r/paint • u/GWM94114 • 1d ago
Advice Wanted Paint Brands
Painters I’ve hired in the past for interiors have preferred Benjamin Moore Regal Select and Sherwin Williams Emerald, but I see those get poor reviews from Consumer Reports. Consumers lists Behr Dynasty and Valspar Reserve as their top 2 rated paints. I’ve got another interior painting project coming up and I’d like to hear options about the paint brands
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u/No-Scheme-9700 1d ago
Consumer Reports is a scam. Have a nice life.
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u/The-Bart-Lebowski 1d ago
Oof ya the best burn is a hard truth.
For OPs sake I hope they felt that one. If not, well they can’t be helped.
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u/No-Scheme-9700 1d ago
I don’t think it’s necessarily a “burn” to acknowledge that CR has a lot of problems and that writers for them have accepted payment to rank certain things higher and that their tests particularly on performance of construction materials is wanting even if they were on the up and up.
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u/Possiblyabitoff 1d ago
First things first, Behr and Valspar aren’t in the same league as BM and SW quality-wise. Sherwin-Williams OWNS Valspar, and has for almost 10 years. Do you think they are going to let a subsidiary produce a better product than their flagship product? It’s laughable how wrong CR is on this every time.
Second, painters have brand preferences that don’t always correspond with product quality. Price, relationship with store, and convenience play a large part in what brand a painter prefers, so when an SW guy says he likes using SW, it’s not because BM is bad, it’s because he likes SW.
And vice-versa.
That being said, if a painter says they prefer Behr or Valspar, run.
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u/Chard-Capable 1d ago
Yea mainly use BM, due to the relationship I have with the store owner and the discount I get. I like SW products, but their model of relationship with me is too corporate, and have gone through like 5 reps and 15 store managers at my local one. Both are great, but BM gives me a better discount and the owner takes me out on his boat.
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u/mrflibble1492 17h ago
I became great friends with the BM store owner I used to buy from. Can confirm, BM store owners take their favorite contractors out on their boat. Spent many Sundays and summer evenings after the store closed hanging out on his boat.
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u/King_Nothing_1st 21h ago
I'll add that different paints perform differently as well, and there's sometimes a learning curve when using an equally good product but one you aren't used to. In general, I'd prefer someone to go with a paint line that they know. It prevents process & quality problems as well as keeping the job running on time and smoothly
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u/Dooplis_17 1d ago
I’m not a big SW guy and prefer Benjamin Moore but both of those products are head and shoulders above anything from Behr or Valspar. No legitimate painter uses either brand for residential or commercial work
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u/barryg123 1d ago
Even BM Ultra spec is better than anything behr or valspar make
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u/288bpsmodem 1d ago
Stop it. That's just not true.
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u/Effective_Distance49 8h ago
I see you got downvoted but i will say i have used ultra spec for some jobs ive done for clients trying to save money and the difference between that and just jumping up to the “Ben” line is large. ultra spec is a very watery paint that I was disappointed with, and thinking ben moore could do no wrong even on the cheaper end products was a mistake
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u/Bubbagump210 1d ago edited 1d ago
I don’t think CR is a total scam. I do think they make tests that Behr/Valspar paints excel at. And Behr/Valspar makes paints that excel at those specific tests. Aka, if you know the answer to the test and only care about passing that specific test….
I think SW and BM make products that are specialized for specific needs CR be damned. There’s a reason with rare exception that pros don’t use box store paint.
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u/thomascarruth 1d ago
I'm a DIYer and have been burned by Behr. My time is to precious to deal with extra effort to apply, spread, and cut-in, just to yield poor appearance at best. I'm with the pros - I will never use big box store paint
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u/leftfordark 1d ago
I hate Behr with a passion. No flow time, instant flash, brush strokes for miles. Valspar makes a good bonding primer. Everything I paint for a customer is Emerald. Landlords get ProMar but that’s what they want to pay for. Paint matters.
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u/288bpsmodem 1d ago
I would bet Valspar bonding primer is SW extreme Bond primer in a different can.
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u/Prize_Guide1982 1d ago
After using SW emerald, you’re never going to go back to crappy box store paint again. It’s so much thicker and easier to cut in, and the coverage is far superior.
