Wrench97
Well-known member
I liked Pittsburgh/PPG automotive paints, never tried or remember seeing the house paint locally.
What paint brands do you avoid
- Thread starter notmine
- Start date
Certified Drunk
Well-known member
I got tired of going to Sherwin-Williams, incompetent employees and lack of inventory. Started going to Home Depot and using Behr.
Pen & Wrench
Well-known member
We use Sherwin Williams, but I love and use Valspar's indoor/exterior white paint, seems like really good stuff. We have used Benjamin Moore and had good luck with it. Used to use Ace Hardware paint and it seemed really good. My wife bought some Dutch Boy paint that was really cheap, in their defense, maybe it wasn't their best paint, but it seemed like spreading cool aid on the wall, three coats and it still didn't cover very well, and we haven't used it since.
I started using Benjamin Moore 35 years ago when I bought my first house and have pretty much stuck with it with great results.
Part of the reason I use it is because I have stuck with the same paint store (and its successor) as well.
I like dealing with pros and they are very good. Great at matching and I trust their recommendations.
However, they are a good ways away from me now, so I sometimes go to a nearby Sherwin-Williams.
I have to say, their paint is just as nice to work with.
Staff turnover is a lot higher, but they seem to know their stuff.
I have worked with Behr and Pittsburgh paints a few times when helping other people and was unimpressed by both brands.
In one case the I also used the other guys' (cheap) brushes/rollers, which made it all the worse. Since then, I always bring my own tools.
Part of the reason I use it is because I have stuck with the same paint store (and its successor) as well.
I like dealing with pros and they are very good. Great at matching and I trust their recommendations.
However, they are a good ways away from me now, so I sometimes go to a nearby Sherwin-Williams.
I have to say, their paint is just as nice to work with.
Staff turnover is a lot higher, but they seem to know their stuff.
I have worked with Behr and Pittsburgh paints a few times when helping other people and was unimpressed by both brands.
In one case the I also used the other guys' (cheap) brushes/rollers, which made it all the worse. Since then, I always bring my own tools.
My experience with interior Behr left me unimpressed. Went on very nice, but seemed like no matter how many coats I applied I never got full coverage. The Benjamin Moore I've used outside has been very impressive. Sticks like it's been electroplated. Also, the people at the Benjamin Moore store put more effort into matching my paint than anyone has a right to expect. They achieved a 99.9% perfect match for paint that was decades old. I have used multiple grades of Valspar and Sherwin Williams interior and exterior that all seemed very good.
67carl
Well-known member
We had the exterior of our house painted. I wanted to do it myself, but we had so many other projects going, so we hired it out. Anyway, they used Sherwin Williams and we really liked it and it's all we use now. We did some other paint projects, and our paint contractor told us we could buy it under his account at SW anytime and get a discount. Contractors with SW account get a significant price reduction - something like 40%. It's an unusual situation we have, but if you know someone..
bwringer
Well-known member
I've always found it mind-boggling how many people cheap out on the rollers and brushes used to apply paint that costs $40+ gallon. The good stuff isn't even THAT damn expensive, and you can paint for days with one high-quality roller if you put a bag or cover over it when it's not in use.
The very minor savings aren't worth all the lint and bristles stuck to the walls let alone doing twice the work.
YMMV. When I go to Home Crapo they scan my sample and the computer mixes the paint. It may or may not be a perfect match.
When I go to a real paint store the computer matching is only the first phase. The employee tweaks the formula to get a perfect match even if it means scrapping the first gallon mixed and putting it on the oops shelf. Sometimes they prefer you leave the sample with them a few days so they can make it perfect. IMHO it pays to buy paint from a real paint store if precise color matching is important.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
One of my first HS summer jobs was for a really small SW company store... So I was kind of brand loyal to them for decades. I still consider them probably one of the best - sure, they're expensive, but they work. Cool aside - I learned HOW to color match. There really IS an art to it, and it's not just the sample but the lighting it's under. Took me a few weeks of practice until I felt confident to know which bases and tints gave you what results. Probably one of my 3 favorite early jobs - I only wish they did better business so I could have stayed on.
Another one - Zinnser. More of a commercial brand, but I figure if they're good enough to paint bridges over salt water, they're not going to fall off my walls. Unfortunately, like SW, have a full wallet and an empty credit card. But they formulate some AMAZING stuff you can't get anywhere else.
Ben Moore is about in my intermediate range, again only because I like what I like, but nothing wrong with it!
