For two coats, that would be under two gallons. However, some paints take up to 4 hours to dry, and others take several days or more to fully curemeaning the finish is no longer tacky. For one room in my own project, I painted 286 square feet with two coats and have just under half of a can left. I'd use both of them over SW paints due as I believe they're as good or better, and the cost is usually better. It has eleven color families with varying shades, giving the customer more shades to choose from than Sherwin Williams. Young told us that anything less [than 100-percent acrylic] means inferior quality. Campbell said that he looks for paints with good coverage and good hiding ability, which are typically your 100-percent acrylic paints. Binders to avoid include vinyl acrylic and vinyl copolymer. "If we are aiming for a high-end look, we may want to look into . IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? It goes onto the wall easily, providing even coverage for most surface types. We also note that this brand costs considerably less than other types of paint. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. The color wasnt done right, so you can usually buy them for half price. Obviously, this may not work for a living room where a specific color is needed, but it might be an inexpensive way to paint a garage or some other utility space. This could be important for high-traffic areas where dirt might infiltrate the paint, or if the finish is subjected to lots of touching and bumping. Theres no question that this is a decent chunk of change, but our painters told us that there are ways to potentially lessen the costs. This makes their refund policy and procedure more complex and the refund less accessible to customers. Meanwhile, the Sherwin-Williams brand is geared towards professional painters and homeowners willing to pay more for the best quality. They use different tinters with inferior pigments and resin, Thanks. We did find that at least two major brands, Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams, send many of their paints through additional independent testing to ensure lowered emissions during the drying stage. Base . If you've ever experienced a headache, nausea, or nasal irritation during or after painting a small, enclosed space, it's likely the result of inhaling volatile organic compounds (VOCs). "For example, if the paint is for a rental, we would want something low- maintenance (easy touch-ups and durable)," he says. A second important aspect to note is called the percent volume solids. However, each shine for different reasons. Its almost as maddening as choosing between Paper White and Whisper White. Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality. Darker colors may take longer to set than lighter colors. Valspar is a mid-priced paint, while Sherwin-Williams is a premium paint. Thus I needed a white paint that looked flat but had durability like a better wall paint to resist stains/smudges. At a little over $50 a gallon at the time of writing, Regal Select isnt cheap, but, like other high-end paints, it applies in fewer coats, looks better, and lasts longer than its cheaper competitors. Young explained that $50 to $60 for a good paint is worth the investment in terms of longevity, quality of finish, and ease of workmanship. Apparently, many other painters agree with this, as three others we spoke to chose Benjamin Moores Regal Select as their paint of choice. Most ceilings are typically painted in flat white paint. Still, it makes sense, even if for odor alone, to paint in a well-ventilated room. Sherwin Williams emerald is about $11-12/gal more expensive when they have 40% off. If you buy a budget Valspar paint, you may have to apply at least three coats of the paint to achieve the desired coverage. These gases are emitted in some quantity by paint along with many household liquids. Let's break down each store's paint inventory individually and with the price tag attached. I went to Lowe's and got one gallon of Sherwin Williams. Here are the top five exterior paints of 23 tested. Antimicrobial Provides a mold- and mildew-resistant finish. Valspar does not typically match up to Sherwin Williams in terms of longevity. I recently painted my entire house with a mix of infinity and cashmere. With just one coat, this high-quality paint. However, these premium features come at a cost. Pebbles. So while you will only need one coat of Sherwin Williams to get the optimal coverage, expect the companys budget options to be an exception to the rule. Anyone who has painted knows how much of a hassle it can be to apply primer before the main coat. It used to be Valspar Reserve, it's a great paint. The device reads the RGB (red, green, blue) values of the color and identifies paint choices that match. Which means you shouldn't have to worry about permanent brush strokes or roller marks. Sherwin-Williams to buy Valspar for $11.3 billion. Whether its finding great products or discovering helpful advice, well help you get it right (the first time). Whereas, Valspar Signature also keeps the zero VOC technology (contains 0 gram of VOC per liter) and low odor. Choosing Paint: Sherwin Williams, Behr, or Valspar? You can purchase this paint in eggshell, flat, satin, or semi-gloss finishes. The end result was fantastic. I know most people here swoon all over SW paints, but they're average quality and absolutely overpriced. Valspar still operates as an independent brand mainly geared towards low-budget customers, but Sherwin Williams Company is now the parent company overseeing its operation. Other paints simply werent mentioned by the painters we spoke to. If Regal Select isnt readily available in your area, we also like Sherwin-Williams Cashmere. This means the pigments and colors are not going to be the same, they will be cheaper, less of them, and probably inferior pigment types. So make sure to examine the color under the most