You will never get any paint to look good putting only 1 finish coat over primer. The staff at our local BM store is terrific. Benjamin Moore Advance. That being said, I’d never buy Aura. After over a year on the wall still does this. their latex enamel is supreme for every thing. Oh, John, what a horrible experience!! The rooms I painted 10 years ago still look like they were just painted yesterday. Goes from green to blue. There’s only one paint that no one should ever use and that is Sherwin-Williams Emerald. Photo by Teri Lyn Fisher. Has anyone here ever tried to paint reds or yellow? I’ve had nothing but great luck with washing/scrubbing the paint from “oopsies”.. These products are all great if you do the prep work, and allow yourself enough time to do the job properly. But if you’re in a hurry, P&L chips always match the paint. I always use the Regal Decorators white flat, which in my opinion, covers better than any paint I have used. So-Aura every sheen is durable and washable and other lines the eggshell is. Pre cat and post cat epoxies. If you take a break and return to roll over partially dried paint you will be creating a texture and your work will look uneven. In the last 3 months I’ve painted 9 rooms all with Aura. So I’m thinking of using satin instead of eggshell. Painting the wall and ceiling. I’m not impressed with “Color Stories.” Because of the many pigments, it’s nearly impossible to get a close, much less perfect, match. First, clean the area you’re going to paint at least 24 hours in advance, rinsing and drying (with lint-free cloths) thoroughly. Three tries later they convinced me that it was the same. It went on a little smoother than the Sherwin Williams ProClassic and most importantly it didn’t nick or chip as easy during the installation process. Again Aura can’t be over worked , plus matte has a sheen. I just go with the people who make my color. No joke. They both matched perfectly the paint job done 10 years previously. They get pin hole leaks in the bottom of the cans. This will not only clean the surfaces well, but will also lightly etch them for better adhesion (very important when painting over glossy surfaces). I think I did all the cutting in by the windows, etc first and just feathered the edges. Is there any way to take the $65 gallon of BM Impervex latex hi gloss enamel (White Dove) and mix in something to cut the shine if I decide my prep is not satisfactory for hi gloss finish? What happened to the quality of the paint can? Where’s the polymers and binders? Its proffessed to be self priming and it is not, even after two coats we had to touch up countless areas that did not cover. Great flow. There is a REASON professional painters use it enmasse, and it isn’t because they’re getting some kickback. I have been using BM paint for 6 years. well for aura drying to quick that means your working to slow you have to realize that the paint dries fast and if you have missed a spot or made any mistakes just come back and get it on the second coat. What’s the cost of having to do three coats using an inferior paint compared to one coat of Benjamin Moore? I just got through attempting to paint trim with Benjamin Moore’s High Gloss White Enamel, and for the $50 per gallon I paid for it, it is not worth it. Then a medium gray primer will set up the red topcoat, which will still almost certainly require two coats to look good. It may not be perfect, but it again comes back to value…. The best ceiling paint is BM Mercusco. Overall BM is a great brand. My brother sells Benjamin Moore and when he tells me its the best Paint money can buy and he’s proud to sell it, I BUY IT. Every painter I have used, once they painted with Aura, was a convert. That stuff absolutely sucks. Our experience: the paint was purchased by my partner based on the price (expensive) and the recommendation of the paint dealer. You can still see all customer reviews for the product. except it can prove challenging for those ‘quick and easy’ type painters who won’t take the time to read. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way. Especially for exterior! And touch ups are simply fantastic.. You can’t see anything!! Around ten years ago BM was horrible for exterior. In almost all cases the problem lies with the application, however, the consumer is always right and therefore they believe it’s the product that is not good. The paint is runny, it seems to be much thiner than usual. I’ve always used Benny Moore, and I believe it’s the best. I agree that their color pallet is awesome. It wasn’t a problem for me. I live in the Caribbean and on an island that is close to the equator and we are always humid. House was primed with BM Masonry Sealer. I have some dark painted walls that I needed to wash.. wow.. came clean, can’t see where I had to rub it! Coverage Benjamin Moore is a big waste of money. We will have to go and buy $400.00 of paint so that our painter can continue the job…..don’t buy Benjamin Moore! Someone said I must use BM but the price is scary, as we’re on a fixed budget. blends right in, I would say Aura is the closest thing to oil based paints as far as flow (but technique is important, cut in FIRST.. do not try to