I avoid Bad News Behr, only because why only put down 2 coats of quality paint every decade when you can put down 5 coats every 2 years? Chalky, thin, and yeah.
The color match thing is, well, remember what I said about it being an art? Well, you're relying on an old and abused TV camera under store fluorescent and arc lighting at 5000K to accurately capture the sample color, then an old and buggy computer program will take a best guess how to duplicate it, and have it show up on your home walls under 2700K incandescent lighting.
Another one - Zinnser. More of a commercial brand, but I figure if they're good enough to paint bridges over salt water, they're not going to fall off my walls. Unfortunately, like SW, have a full wallet and an empty credit card. But they formulate some AMAZING stuff you can't get anywhere else.
Ben Moore is about in my intermediate range, again only because I like what I like, but nothing wrong with it!
I avoid Bad News Behr, only because why only put down 2 coats of quality paint every decade when you can put down 5 coats every 2 years? Chalky, thin, and yeah.
The color match thing is, well, remember what I said about it being an art? Well, you're relying on an old and abused TV camera under store fluorescent and arc lighting at 5000K to accurately capture the sample color, then an old and buggy computer program will take a best guess how to duplicate it, and have it show up on your home walls under 2700K incandescent lighting.
nh_yota
Well-known member
Ben Moore from the local paint store. Behr and Valspar *****. Pros love Sherwin-Williams because they get heavy discounts on it.
JABgj
Well-known member
Used Behr for years because HD is close to home. Worked OK inside and does not last very well outside. We redid a room with paneling and painted with Behr and there was a reaction of some sort and it stank and would not stop, even after drying. Long story short, Behr refunded the cost of the paint and a little more to cover the paneling. Paneling was removed and replaced and painted with SW and it worked great. That paint lays and covers very well. Worth the extra coin to do it once.
Uncle murph
Well-known member
Same here.Glidden on the other hand is a waste of effort and money IMO.
ZRX61
Well-known member
The only advantage I'm aware of with Behr, is that the profits paid for the restoration of two P51's, a P47 & a P38 
And some nice cars:
duniacapricorn.wordpress.com
And some nice cars:
American Hero
Jack Croul’s story is not fiction, but a real story, one that we would all love to have lived. a young bomber pilot in world war II, an enthusiastic entrepreneur and a passionate fan of motor racin…
duniacapricorn.wordpress.com
Last edited:
Prospecter
Well-known member
I pick a brand and stick with it. For the amount of painting I do as a homeowner, a consistent brand means I always know what paint I am going over, and generally how the paint will perform (although some paints have changed in the past 50 years!)! Benjamin Moore and Min-wax and Cabot for me. (And Epifanes for the boat.) Those products may, or may not, be the best, but I know how they will handle when I use them.
wolfhawk73
Well-known member
Amen. Good paint ain't cheap. Cheap paint ain't good.
wolfhawk73
Well-known member
I've used Sherwin Williams, Lowe's house brands, Ace's house brands, Glidden, Behr...the list goes on. As said earlier, prep is key, and don't buy the cheap stuff.
I normally use Glidden's high-end stuff, but that's only because my cousin is in sales with them and I get his discount. There's an Ace 3 miles from my house, and their Valspar and Royal have worked out well.
I normally use Glidden's high-end stuff, but that's only because my cousin is in sales with them and I get his discount. There's an Ace 3 miles from my house, and their Valspar and Royal have worked out well.
DGersic
Well-known member
I’ve been using Valspar exclusively for years and have always been happy with its price and performance. I‘m scraping and prepping the house for paint now, and the Valspar paint I put on 20 years ago is mostly in good shape. There are loose spots and bubbles, but 20 years of northern Illinois winters is hard on paint.
marinusdees
Well-known member
Sherwin-Williams bought put Parker. Continued their color codes for a while. I bought the SW and it has exceeded my expectations. I used Parker previously.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I personally haven’t found a bad one but I also don’t have much experience painting. We usually use Glidden paint which works excellent. Surprised no one else has mentioned that brand yet. No way I’d go to a paint store and pay out the tail for paint lol. I’ve used Glidden, Valspar and Behr that I know of all do great. Maybe others too. Whatever is available at Lowe’s, Home Depot or Walmart is what we get.
I've used the Pittsburgh "paramount" line and have been happy. I would say it's at least comparable to the mid grade Sherwin Williams "Superpaint". The prices were pretty close last time I bought.