House Painter Forum

Professional Painters => Professional Painters and associated Trades Forum => Topic started by: 98mustangguy on September 01, 2007, 04:10:55 PM

Title: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: 98mustangguy on September 01, 2007, 04:10:55 PM
OK I have used Behr regular and ultimate, American Traditions, Olympic, Glidden, Sherwin Williams Duration and i think A100?. Out of these I prefer Behr but what does everyone else here prefer and if you like another company ex.Benjamin Moore  ect post it here. Obviosly I am new here and only paint for side jobs so I dont get to try to many companies out, but would like to see what everyone else likes so I have an idea of what I Should and should not try. If possible could you give me a real brief explanation of what you like also( ie.  good hide/ good coverage/ good adhesion to certaint substrates ect) By the way I do almost all exterior painting thanks in advance for all the help
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: paint57 on September 01, 2007, 08:42:43 PM
If you want to use the best then try Pittsburgh Manor Hall Timeless. It is a little pricey but you get what you pay for. You'll notice the quality after just a couple of brushfulls.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Workaholic on September 01, 2007, 09:24:39 PM
Pittsburgh manor hall is all right, but i prefer using ICI Durus gloss or semi depending on what i am using it for.
LOL, ICI Dulux is what i meant to say. I do like there int/ext durus for interior trim.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: rmichael on September 01, 2007, 10:09:40 PM
We used Pratt & Lambert until the SW buyout years back, then we switched to Devoe's Weather King.. a really great exterior paint for use in low temps, also ICI's Dulux exterior semi-gloss has high end properties at a reasonable price.... JMHO...
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Bauer on September 01, 2007, 11:49:32 PM
I like Sherwin Williams Duration. Pricey but a very nice finish.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: D. Berry on September 03, 2007, 01:01:26 PM
I've had great longevity with Porter Paints.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: tallpaul on September 05, 2007, 09:40:53 PM
To quote from an old post, "As for HD's line: i'd rather leave the walls bare than put Behr on the walls"

I've really been enjoying using the SW Duration this summer.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: PaintPro on September 05, 2007, 10:19:54 PM
I'm not a fan of Behr at all.  Whoever rated them number one must have never tried to use anything else. 
The absolute best paint I've ever used is Farrow and Ball.  That stuff is like a vacation.  I have a wealthy client here (NC) that insists on it.  They order the stuff from California and w/ shipping it usually runs close to $100/gallon for int. flat!  It's ridiculous, but it is smooooth.  I like Ben Moore too, but I'm not a fan of SW/Duron since SW bought them out.   
As far as everyday paint, I'm a PPG/Porter man. Their latex over oil int. trim product, Advantage 900, is excellent. It actually stays put after minimal scuffing, unlike Sig, Select (doesnt stay or cover).  I also like their VinylFlat int. wall paint.  It covers well and usually runs about 450-500 sq. ft/gallon.  Porters'  exterior product, Permanizer, is simply awesome. It's expensive, but if quality counts, give it a try.  Their next step down, AcriShield is good too.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: the PAINTSMITH on September 06, 2007, 04:49:54 PM
I won't put the crap through one of my rigs, but the "alkyd-enhanced" latex paints are nasty tough...
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: CarlThePainter on September 06, 2007, 07:22:00 PM
Am I the only one that thinks Home Depot is slipping Consumer Reports some cash under the table to report favorably on Behr paint? Other people have to be suspicious....it's ranked #1! I can come up with no other rational explanation.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: 98mustangguy on September 06, 2007, 08:22:17 PM
Consumer Reports has been known to be crooked before, but to be honest I have never had a problem with Behr paint. Of the brands I have used  Sherwin Williams, Glidden america finest, Olympic, American Traditions, Dutch Boy and a couple others I actually prefer Behr  but I hear so many people down on them here so I figured I would ask what everyone else likes. From the replies it looks like many people like the high end Benjamin Moore so I will probably try that out. At my full time job they use Pratt and Lambert epoxy based wall paint and honestly I can say I would not use it  I do not like the sheen the coverage although it does stand up pretty well to repaeted washings. Maybe Behrs interior paint is far different as I notice most of you seem to do alot of interior while I do strictly exterior. As far as exterior paint Behr has never done me wrong  it sprays well, covers well and lookin at some house that I did including my own house 5-7 years ago seems to hold up just fine. Just my 2 cents on my own topic. Thanks for the tips though I will check the BM line out on my next job. Hopefully it works out as good as i suspect since getting anything other than Behr or sherwin   like BM,ICI,Hadlocks or other suppliers will all add at least 30 minutes driving into my already normally hectic day
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Bauer on September 09, 2007, 12:27:14 AM
Am I the only one here that thinks BM is overrated and overpriced? Don't get me wrong i love the Impervo. Other than that I'd rather use SW or ICI.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Jared on September 09, 2007, 12:53:06 AM
As has been mentioned in previous posts, any given brand of paint is only as good as the local support you get with it - at least, from the contractor's perspective...