keep a wet edge, it will NOT work.. use good rollers & brushes, and – technique!!). Very nice in semigloss. If you’re used to other premium brands that just go on the wall, cover, and don’t require endless touch ups and tweaks, then look elsewhere. I have been using Benjamin Moore paint for years. Sherwin-Williams pro classic hybrid is just as good. Read on to be inspired by this top neutral color. My customer said she was going to call me at 11PM when she got home and saw the room to tell me how much she liked it, but was afraid I would get mad because it was so late. Allison, I was covering up dingy tannish brown by Sherwin Williams that was used throughout the house by the developer. Every experienced painter I know loves this paint. thanks for your time. Latex or water borne do not affect 95% of the people I’ve painted for. However it felt good to use a green product that’s half decent and does the job with a little extra effort. I wouldnt paint a dog house with BM water it down to make it workable is all you can do and forget touching up repaint is touchup BM stands for Buy More So durable. To all of you that have questions about any of the Ben.Moore products…please read. It’s very sensitive to touch/markings. I want a really good paint job so I don’t have to do it again for another 8-10 years or more. We tried to sway them but the consultant assured them she had been doing this for years. It performs at a high level and should be one of your first picks whenever you have to paint a challenging color such as a bright yellow or dark blue. Be sure Thanks for your comments, Jay. If you have experience painting or have patience and skill and can afford to buy the best brushes then Aura paint applied correctly will give the best look out there. When we built years later, we used BM but builder talked us into flat which was NOT scrubbable. The color was Toasted Coconut which was mixed by BM. Say $25 to $30. So factor in $50+ a gallon, twice the amount of labour, and it’s no bargain at all. Any missed areas I went back and got it a second time. So in the long run it’s worth the money to me. I did one flat undercoat (water base) and two top coats and only now am I thinking it might be time to lightly sand the trim down and give them all one coat to freshen up the look. Perhaps that’s why you think the prices are too high? It’s not even worth the money at a competitive price. If painting were easy then everyone would do it. This is very true as I find the aura could make any bad painter look good! Around between 20 to 25 years ago I had the trim to my house painted a jade green with your paint moor life flat finish latex house paint. Now I wonder if I should change to other brands for my living room. I can see that if you don’t keep working the paint across each wall it is possible to have some lines. Quick Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Linen White OC-146 / 912 Benjamin Moore Linen White: The Quick and Dirty on LRV, Undertones and a Little More When it comes to choosing the best cream paint colour for your home, it can be hard to commit – some are … PLEASE TELL OTHERS so they don’t have to deal with this horrible problem. What’s your experience with Benjamin Moore paint? I also like BM but Behr is ok. No matter how light I put the coat of paint on it ran. Barely touching the wall causes white marks on the wall. Now that’s a testimonial for you. On top of that, the base color difference is only appreciable with flat/eggshell finish, on a newly plastered wall, painted with a shorter nap roller. You will be surprised! I wont be using this type again. For $40-60 per gallon, you shouldn’t have to put on three coats of paint AFTER a coat of high quality primer. Rob, I appreciate you being nice Our contractors love it though because we let them know the proper way to use Aura. Mostly, I use the Historical Collection. Not sure if anyone mentioned this bc I didn’t read through every comment but I just wanted to say that I love the Aura paint because the real difference is that you only need to put one coat of it on! In such cases, darker reds and yellows CAN NOT be tinted without the primer/foundation being tinted first. In fact, the text you copy and pasted says inexpensive. I have been sold on BM products since I painted our second home 27 years ago. Trying to match Ben Moore’s Seagull Gray is a nightmare — at $48 a gallon. Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2019. Geez its the 23rd century or something like that. And unless your spraying , it has a specific roller to use with it? OMG LIke, SHOUTING again? Hopefully, I can save this door with some ‘good’ paint. It kills me when people tell me that Benjamin Moore is too expensive. 