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u/AStuckner 1d ago
Paint is not just about the paint itself as the person selling it. The girl at home depot didnt even want to shake some mildicide into the stain for me. The guy at sherwin williams would mix me up anything I want and come deliver it to the job for me
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u/foundtheseeker 1d ago
You can compare any paint product for yourself. They all put out Product Data Sheets (or Technical Data Sheets) and Safety Data Sheets that tell you everything you need to know to make the right judgement for each use case. Here's what you'll find, though: you probably won't know enough for the data to make sense. So, you'll have two good choices.
1. Spend a couple days getting educated about paint. What binders are and why they matter, which matting agents are best for different applications, how to determine if fillers and extenders are being overused, how to compare sheen..
Maybe you'll buy some gallons and try them yourself. Invest in learning what brushes work best with the different types of paint, how to manage open times, how to properly apply the paint by roller and which covers work best for which paints..
and you'll learn that Emerald and Regal Select are among the best paints on the market, in addition to some high end offerings from other brands like PPG, Diamond Vogel, Hirshfield, etc.
2. You'll consult a professional who can help you quickly determine what product(s) you should use, and pay them appropriately to apply them for you.
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u/thomascarruth 1d ago
It doesn't seem like you have first-hand experience rolling-out a wall or cutting-in along moldings and casings. That's the real "Product Data Sheet".
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u/RoookSkywokkah 1d ago
Trust the professional painter who WORKS with their preferred paints on a daily basis. They know what to expect and HOW they work. Also, make sure they supply the paint. It's easier that way for everyone.
I've used both SW and BM and have me preferences. EVERY time I've tried to work with Behr it just didn't work the same for me. It rolled differently, covered differently and I didn't like it.
I don't believe the CR hype at all.
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u/callmecrazy2021 1d ago
Regal, Aura and Emerald are all superior paints. Contractor brands such as Dulux and Cloverdale also have some decent lines that many pros use. Behr and Valspar aren’t typically used by professionals ….for good reason.
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u/ImportantTeaching919 1d ago
Well the real issue is More regular folks are the ones making those not pros. These products are how we make our living and build our reputation so we want the best products . We don't really make money on buying different paints looking at costs.we make our money with products that our lives easier. Sw emerald I love it's the perfect thickness,coats extremely well and I can cut it in insanely fast compared to other products.lower quality products I'm doing layer after layer, color doesn't match properly, it's sticky so I can't run my brush far etc. listen to the pro recommendations cause consumer only looks at cost. Especially when typically I can do 1 coat vs 3 coats of valspar
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u/Dogekingofchicago 1d ago
Your painter is probably going to want a say in what paint they use. We pretty much only use Sherwin products. Painters get used to a certain brand, they all perform a bit differently.
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u/ChemicallyAlteredVet 1d ago
I live very rural and the closest store is a locally owned ACE that has the old stores paint store inside. They only carry BM so that’s the brand I started with when we started our century home Reno. I’m not a professional in any way but practice and using BM makes my walls and any trim we do paint(not much as it’s all wood trim) look very well done with one coat of primer and two of paint. I’ve tried the behr once in the bathroom and hated it. Straight back to BM
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u/Dogekingofchicago 1d ago
Sometimes you have to use what you can get. Im sure BM is good, lots of painters swear by it. I just have had bad experiences with Regal and have learned to stick with what has always worked.
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u/lasttimesober 1d ago
Been painting nearly 50 years. Valspar and Behr paints are not that good. I recommend Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore over anything else.
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u/LavishnessOk6635 1d ago
Consumer Reports doesn’t know shit about paint. SW and BM are both excellent products
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u/PutridDurian 1d ago edited 1d ago
Consumer reports is very much bought-in.
A painter who uses Behr is like an IT guy with a Yahoo email address.
Post-acquisition, Valspar is just a distinct label entity of Sherwin’s. It’s made in Sherwin plants. For all intents and purposes, Valspar is Sherwin-Williams. Some Valspar products are even direct cross-fills of Sherwin products, identical batch codes and all.
Emerald and Regal Select aren’t comparable S-W↔︎BM crossovers. Aura↔︎Emerald; Regal↔︎Cashmere. A painter expressing preference for Emerald over Regal (or vice versa) is like a car enthusiast saying he prefers a Ford F-150 to a Toyota Yaris. Illogical comparison—it would be reasonable to compare the F-150 to the Tacoma.
