing a poor job; later I realized it was the paint not the painter. For my building projects, I used a better grade of Comex and got good results.

Rolly Pirate

JohnnyBoy

Jun 13, 2008, 9:09 PM

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Re: [Rolly] House Paint

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My indoor painting is coming right along. I ended up resisting the temptation to buy paint NoB and am buying what I need from Home Depot here in Hermosillo. It is the Dutch Boy brand. I like the way it goes on and the way it looks, especially the way it smoothes out as it dries.

I have a rather high cinder block privacy wall in the back of my house. We just had an additional five levels of cinder blocks added to what was already there, giving us a rather high wall. Now I want to paint it.

I read elsewhere here that it is important to prime the cinder blocks before attempting to paint them. Is that correct? What do you recommend for primer? Seems someone suggested just putting multiple coats of paint on.

I know of Kilz, but it is a little expensive.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

jb

Ed and Fran

Jun 14, 2008, 6:43 AM

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Re: [JohnBleazard] House Paint

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I read elsewhere here that it is important to prime the cinder blocks before attempting to paint them. Is that correct? What do you recommend for primer?

I don't know what HD has, but Comex makes a sealer that you mix 3 to 1, or 4 to 1, with water and apply. We've used it on concrete surfaces before painting. I would expect that it would work with block, even though the block is likely to be more porous.

Seems someone suggested just putting multiple coats of paint on.

I suppose you could, but that would be way more expensive.

Regards

Ed

Rolly / Moderator

Jun 14, 2008, 7:17 AM

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Re: [JohnBleazard] House Paint

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John, you can use a commercial product as Ed and Fran suggest, or you can do as so many folks do -- use whitewash as sealer/primer. I have used whitewash on my projects with good results.

Here is a quote from my website on the subject:

Whitewash blanqueo makes a good, inexpensive sealer and primer for preparing bricks, concrete and stucco for painting. Sometimes it is used without a top coat of paint. When used alone, whitewash has a limited useful life and must be re-done from time to time. How often depends on the climate -- the more humid, the shorter its useful life.

Whitewash is made by combining lime, water, salt and a binder. The binder commonly used in my part of Mexico is cactus paddles nopales. The lime used can be either builders' lime or quicklime. Quicklime has the advantage of making the nopales more efficient. The process begins by course chopping the nopales and adding them along with salt to a barrel of water. The lime is then added. (Your maestro will know the correct proportions.) Quicklime will react with the water releasing heat and a gas which should not be breathed. The heat will help to extrude the juice from the cactus. When the water has cooled, it is ready to be used. When first applied, the whitewash will appear thin and weak on the wall, but as it absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, it will turn white and cover the wall.

Rolly Pirate

Judy in Ags

Jun 24, 2009, 5:55 PM

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Re: [jennifer rose] House Paint

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Comex is so expensive and impersonal that we quit them a long time ago. We established a relationship with the owner of one of the Casther stores here. They do well on mixing to the right tone and have even adjusted some I had bought at another place (at no cost).

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