2 Cabinet Girls reported than the ProClassic chipped easier during the installation process. Our new house was professionally painted, using Valspar paint. BEST 8 BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE PAINT COLORS THE GUIDE TO WHITE PAINT. Will a metallic top coat work, that is, hold up to repeated scrubbings? Why would use you use a fast dry paint on a ceiling? They have a cheap Benjamin Moore but I found it drippy and not as good. In this article we’ll discuss paint selection, availability, price, coverage and longevity. Wish me luck: the perfectionist in me is reading up and practicing/doing prep already. I painted child’s room more then 3 months ago with BM Natura -“fresh air !! To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Consumer Reports has done paint evaluations in the past and found Aura to be challenging to work with. EXCEPT RED. Am upset enough to hire Atty. It’s totally different than other paints. For what it is, it is quite heavily overpriced. I used the Aura once, for a red. It is still best to use Advance gives you a choice of finishes, including matte, satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss. The end result has been excellent. After an hour, roll the walls. Did you know that Aura paint us applied with a specific technique? You won’t find Ben Moore at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot. I hated a few of my experiences with Aura, but looking at it now, it was worth it. And at $72 a pop, it had better perform. I wish I could see this match by sight with my eyes. But Behr works and will work for your job likely just fine. November Rain, Benjamin Moore. The general consensus is there does exist a positive correlation between product cost and quality of paint….coming from contractors who have used significant amounts of the products under different conditions and different tradesmen. I stay away from the paints at Home Depot and Lowes, only because you get what you pay for…Good Luck to all the painters out there. It’s worth it to me to spend twenty bucks for gorgeous walls. Reading this discussion has been useful, and like most things, people’s preferences vary widely. I’m VERY particular about my shades; it takes me forever to find the exact one I want so when I do it’s a matter of celebration. They tout that Aura has primer and paint all in one so you don’t need to prime prior to painting with it. I’m about to paint my kitchen in “boring” Bleeker Beige and Mascarpone, although I’d love to top off the beige with a metallic or luminescent paint. And no matter what finish you get (matte, eggshell, semi-gloss), it’s all washable. Like one person said when asked why the paint was $10 more the salesperson couldn’t come up with an answer because the reason is greed and at this moment they are getting away with it. It’s expensive, but it LOOKS expensive. ben Interior: Shadow and Simply White are great choices, but if … Their website, however, has a lot superior color presentation to Benjamin Moore’s. I keep a record of all my jobs with paint used (brand, sheen, color, dealer). Ask me how I know. I still bend the ear of any of the gentleman who were fortunate enough to have served an apprenticeship or attended painting school. I don’t know who told me this, maybe my mother. Of course this isn’t info you will get at Home Depot because the guy staffing the counter probably has never used the product. Yes. Their lower Read Seal lines (while smelly) are almost as good as the higher lines of Benjamin Moore. I was skeptical, but I decided to try it anyway. Benjamin Moore makes a great paint but their stores are independently owned. To those talking about BM ceiling paint, Muresco is a much better product and costs about $8-9 less a gallon. So then I ordered three gallons of different colors and two quarts of still different colors. So it’s pretty much up to the dealer. We are currently doing our downstairs bathroom and decided to try the Regal. Although the paint still has to “cure,” the cut-ins are invisible and there are no streak marks. Thanks. I’m going from linen to barely beige and some walls will require a 3rd coat. I like the buttery thickness of it. Aura is applied differently as others have stated above and it’s best to pay the $1 extra for the Aura applicator brush but I won’t paint with anything else. The brush cleanup is so easy. Also, I did exactly what you suggested regarding cutting in and got terrible results with Aura. It’s very durable. IF it is your living room …Go Better to Best Benjamin Moore. I mean really, you applied the paint to the point where it ‘dripped and ran’? This sounds like an unusual case. Mary, Good point about the colors and paying for “creativity.” I did love BM color selection, but I think I could find something comparable or do a color match with RL. There is a learning curve with AURA (and Regal Select). It’s lovely and I’m truly happy. Just came back from BM Upper West Side store where I tried to return 3 gallons of custom tinted paint. We did it all in less than 5 gallons, including re-painting where the drywall guys had to repair where the plumber came back and ripped a hole in a recently-finished room. So true! I recommend Behr. Plus it never needs more thatn 2 coats even is reds. WHEN A PLUMBER COMES OVER ..HE USES THE BEST PRODUCTS AND THERE IS NO QUESTIONS.. But match that color with a good brand, not Ralph Lauren brand. And that was a traditional rectangular room with 8 ft. high walls. Unless you need a sheen, I highly recommend BM’s Ultra Flat ceiling paint for ceilings, especially in those older homes where multiple textures were used over the years. . Aura is the type of paint where you can