What is a good interior house paint

Terry B
by Terry B
  16 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jan 28, 2012
    This is like asking what is a good wine...there are lots out there as well as some not so great stuff. Personally I like the stuff I can get from my local ACE hardware. Their own name brand, and some pricier Benjamin Moore. Sherwin Williams is also high on my list...low on my list is Behr...but other swear by it. I avoid the "all in one" primer / paint combos...get real primer and real paint. for hard to cover stuff I like the Kilz brand primer.
  • Lin R Lin R on Jan 28, 2012
    We love Benjamin Moore. Get the best paint your budget will allow.
  • 3po3 3po3 on Jan 28, 2012
    I'm a big fan of Sherwin-Williams. The staff is always very helpful and the paint is very good. I've never used Benjamin Moore, though. If possible, I recommend getting your paint direct from one of these manufacturers' stores, rather than Home Depot or Lowes. I have had some bad experiences with the paint mixes from the big box stores.
  • Every professional painter has their own preference here, but in reality they are all pretty much the same. Paint is one of the few things that are roughly priced by quality (as opposed to name brand, etc.). I find that paint priced in the roughly $20 - $35 per gallon range are the best. Less than that and you end up either painting more coats for the same coverage, or end up repainting sooner when the cheap stuff doesn't hold up as long. Things priced higher than that are usually specialty paints or even "true" name brand (ex. Ralph Lauren has their own paint line which is quite expensive) that don't really give any added benefit for the additional price. And I agree with Steve, get your paint from a paint store, not one of the Box stores.
  • Most people just think that paint is paint and the only thing that matters is the color. There are many different properties in paint that make a QUALITY paint ie: coverage, scrubability/ durability, ability to "level" and not show brush or roller marks and low VOCs. I am in full agreement with Dan about the pricing for a gallon of quality paint. As well as his point about the "celebrity private label brands". Those are some of the WORST paints that I have used. I won't mention names but can give you a hint: RL and MS.
  • Donna McCrummen Donna McCrummen on Jan 28, 2012
    Ben Moore or Sherwin Williams - do not use big box store paints. I agree with Lin R. get the best you can afford. Think about the cost of repainting when the paint fails to hold up. Sherwin Williams runs sales quite often check online for coupons. Let us know what you're painting and how you do! Good Luck.
  • Faidra at  CA Global Inc Faidra at CA Global Inc on Jan 28, 2012
    Agree with Donna, Martha Stewart's paint is also very high quality and so is Ralph Lauren which gives you a larger range of designer colors
  • Terry B Terry B on Jan 28, 2012
    Many thanks to all. We also reviewed several on-line comment sites. Since Ace and Ben-Moore got a lot of favorable opinions we went to the local Ace Store - they carry both brands. The local chain of 8 Ace stores is fading out of Ace paint since Ben-Moore was the best seller. Salesman is also a painter and recommended we pay $6.00 more for B-M so that's they way we went - the Premium Egg Shell for $32.00. To Steve G. We lived in Ft. Collins for 15 years - Lexington Green at Drake and Taft Hill. A great town to raise our kids in. Left 22 years ago.
  • Good choice. If you compare 2 exact colors side by side (one cheap, one quality), you would feel the difference immediately. But most people don't paint often enough to appreciate the difference. You did yourself a favor.
  • Donna McCrummen Donna McCrummen on Jan 29, 2012
    You won't be sorry. Good Luck.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jan 29, 2012
    One thing my local Ace does is they sell mis-tint gallons for $5...I got some of that for painting my wood shed down at our cabin...eventually we will side it and paint it to match the cabin but for now it needed someting quick and cheap to protect it....5 bucks...can't pass that up
  • Good call there KMS. For anybody in the Orlando area, there is a great place just downtown off the 408 called Wonder Products that sells high quality paint that has been mis-tinted for like half the typical price. Good place to go if you are flexible on color.
  • Peace Painting Co., Inc. Peace Painting Co., Inc. on Jan 30, 2012
    In our area, only Bennie Moore and Sherlie W. are noteworthy. Because the materials usually only make up 20% of the job, it usually does not make sense to get anything but the best. We like Aura and Duration; they are bullet proof lines of paint. And yes, go to a paint store for paint. Best, CP
  • Clay B Clay B on Jan 30, 2012
    I used to sell Benjamin Moore Paint. Did you know their top of the line "Regal" is the same as the "Super Hide" contractor line. You are paying for the pretty label. I'm sure other paint brands do this also. woth checking out and saving about $5 per gallon. If you are doing colors, have the store tint your primer 1/2 tint of your finish coat, covers better.
  • Good call on the primer tint there Clay. I usually have it tinted about 75% myself. Interesting stuff about the BM paint there. I really have not used any BM in quite a number of years. There is a SW about 1/4 mile from my home, so they get the vast majority of my business.
  • Mary Puskar Mary Puskar on May 18, 2015
    I prefer the following: Pratt and Lambert, Benjamin Moore and Behr. Pratt and Lambert goes on like cream. So nice.