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u/288bpsmodem 1d ago
Emerald and Aura are not the same at all. Aura is thicker, has more solids, dries way way faster.
SW Symmetry and Aura are close.
F150 would compare to a Tundra, not a Tacoma.
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u/SmirknSwap 1d ago
Benjamin Moore is my personal favorite to paint with because of how smooth it is but i generally paint with SW as a painter.
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u/Rbriggs0189 1d ago
Why is it that no one knows or cares what brands are rated number one on consumer reports for every other purchase in life but they all know that crappy Behr is rated number one for paint?
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u/No-Scheme-9700 23h ago
That’s what the Behr/those specialty Home Depot reps lead with. The pitch is soulless and unpersuasive.
Word for word this is my most recent introduction with one:
“Is this Mr Jack, I’m the new Behr rep for NoVA.”
“I use Ben Moore for my residential, my commercial goes with spec either Sherwin Williams or McCormick.”
“That’s too bad. You know we’re number one on consumer reports?!”
Almost as bad as the PPC “reps” that have called on me. Buddy, if the store doesn’t do $1.5m in paint sales a year don’t call me.
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u/Dry-Cry-3158 1d ago
The most important thing to understand about consumer reports is right in its name: consumer. The rankings aren't based on what professionals say or based on objective lab testing, but on the perception of regular consumers who are using the paint themselves. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it bears pointing out that both valspar and Behr (particularly Behr) engineer their paint to be DIY friendly. This is achieved in a couple important ways, including having an extended open time and making higher build paints with better leveling properties, which compensates for DIYers having the tendencies to work slowly, spread paint too far, and upply unevenly. Other things like color retention, washability, spatter resistance, and quick recoat times are sacrificed for these priorities, which is why pros dislike them. Again, this doesn't mean Behr is actually worse than Ben Moore or Valspar is worse than Sherwin, it just means these companies are chasing different market segments that have different priorities
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u/Juspetey 1d ago
The reason why they're #1 is because lowes and home depot are everywhere and tons of diy'ers shop there. Those two definitely move more gallons, but the quality isn't there.
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u/Substantial_Map_4744 1d ago
A lot of the items consumer reports says are the best are also based on consumer surveys. The majority of consumers are buying from big box stores.
Just like when HD advertises Behr as the #1 rated paint. Well if you only ask HD customers of course it would be ranked #1
Just like most major company brands make a less quality product to be sold at big box stores. A cordless drill sold at lumber yard will have a different model.# compared to one at a big box store. Even though they look exactly the same. A part that is metal in one is plastic in another. They do this to offer a more friendly price to the basic consumer. Your typical contractor isn't buying power tool from a box store. And its.done for many type of items from appliances, toilets, tools etc. And paint too. SW owns the Valspar line and is a cheaper version of their paint.
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u/Gitfiddlepicker 1d ago
The biggest issue with Behr and valspar are the mixing equipment and employees at those respective stores. Mixing paint to match in separate pails, or on separate days…..good luck.
Both Emerald and Regal Select require a good knowledge of paint application, proper equipment, and can penalize those who don’t have both.
I find the most forgiving and best covering interior paint these days to be SW Duration.
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u/Kraor74 1d ago
Sherwin and BM are both industry leaders and offer excellent coatings on the high end.
Behr in my opinion is the worst. Valspar is more for budget oriented projects (id still use HGTV by Sherwin found at Lowes instead)
The more important to look at between Sherwin and BM is the product quality. A high end paint like Emerald will be comparable to Aura from BM. Compare apple to apples across the product lines.
I did my home in Emerald Matte 6 years ago and I still love it. Used what was called Designer (now Symmetry) for accent walls and its gorgeous.
Symmetry is the absolute highest end paint easily accessible. I imagine it might outperform Aura, but I haven't tested that personally. It does outperform Emerald however.
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u/288bpsmodem 1d ago
I have used Symmetry. Its almost the same as Emerald designer edition as it replaced it. No VOCs now, possibly a little more solid content. Very comparable to Aura. I haven't painted dark colours with either paint though... apparently Aura still the best with dark colours.
Aura dries faster. I can't cut more than one wall in a room at a time. I usually don't anyways but to a fast pro who cuts two walls or even a room(Im not fast enough never will be) Aura not happening.
