Gringo’s Guide to Using Mexican Paint (Part 1)

Tara A. Spears

solmexiconews.com

When it comes to house painting, you either love to do it or hate even the thought of the task. While you may get out of doing the application yourself, there is still the challenge of selecting the perfect color paint for your room. There are a couple of factors that complicate the selection task even more for the foreigner using Mexican brand paints. One, for many people there is the language barrier: yes, the label thoroughly explains the use and proper installation of the product but you don’t comprehend Spanish. Many seasonal residents simply rely on their past painting knowledge from in their home country instead of translating the directions.  This is not a good method for success; it seems like the crap shoot of painting.

Secondly- and probably the biggest issue to consider- is the difference the climate makes. What attracts people from northern latitudes to coastal southern Mexico is the abundance of sunshine (a minimum of 355 sunny days per year;) long dry season (typically from October to June;) and humidity (averaging from 80 to 100%  eases osteoarthritis pain). What one must realize is that these same weather issues impact every aspect of the painting process. Ever notice that Caribbean and Mexican architecture features vivid colors? One of the reasons that indigenous people selected bright colors is to compliment the abundant natural light. Using strong color tones on the buildings have the same light intensity as the sunshine.  Being so close to the equator has much stronger sun rays than northern latitudes.  Look at the color strips pictured above.  Say that you absolutely love the second from top; it would be perfect in Canada but would look weak and dirty here in the tropical light. Simply move a couple of swatches deeper in tone.

The paint manufacturers are very aware of the regional climate differences and create appropriate blends that are best suited for the conditions. This applies NOTB: the same brand paint sold in Miami has a different composition than that sold in Wisconsin. The paint sold in southwestern Mexico is designed to stand up to extreme sunlight and humidity. Be sure to look for “Pintura resistente a la humedad o de hongos” (moisture resistant) on the label. The salt air along the coast is brutal, significantly shortening the expected lifetime of paint, whether on masonry, wood, or metal. A good rule of thumb is that for protected areas, such as inside a home or exterior under roof, you can rely on a good quality paint to last for the expected lifetime. However, the same quality paint exposed to direct sun and rain will need replacing in about three years (of a ten year expectancy). No criticism of the paint manufacturer, it’s simply the harsh weather conditions break down the properties of the paint.

      

As a dedicated DIYer who has been painting rooms since I was twelve, I’ve learned a lot about paint the hard way. Absolute rule number one: buy the best quality paint that you can afford for the lasting results. Getting the best quality on sale is a useful strategy. The same goes for purchasing brushes: have a couple of professional grade trim brushes. It makes a HUGE difference in your enjoyment level and the appearance of the painting. That being said, I do use cheap brushes for oil based applications when painting the wrought iron- I hate spending the time to try to clean up the brush only to find that the next day the brush is stiff and doesn’t perform well. Therefore, I just use a brush one day for oil painting and throw it out. 

 Another absolute rule is that you must prepare the surface.  I know, I know, it is just no fun to sand and clean a wall; and it’s especially tedious to sand the ornamental wrought iron. The lasting quality of a paint job is in the preparation. Using the proper primer makes all the difference in lasting quality too. But in the long run that prep time helps ensure the longevity of the paint adherence. Besides, since the invention of the blue painters tape, I feel like I have really upped my painting skill level.

Meet the Big Three Mexican Paint Brands:  I LOVE Mexican paints! I find that Comex, Berel, and Prisa have outstanding performance for the climate conditions. Once I mastered the art of selecting the desired-just-perfect color by going with a deeper tone of the color that I envisioned, I have been thrilled with the results.

 Although there are dozens of smaller paint companies that sell their brand at hardware stores, most gringos will probably go to one of the big three brand stores for their purchase. Today, Comex Group is the world’s largest exclusive paint retail network with more than 3,700 stores, but 50 years ago the company was just a hardware store in the center of Mexico City. According to Coatingsworld.com, “All Comex products are designed and tested for durability in the hot, humid climate of the Southeast region of the United States and all of Mexico where paint failure due to mildew and fading are major concerns.” 

“What sets Comex paint apart is the fact that it is designed according to the client’s needs,” Cohen notes. Each regional company produces paint formulations that have been rigorously tested to perform in specific climate conditions. In addition, the company has a strict quality system for the materials it buys, the processing of its products and its delivery. “That has made our products very well received by our consumers and that’s why we sell so well,” company CEO Cohen says.   

                                    

With all the technology and innovation behind Comex’s paint and coatings, their performance is guaranteed. The company has a corporate goal to not only be ahead of its competitors in quality, but in choices, as well. This is my favourite paint to work with as it is practically drip-free besides providing excellent coverage over concrete.