choose any sheen and it is just as durable. You’ve made it to the color selection process! I love Aura and can’t imagine painting an eggshell finish with anything else. No need to shout, but I hate to say it, but I agree with your assessment of many painters. (I’ll also never hire another pro carpet cleaner again either! BM is really the only company to grind their own pigments in the USA as well, everyone else comes from china. VOC is not a real consideration unless you’re using alkyd paints. I NEED TO RE-PAINT!! I was not impressed. But when I did touch up, it matched. Count your blessings and use B.Moore! I have tried countless amounts of different brands of paint, and none of them even can compare to this one. listen when you go into a store..turn your cell phone off, and focus on your sales person, he is informing you on how to use the new waterborne colorant paints..(which all paint companies are switching too). Aura takes one of the top two spots on my list. Hi, we're Ethan, Jocie, Kim and Fred. Although if you’re doing a bathroom or other humid area, Aura Bath & Spa is worth the price (which should be the same as Aura, but it has extra mold & mildew protection). Covers like a dream, doesn’t crack, great paint. My experience with Behr was horrible. ive used glidden sherman williams and valspar and have had bad experiences with all of them!!!!! My apt. Last year I ordered a bunch of pint samples from BenMoore’s New Jersey plant. I use either. as for the aura its a good materal. I am amused with the comments regarding the paint being uneven or that it streaks. Very happy with it. So when commenting on the coverage / coats it really depends on the color so I don’t think a flat out blanket statement can be made. or read the label. Could be. don’t you want the BEST results? Despite BM’s “one coat” claims, we wound up doing three coats on all most every wall of a small bathroom. I’ve never had a problem with the smell from any BM paints, like I have from Ralph Lauren, whose colors are great but it really smells – I get sick from the vapors. Still it took many coats to cover and when the job was completed the paint would chip off very easily. The guy at BM was so helpful, told me not to use the base coat that BM recommends, but to pick something very close to the Champagne Dreams color or else I would be frustrated with lap marks. But considering its widespread availability, it usually edges out Pittsburgh Manor Hall, another pricey favorite of home decorators, which is almost impossible to find these days. “I have been painting for 30 years and use Behr paint but I was losing jobs because everyone wanted Benjamin Moore.” Peter, why don’t you just go along with what the customers want than insist on Behr. We had brought in a sample of the tile which were more of a terra cotta finish than glazed. The AURA room is all DONE on one gallon, one coat, and looks better than room with Regal Select. I think you know how this “color story” ends. Made me look a better painter than I really am. To be fair, I understand BM is beyond some people’s budget too. What had to be brushed came out equally beautiful. aura. This includes freshly painted walls. The extender combined with the roller trick has given me the perfect finish I have always wanted. After negative experiences with other whiteboard paint products, including difficult application, lines and roller marks, sagging and runs, Notable ® was a refreshing change. Guys, I have done a lot of painting over the past 45 years. We are now finishing some basement bedrooms and want to use the same/similar colors. Also for those out there attempting Ralph Lauren paint — forget the RED. The cost is included in the paint. Let me tell you as an addendum — the Benjamin Moore paint used – was the original interior paint. You should ask for the contractor’s price. I thought perhaps I was having a paint shear problem, so I tried out a 311 tip (which is in the spec of the TDS from BM), and still had awful results. People need to look at overall VALUE rather than just unit cost. Aura is the best paint on the market, hands down. and provided detail sheet from paint co. Got a quote for me to sign which note “paint specs.” So when before i signed I attached the company specs to the quote, so there was absolutely NO AMBIGUITY. You think that “smell” and VOC aren’t worth paying for? This overpriced product has lots of spatter, poor coverage, very low hideability. One person who won’t be named rolled his eyes at me when I showed him how to roll a wall (yes, yes, I KNOW you guys have been painting for YEARS!) Any advice??? As far as the paint drying in 60 seconds, that is a bunch of nonsense, although you do have to be careful not to put it on too thick. The Best Interior Paints and Color Trends for 2020. Great quality, great coverage cheaper than BM and the most important to me seamless touchups. Last weekend I painted a friend’s entry in BM Aura “Black Raspberry” and it is gorgeous, just gorgeous. I used the Aura paint in eggshell finish. This is an exciting year to discover all these shades of white, including the 2016 colour. Practice on a small section first. Just finished the whole house and it looks great. For