Today I finished the big paint job in the upsatairs bungalow bedroom and all its storage cubbies. I watched a little of the Red Wings trounce the Black Hawks in Chicago in outdoor hockey, ate pizza, and listened to oldies rock nearly all day.

While at Lowes waiting for paint to be mixed, a young couple (maybe newlyweds getting ready to paint their first home or apartment) were selecting paint. They had a basket full of painting tools for their project. All cheap stuff, plastic paint tray, foam brushes, plastic roller frame. At the paint counter the young woman asked her husband, "I wonder if there is a difference between the inexpensive and the more expensive paints?" At that cue, I cleared my throat and interjected, "I've done a lot of projects and I've used that brand (pointing to the one they had selected) and I like this Valspar better. It's not top of the line but is covers good in one coat and stays on the brush and roller real good. That one (pointing to the one they had) is thinner, so it's messy and takes more than one coat, I did not like it. I've been painting for 40 years."

The guy rolls his eyes back in his head like he just had to listen to his dad tell him to be careful driving.

"What?" I ask

"Paint is paint," he says, "and besides, you're not old enough to have painted for 40 years."

I could kiss the guy.

"Thank you very much," I said, "I'm 53. I explained that I painted my parent's garage when I was 13, painted my way through high school, college and dental school and many many projects since.

My paint was ready, and I wished them well on their project.

In the end they bought the cheap stuff.

As my dad would say, "Ah...youth..."

 

Steve you can give the advice but alot of times they have to learn by error. You tried. I in my advanced years would of took your advice because you had no gain in the choice. But keep trying with these young folks, because they suprise you every now and then and accept your words of wisdom as the gift it was inteneded

 

I myself prefer Valspar paint. I own a home improvement business and do alot of painting. I am only 33 years old and find other s opinions to be a great resource in many of my projects. I rarely direct any questions to the employees of Lowe's or Home Depot but the people I see shopping there. I have received great info from master plumbers, electricians, etc. that has more often than not helped produce fantastic results. Too many people like to shrug off the experience that guys like yourself have under your belt. I find the automotive crowd is often the same way. I was a mechanic for many years and it is a pleasure to help others diagnose problems with their cars but many look at me and figure I am young and dumb and they'd rather take it to a shop. Fine by me. It's your dime. However, this will never sway me from giving my advice. Some appreciate it, some live and learn but usually in the end I get a phone call regardless.

 

Most people have to cheap out at least once, just to learn for themselves. The most you can hope for is that after having the experience in one area of life, they can apply it to other situations.