Demand for raw materials in the paint industry skyrocketed during the pandemic, as consumers in quarantine turned to DIY and home improvement projects. However, supply could not keep up, as global trade networks collapsed due to the wave of Covid. Shortages of paint and products continue to affect the industry. Paint prices are rising due to the scarcity of raw materials. Labor shortages have created problems, from getting paint to the market to putting it on the wall once it gets there.
There isn't a lot of comforting news about when it will decline. Because it's built to last and protect your coating, it'll be more expensive than the cheapest paint you can find on the shelf. The first factor that makes an exterior painting project more expensive is the quality of the paint products. My wife likes to say that, if you still don't know how much it should cost to paint a house, getting a quote can be like going to an auto mechanic.
An article published in Bloomberg noted that paint giant Sherwin-Williams, which faced a shortage of raw materials and personnel problems among its managers, drivers and field representatives, reported lower than expected profits. The pre-vaccination phase of the pandemic forced paint producers, who traditionally did not dominate direct-to-consumer e-commerce, to adapt their logistics on the fly. According to an article published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, if your customers sing the blues, they have to stop doing it. The ingredients needed for blue are scarce both in artistic painting and in the architectural one.
For example, PPG notes that its consumers were especially interested in exterior paints, versatile stain-resistant options, and more sustainable paints with a low VOC content. However, if you're a longtime homeowner and want to paint your house once to make it last the rest of the time, you'll have to pay more for your project. If you're looking for a quick and easy way to paint the outside of your house and you're not worried about the durability of the paint, then choosing the cheapest option or the contractor is probably the best option for you. If you want to paint your house once and paint it well, then choosing high-quality paint will be the best option for you.