every can of Aura, my guys use a can and a half of other brands. After the second coat there are still patchy, uneven spots ALL OVER. It’s self-priming, low voc and the colorants get locked in the paint. They have sold too many bubble gum rings with fancy labels. My contractor was shocked at the price. Price was a concern for both, but I was too young and dumb to worry too much because I wasn’t paying for it. If people have problems with the finish streaking after application, it is not the paint, it is the skill level of the applicator. We had the same bad experience with Aura as David did. Is it perhaps the tin manufacturing? Other colors may be fine. I am going to try the pearl in regal and see if it’s worth the 50 dollars. Other people have mentioned Behr on this board. I have used Aura matte to paint the walls and ceiling of my kitchen and walls of stairs and hallways. I just finished painting a bedroom with Benjamin Moore’s Aura. I touched it up, it was still perfect. I recently switched to the Aura paint and can’t imagine using anything else – this stuff is FABULOUS. I stumbled over this blog looking for something else and found some negative comments to be very misleading. Outstanding product! It required less than a teaspoon of touch-up for the texture “craters,” which I dabbed with an eyeliner brush. John, When you compare paint quality between brands and grades within a brand, there IS a difference in performance, both in application and durability. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. We have used the satin sheen in 1 and 2 bases. Based on talking to BM there was no compatibility issue. Aura hides better than any paint on the market. So when you wash your walls it doesn’t wipe off on your rag. I’ve heard Pittsburgh Paints has an affordable waterborne paint. the regal is ok but if i had to bet money it will be gone real soon. If you want to paint red over a white wall Aura is it. I am pretty sure Aura is not designed specifically for woodwork. Often one gallon can give two coats to the walls of a mid size bedroom, whereas you might use 1.5 to 2 gallons of the lower grades. It’s available in the flatter paint and totally washable . There were no complaints from the handy man either. THESE PAINTERS NEED TO FOCUS ON THERE WORKMANSHIP AND BUY BETTER PAINT.. are Prepare the surface,prime the surface then paint the surface. It’s done in a day. Would love to hear from pro painters because we are hiring a pro painter to do it right. Advance is very tough and durable. My tips for painting are as follows: 1. With the AURA, only one coat was needed and it was a lot smoother looking. When we laid on on thinner it didn’t cover. Plus, everytime I wash the walls with these paints, the color comes off on the rags. I had the exterior of my home painted with BM 5 years ago. But that pays for itself. The living room is circular, 16 ft. high with four floor-to-ceiling Swiss windows facing all directions. I’m also creatively challenged as someone previously posted, and it’s just easier to look in a magazine and say “That’s it, that’s the color I want.” and then be able to get it. Benjamin Moore Cabinet Paint: Painting cabinets is a great way to update your kitchen, bathroom, or even your laundry room without spending a lot of money. But not having to prime is pretty nice, plus it puts on a really hard coat. Good luck. Every room that I have painted so far required two coats. Honestly, my walls were beautiful and I am really fussy. Thanks so much for your feedback. If you like less sheen the matte finish is nice. For example, though it may look good with one coat, the added thickness of a second layer can mean the difference between being able to and not being able to wash a wall. Benny Moore is not what it used to be – period. If you use poor techniques, tools, or a bad batch, you’ll likely get terrible results no matter which paint you use. As others have mentioned you must adapt your painting techniques for this product. He then spent about 10 minutes going over with us how to paint with it, giving us tips and advice, making sure we had the right rollers and tools for the job. I primed a wood door (it dried for one week). But they have nothing like Advance. Rub against it and you’ve got a mark. They offer classic colors to trendy colors. I have used the aura in their high gloss (even though my NYC apartment walls are crap) to make the room look bigger and it does, I have also used their medium gloss in my dining room and its equally as beautiful. Period. My state has outlawed the Satin Impervo for trim, so I either drive over to Kentucky, or give the Advance a try. John Williams- It is a covering just like flooring and fabric. Once I used Benjamim Moore paint, I’ve rarely used any other. I am ready to buy a 1400 sq. They at least should warn the non-pro’s to not use any tape. I just finished up basement painting project for a customer and the final stage I use Benjamin Moore Regal Aqua Velvet paint. You can even put it on new dry wall. Yes, it cost more than the BM Regal Satin, but I did not have to use a primer (I had to use a primer on all my other rooms to completely cover this color) and in only one coat I was done.