prevalent lighting conditions. Valspar Reserve ($44 per gallon at Lowes), 4. Color. In most cases, these paint coats are highly washable and are mildew and scratch resistant due to their unique formulas. Like our top pick, its available at specialty paint retailers, so you can have some confidence in who youre buying it from. What is the definition of VOC? Both websites also offer some type of paint visualization tool. Make an impression that lasts with Infinity, our most durable interior paint and primer. It was clearly the best paint job Ive ever doneand the one that took the least amount of effort. Benjamin Moores Ben line of paint is a cheaper option that doesnt skimp too much on quality. Sherwin-Williams has the ColorSnap Visualizer, and Valspar has the Paint Visualizer, both of which are helpful online resources for comparing different paint colors side-by-side. And what the other poster said about one coat coverage: it doesn't really exist. Like Regal Select, Ben is only available at specialty paint retailers, which, as we said, our painters highly recommended for the knowledge base youre likely to find there. For a surface benefiting from a flat finish, such as a dining room or bedroom, BEHR Ultra Scuff Defense is a great option. Similar to our top pick, but wont cover as well and isnt as strong over time. Valspar Duramax Exterior ($40 per gallon at . The easiest thing to look for in a paint (and the only useful information found on the can) is that it has a 100-percent acrylic binder. This was the second-most-mentioned paint from our survey of painters, with two of them recommending it above all others. Ideally, wall paint should resist stain and be easy to clean, especially when applied to high-traffic areas and homes with pets or kids. It's a combined paint and primer, and can be used as a primer before applying the main coat. These are retailers registered with the company and authorized to sell the companys paint lines. Valspar. While some of these shades are pretty similar and nearly redundant, they give the customer a much wider selection and higher chances of getting the accurate color. Full Story. "People [often] ask for an eggshell finish because it isn't too shiny, and you can wipe fingerprints and dirt off the wall easily," he says. It makes a bluer tone in your darker rooms. However, the two paints also stand out in other ways. Campbells advice is to search for coupons before purchasing the paint. If durability is your main consideration, go for the most premium Valspar paint. But as home improvement projects go, painting is one of the cheapest. This paint is available in five sheens and endless hues, as well as custom colors. That said, both paint brands offer a wide range of options likely to suit a wide variety of customer demands. Family Handyman even refers to a 100-percent acrylic binder as the most important thing to know when buying paint. This price likely has to do with the high amount of solids, ranging from 40 percent to almost 48 percent (depending on sheen), more than any other paint we looked at. Longevity was a big concern we wanted to address with this research overall, and it was a major factor we felt we couldnt predict with short-term lab testing in limited environmental conditions. The next type of finish is low-luster, which reflects light only slightly. Unless they've changed the formula, the Lowes' paint is better than SW emerald. She shares her favorite life hacks on her blog The Taboo Textbook. But we recommend Rust-Oleum Chalked as the best chalk paint. Of course, Valspar also offers some premium paint lines for as high as 40 dollars. It's also a breeze to wash off with soap and water. Weve learned, however, that a low-VOC or zero-VOC label on a paint can doesnt tell you anything about offgassing. I would plan on two coats of paint no matter what you end up using. Modest Silver. SW 7072. We asked Benjamin Moore about Regal Selects color palette and they told us that the paint is available in thousands of colors which include all Benjamin Moores color collections except Color Stories, which is only available in Aura [their ultra-premium paint]. This includes many historical colors as well as more contemporary ones (and nearly everything in between). The EPA has established a limit of 2.1 pounds of VOC per gallon. "Traditionally, the easiest wall paints to wipe clean have been those with a sheen," says DeCrosta. Separate paint and primers typically require waiting for the primer to dry before you can apply the paint. SW 7073. While Valspar has a similar satisfaction guarantee, submitting a claim is a bit more complicated. . Emerald is watered down compared to their super paint. Last for Long The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines VOCs as "any compound of carbon, excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates, and ammonium carbonate, which participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions." Clark + Kensington Exterior ($37 per gallon at Ace Hardware stores), 3. Bringing the color blue instead of any other color means bringing comfort and aristocracy. You can usually expect to pay a higher price per gallon for more durable formulas, but they're often backed by lifetime warranties. James Glave, Secrets of a Perfect Paint Job, This Old House, The Best Paint for Your Money, DIY Network, What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)?, Environmental Protection Agency, Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality, Environmental Protection Agency, VOC Emissions Certificate of Compliance, USG, Stephany I. Mason and Arthur Ceragioli, Paint Volatile Organic Compound Emissions and Volatile Organic Compound Content Comparison Study, Underwriter's Laboratory, Does EPA Regulate Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Household Products?, Environmental Protection Agency, Reuters, Sherwin-Williams to buy Valspar for $11.3 billion, Fortune, March 20, 2016.