This makes some brands the #1 choice in some regions, when the same brand could be the LAST choice in others.

BM tends to do very poorly in this regard when one is dealing with the mom & pop hardware stores or otherwise non-dedicated paint dealers.

Personally, my most skilled tinters & color matchers are at my local independent BM dealer - so they get the majority of my business.  My local ICI is competent, I go to them whenever I need the 4216 or something BM doesn't have.  My local SW is a total joke, they can't mix 2 matching gallons to save their lives, and they SO don't care whether I buy from them or not - so I don't.

In the end, as long as you're using an appropriate paint that you like to use, you have the best chance for success.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Lynjowoman on September 09, 2007, 10:25:03 AM
Jared

I'm glad to hear that SW dealers are the same everywhere. At least I know it isn't just the south with incompetent dealers. You wait forever & then not to sure the color is right. That is why we use ICI mostly.

Lynjo
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: lackamoola on September 09, 2007, 04:13:39 PM
The local SW stores have shown me little in the way of customer service.
They seem to cater more to the new construction guys. Makes sense as they buy a lot more paint than I do. That plus the fact that my local BM dealer really works hard for my business and my customer base loves BM. All this combined makes BM my first choice every time. I admit this may be based in ignorance of other products, but I seem to stick with what works.   
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Workaholic on September 09, 2007, 06:16:21 PM
That is a big reason why we do not use SW, poor customer service, walking in and being ignored is a real turn off. We get reps telling us all the time that that does not happen any more, along with that and not having comparabile prices.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: PaintPro on September 09, 2007, 06:34:21 PM
Thats funny.  Thats my biggest complaint about SW...their customer service.  I didn't realize how much of a common complaint that was.  I would be very concerned about that if I were them.  As far as Duron...I used them for about 10 years.  When SW bought them out, they slowly (and sneakily) started raising their prices.  3 times in 1 year to be exact. They wouldn't mention it, it would just show up on the receipts.  SW/Duron is a company on the downward spiral, and their lack of interest in their customers is a major reason in my opinion.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: tallpaul on September 09, 2007, 07:26:49 PM
I have a great SW store here. I buy far less paint from them than many customers but they still give my name to potential customers all the time and are always eager to help me. I'll mention (jokingly) something about a product being too high and the manager will discount it and set the new price in the computer for my account. And I've never had a problem with color match. I had the same experience in Texas with the SW store I used there. I guess it just depends on the the relationship you have with them and the quality of management.  But I have to agree with Jared about the local BM dealers. They seem to know more about painting than most painters...or so they let on.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Lynjowoman on September 09, 2007, 08:14:23 PM
We don't use BM here because they are never there to mix your paint. It's a small hardware store & only 1 guy can mix the paint if it is a custom color. It's a crap shoot as to whether he is there or not. He may be gone for days at the time. Just can't wait that long. There is/was another hardware store close by that sells it, but you couldn't even get in the door for junk piled around everywhere & her cats. Never even tried to get paint there. I think she just went out of business last week. If BM would open a good paint store in our area they would have a lot of business. Not any chance of that though, they are to loyal to the hardware stores.

Lynjo
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: lackamoola on September 10, 2007, 05:52:42 AM
Lynjo,
If that were the case around here I wouldn't use BM either. A hardware store is a retail business that does not discount much. Maybe worse than that doesn't have people that are really trained to mix paint.
I'm lucky to have a BM dealer thats been around since WWII and has 4
locations. Paint stores need to realize with paint being so similar in quality, for a lot of us it really comes down to customer service.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Lynjowoman on September 10, 2007, 11:58:10 AM
lackamoola

I agree with you completely. Good service goes a long way in any business.

Lynjo
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: CarlThePainter on September 10, 2007, 08:34:01 PM
I'm trying to convert some of my paint purchases to SW and it's kind of scary.  I remember back at least 10 years ago when your SW rep would set up your pricing and then every time you went to buy something it would come up higher than what the rep quoted you.  So, you would have to call the rep all the time to have it adjusted.  Or your pricing would be fine in your home stores computer but when you went to buy something on your account at a different store, the pricing would come up different.  I just started my own account with SW and the same crap is still going on....it makes me want to take my business elsewhere.  I got quoted $12 per gallon for Pro Mar 200 eggshell and it came up at $20 at the register and I call the rep and he sets it at $18.  I'm like, what happened to the $12? Was that just a teaser? LOL.  How hard can it be to enter your pricing into the system and have it uniform at all the SW stores you go into? Anyone else experience this or is it just me?
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: PaintPro on September 10, 2007, 08:44:22 PM
Yep, all the time Carl.  Thats one of the reasons I haven't gone there in 10 years or more.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Lynjowoman on September 10, 2007, 08:48:48 PM
paintpro

I just couldn't resist any longer. Whats up with the smoking baby? ;D

From NC also
Lynjo
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: PaintPro on September 10, 2007, 09:38:54 PM
It just struck me as odd/cool looking.  I wish I could tell you it had some deep seeded meaning, but nope.

