Paints, varnishes and primers: how to buy the right material at a good price
The paint depends on the surface
There is no universal paint. For walls and ceilings indoors people take interior acrylic or emulsion, for a facade a weather-resistant paint, for wood varnishes, stains or enamels, and for metal special enamels with anti-rust properties. So start with something simple: what you will paint and where, inside or outside. That will be the first line of your request.
How much to buy and how to count
On the tin the maker states the coverage per square metre for one coat, usually in litres per 10 sq m. Multiply it by the area and the number of coats, then add an allowance. Porous bases (fresh plaster, wood) absorb more. Sometimes it is simpler to ask the seller: “for 1,000 sq ft of walls in two coats, how many litres?” Count the primer separately, and do not skip it.
Colour and sheen
- Colour — white can be tinted from a colour catalogue or a RAL code; the code helps get the same shade across batches.
- Sheen — matt paint hides flaws in the wall, gloss shows them up but is easier to wash.
- Batch — if you take several tins of tinted paint, take them from one batch or mix them in a large container.
What to put in your request
- Type of coating — interior or exterior paint, enamel, varnish, primer, wood stain, preservative, thinner.
- Surface — walls, ceiling, wooden facade, metal, floor.
- Quantity — in litres or kilograms, or the area in sq m.
- Colour — matt white, RAL 7016, a colour code.
- Brand — if you have already chosen.
- Properties — washable, moisture-resistant, weatherproof, fast-drying.
- City and delivery — courier or pick-up.
- Budget.
Example: “I need 20 litres of washable, moisture-resistant wall paint, matt white, plus 10 litres of deep-penetration primer. The area is about 1,000 sq ft. Courier delivery to Manila. Budget up to ₱7,600.”
Why it is easier through BlaBlaPrice
Paint is sold by chain stores, tinting centres and wholesalers, and their prices and offers differ. Instead of comparing price tags, you post a request, and sellers answer in the chat: the brand, the quantity, the price per tin or per litre, tinting and delivery. Each seller sees where their offer ranks and improves the terms if needed. BlaBlaPrice shows the best offer first, and the seller's reviews are next to it. Contacts are hidden and opened only to the seller you choose. Details are on the How it works page.
How to compare offers
Compare by the price per litre taking coverage into account, not by the price of the tin: a cheap paint with higher use or needing three coats can end up costing more. Ask about the scrub-resistance class, drying time between coats, shelf life and storage conditions. Tinted paint is usually not returnable, so confirm the colour on a sample first.
For painting walls you will need finishing materials, and for frames and doors — windows, doors and glass. If you paint metal, you may need steel products too.
