Consumer Reports rates Behr as the best interior paint. Glidden has five exterior paints in the top ten.

It’s always been my belief that Benjamin Moore was the best. Any opinions or suggestions?

 

I have only used Behr (Home Depot) once and felt that it was too thin. I didn't like the results. My personal favorite is Graham; it costs around $35/gallon, but I love the finish. I have also used Laura Ashley made by Valspar (Lowe's) and the Valspar American Traditions quite extensively and have been happy with the results. I have not used Glidden before.

 

From what little I know of consumer reports, their rating of paints does not conicide with the real world use of paint products.

Ben Moore like most paint manufactures has a very good line of paint, also like most manufactures they have a line of paint that isn't all the great. Reputation and price is the best gauge of paints - you get what you pay for.

 

CR has no clue about most of what they test. I gave up on them about 20 years ago when they criticized a sports car for handling like a sports car. DUH - a sports car SHOULD handle like a sports car!!!

IMHO CR is not very objective either. Careful reading reveals most of the verbiage to be subjective.

As for paint - the CR tests don't even test the qualities of paint that make a difference. Granted, many DIYers can't tell the difference, but its the little things that add up to a quality job.

 

I don't think you'll get a unanimous opinion here that BM is the best paint, but few will argue that their top of the line isn't good paint. I've seen a lot of praise here for glidden and sherwin-williams as well. Knowing that consumer reports says something about some product does not influence my decisions.

 

Thank you gentlemen.

I've used lots of paints over the past 30 years. I've been very pleased with BM, S-W, F&H and a few others, but I only use top-of-the-line paints.

CR may be mixing oranges and apples.

 

I thought they tasted funny

 

Into the paint again, Mark?

 

CR, which I respect, support, and subscribe to, does not use pro painters or pro painting criteria for their tests

They may use repeatable Scientific Methods (note caps), but not on what makes good paint

They may even address common DIYer concerns, such as "does it last 15 years?", "Does it look like the chip when I open the cap?", or "Does it dry fast"

Making the paint look like the chip when wet and in the can, or making the paint dry faster or last an unreasonably long time, does not make the paint a better paint
In fact, making the paint do those things makes it fall short in other critical areas

No offense to CR or anyone else, but there are other factors that weigh much heavier when actually applying paint
How it dries, how it adheres, how it covers...the list goes on
Those things that make a good paint are not touched by the CR reports

If their were pro painters or pro painting criteria used for the tests the results would be very different

 

I used Behr for my basement......never again.
I painted one wall a red, and the paint was sooo thick. Then I painted another accent wall a pumpkin colour...it was like painting with water. I am fully aware that darker colours take multiple coats (usually 3), but it took me 5 coats with the Behr red paint. I probably could have used another coat, but I did not want to buy another gallon.

I am a longtime user of Benjamin Moore (20 years) and there is nothing like it. Smooth like butter.

 

Why did you use the Behr? BM can make any color.

"I am a longtime user of Benjamin Moore (20 years) and there is nothing like it. Smooth like butter."


Sounds like you had some defective paint or you didn't use the gray primer like you should have no matter what brand you used. Should have checked the sticky first.Also, there is simply not that much of a difference in the viscosity of paints from the same manufacturer.Sooooooo thick to like water.

What nap roller cover did you use?

More than 12 years ago I painted a dentists small personal office with a Behr deep burgundy red over Navajo white no primer=3 coats=done. Looks good today. I have done others since =3 coats max

This was my first job with a deep red color with the Behr paint. I must say I almost freaked,but alas, two coats later I was out the door. I can't imagine needing 5 or 6 coats. You had to get bad paint, or an idiot mixed the color in the wrong base or something, which can happen with any brand. I have had BM paint mixed that did not look anything like the chip, so accidents can happen outside the big box.

Technique, the right tools, and the right primer definitely have a lot to do with it. I use the gray primer because primer is cheap and dries fast and I can re-coat immediately and I will probably get away with only 2 finish coats that look better[depth] than 3 finish coats over the wrong color . Thank you Floetrol I would never need 5 or 6 coats over any color. It ain't gonna happen.........

Read this part especially.From the Floetrol link.

"Where to Use
• Add to latex paint to enhance performance, improve spray pattern and to ensure better coverage".

It is not necessary,but it makes a difference in all non-glossy latex paints imo.It does not change the color

It seems odd to me that a manufacturer that has been making paint for so long would deliberately put out a product[deep colors] they knew would required 5 or 6 coats to cover[for everybody] when other manufacturers products cover in 3 max. I mean how long would it take before they decided it wasn't worth it to make those colors.

I know it may seem like it to some, but I am not in the business of defending Behr,but I think there are factors other than the actual paint quality to be considered here.

 

Your appraisal makes perfect sense. Thanks!!