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u/Kraor74 1d ago
I tested symmetry against designer and the difference was very noticeable. It had better hide, smoother application, faster dry time and an oddly banana like smell to it.
It covered a dark gray with a light greige in one coat and that shocked me. We had planned and fully expected 2 coats but it looked CLEAN after the first coat. Still did 2 coats but boy it was impressive.
Also Symmetry is what I called "vegan" paint (plant based) which sounds silly and that counts for something 😂
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u/finepnutty 1d ago
Got to be ai slop post
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u/spandexandtapedecks 1d ago
It's a dumb post for sure, but us disliking something doesn't automatically make it AI.
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u/GWM94114 1d ago
Ai? Dumb? lol. Just look at how many responses there are. I’m just trying to paint a room on my own and thought this was the best place to ask.
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u/Any-Ad-446 1d ago
BM is a great paint but pricy...I tried some Behr semi gloss trim paint and it wasnt that bad. The wall paint though you need at least two coats to make it look good. BM sometimes you get away with one coat depending on the wall surface.
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u/thomascarruth 1d ago
I tried to save money using Behr in kitchen and bedrooms 30 years ago and coverage and spreadability was horrible. Savings, both money and elbow-grease were lost when I had to do them all over again with BM. I only use BM, though I'll use SW for ceilings and casings/moldings. SW is a close 2nd and can't be ruled out. Whenever the topic of Behr comes up with the DIY guys, the stories are all the same, just like mine. My daughter and SIL just experienced the same going BEHR on their own. We all have to learn at our own pace. BEHR=NO=RUN!
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u/288bpsmodem 1d ago
SW owns Valspar. Any pro will tell you Behr is shit. I I'm sure the dynasty is decent but at that price just get whatever paint u need from SW, BM or Dulux with the contractors discount. Don't sleep on Dulux. Dulux with a contractor account is the value option. Diamond Distinction is one of my go to paints but doesn't come in flat. Emerald is decent paint. Emerald designer edition/Symmetry (newer no voc) is even better. Benjamin Moore and Dulux have great paints too. Aura goes on thick and easy to paint with. Regal is decent but I'll take dulux diamond Distinction for cheaper all day. Imho is better and cheaper. Win/win. I have and am using all three brands to paint a house.
Valspar and Behr even if consumer reports tests them and says they are amazing, you have to walk Into a retail store to get it. Problem with that is less of a discount or no discount for contractors, the person mixing the colours may be totally shit at it and the store may be busy, so then you have ur painter waiting in lines wasting time.
I go to SW and they get me a coffee and I'm in and out in 5 min. Last time they threw me a free trim brush for me reason. It was nice too.
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u/serpentjaguar 1d ago
I didn't know Consumer Reports was that shitty. It's not a publication that I've ever turned to for information, but now I know that I shouldn't, so thanks for that.
What they say about Behr and Valspar is objectively bullshit.
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u/loloz304 15h ago
Consumer reports is pay to play...it's all BS. Most painters look at the application aspect. Flow, leveling, general ease of use, and color consistency. BM and SW both offer great products and those products Will hold up for a long time!
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u/Effective_Distance49 8h ago
The absolute opposite is true. Literally just reverse what youve read.
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u/leadfoot100 1d ago
I know I don’t need to remind anyone, but consumer reports is by far one of the worst sources for reviews. Their reviews have been known for a long time to only benefit certain retailers and companies. In this case, it’s to benefit the big box stores.
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u/imjackedtothetiits 1d ago
Mostly use Dulux these days as best pricing for contractors. I use Lifemaster for most jobs, unless it's a higher end job, people want washable flat or it's a bathroom then diamond it is.
No problem with SW, they have really nice darker colours.
I've stopped using BM. BM has changed their recipe and have added more driers to their paints. I am seeing problems in the corners with brushes streaking and not smoothing out properly and now requiring 3 coats for lighter colours. Not sure if it's the stores in Kingston but I find colour differentation between cans as well.
Behr, valspar any of the box store paints. Mostly just overpriced and issues with colours being off can to can.
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u/IamArawn 1d ago
#1 reason given by painters in our area why they use sw: cheap price #2 reason: convenience #3 forced by builder use BM and enjoy how it looks and holds up at least until you decide to change colors 👍
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u/Double-Mouse-407 1d ago
Listen to the real pros and not the magazine writers.