Better paint is expensive but at least you’ll get what you pay for. That is, more expensive paint usually is better than the cheap stuff; something you can’t always say about wine, hotels and lawyers. But what is it that makes one paint better than another? For me, when dealing with interior latex paint it comes down to two things; coverage and water resistance. The coverage issue is obvious. The fewer coats you need the less you have to paint. Benjamin Moore lived on its reputation for a long time but their new line of Aura paints is really good, and really expensive. Their reds cover in two or three coats which is unheard of over white walls and the paint dries very hard, sticks like crazy and is very water resistant. That last point is important to me because I put a lot of glazes over my paint and a water tight finish allows the glazes to work better. More commonly though, it makes the painted surface very washable. Scuff marks and kid dirt wipe right off.
A paint that is just as good and less expensive is called Muralo Ultra. It is made in Bayonne NJ, and the only place you can find it near here in Goldberg’s Hardware in Tarrytown. It is way worth the drive. I had a workman install a new thermostat once. He had just finished working on my boiler so his hands were covered in soot. When he was done his hands were clean and the soot was all over my foyer wall. I had painted the foyer with Muralo Ultra Matte Finish. A few swipes with a damp cloth and it was all gone. I avoided repainting my walls and getting into a fight all for the extra 10 bucks that I spent for good paint. Now that’s livin’.
Have fun Painting
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