Exporting from Premiere

I don't know why - probably for 'ease' but its just confused me a hell of a lot. I can't seem to export properly with a compression that I want at the quality I want. I wanted a SUPER quick export of an h.264 but instead got a 20min export for h.264.... bah! I knew I should have put it all into after effects - I know what I'm doing there and feel at home. Oh well. Whats done is done now. I know Sam knows how to export - I shall keep trying until I get it.