I know you said the coast...where abouts?
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Lynjowoman on September 10, 2007, 09:41:39 PM
Just outside of New Bern.

I though it was kind of cute. Everybody hates us smokers though. Just though he was a little young.  ;D

Lynjo
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Jared on September 10, 2007, 09:49:30 PM
Quote
Whats up with the smoking baby?

I just assumed it was a "Winston-Salem" reference.  ;)

But you think everyone hates smokers?  Try SoCal - we now have towns that have a ban on all public smoking!  (Just passed in El Cajon, a few miles from where I am.)
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Lynjowoman on September 10, 2007, 09:53:24 PM
Jared
They tried that around here but it didn't go over to well. You know this is tobacco country.

Lynjo
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: rmichael on September 10, 2007, 09:56:37 PM
I thought it was a French baby....  :D
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: venusxx on September 11, 2007, 03:36:26 PM
The smoking baby reminds me of a joke that I thought was cute...

Little Johnnie is walking down the street smoking a cigarette. He meets one of his Father's old friends who says to him..

Johnnie, what are you doinge smoking a ciarette? You are only 10 years old! You shouldn't be smoking! When did you start smoking?

Johnnie says, I started smoking right after the first time I had sex.

His Father's friend is shocked... Sex? Oh my gosh! You are too young to be having sex! When was the first time you had sex?

Johnnie smiles and says, I can't remember... I was drunk.

Vee...
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: AM Painting on September 11, 2007, 07:27:06 PM
I haven't had many problems with Sw customer service. I had 3 stores cranking out paint for me when i was in new construction in Colorado. 2 in Colorado and 1 in Wyoming. The one right down the block from my house wasn't up to my standards so I would always make the track to the other store. I am sure it is just a matter of who is in charge over in any given store. Now I am back in Michigan  (repaint remod market). I consume far less paint but I am still treated very well. Certainly not in love with all their products but I don't think any paint supplier is flawless. You just have to find a few guys you find to be solid , and for the love of god stay away from the 17 year old kid behind the counter! I mean BM is a far better product all around just wanted to stick up for SW a bit.

Geez talk about a runaway thread.............this is supposed to be about ext. paint and I am pretty much an int. guy so I'll shut up now
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: rmichael on September 11, 2007, 09:59:50 PM
The smoking baby reminds me of a joke that I thought was cute...

Little Johnnie is walking down the street smoking a cigarette. He meets one of his Father's old friends who says to him..

Johnnie, what are you doinge smoking a ciarette? You are only 10 years old! You shouldn't be smoking! When did you start smoking?

Johnnie says, I started smoking right after the first time I had sex.

His Father's friend is shocked... Sex? Oh my gosh! You are too young to be having sex! When was the first time you had sex?

Johnnie smiles and says, I can't remember... I was drunk.

Vee...

LOL...  ;D
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: rivdog on September 16, 2007, 03:30:08 AM
Carl, yesterday i went thru the 2 discount program.  The salesperson, said "oops" wrong account, "that was the one before we changed ur discount".   Yeah Ampainting, stay away from the 17 yr old.  Im a production painter, lots of paint that the contractor pays for.  I buy 3m mask, 3m tape, strainers, like its goin out of style, 90% of my spraying is out of a 5gal bucket, and its all on my GC.  Thye guys at SW are definitely not painters, but my ?s 2 them are not about technique, but products and price.   There are 4 employees in my local store.  1 i trust, 1 is ok, 1 is the 17yr old, 1 is the wallpaper person.  Im kind of in a hurry when i go in, and they R very accommadating 2 help me out.  I go there bcz they take care of me well.  I think they have a huge DIY business that slows the PROS down, call ahead 4 faster service.  I live in W Mass and my store gpes the x mile 2 help me out
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: Bauer on September 16, 2007, 09:52:30 PM
  I think they have a huge DIY business that slows the PROS down, call ahead 4 faster service. 

Calling ahead, that is key!
Sometimes i have to go behind the counter and finish shaking my own paint when they spend too much time with joe homeowner. that usually hurries them up  ;)
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: jvt321 on September 18, 2007, 04:24:01 PM
I just used BM Mooreguard on exterior trim, plus garage doors. Really like it. Touch ups were great. Couldn't notice where I'd touched up. Haven't used the super spec in at least a couple of years, but the Mooreguard which almost, but not quite, double the price was good.
jvt
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: lackamoola on September 18, 2007, 06:19:14 PM
I guess by now everybody knows I've used BM exclusively for a long time. What works for me is using Super-Spec on walls because of the cost savings, and I find it touches up as good or better than Regal. I use top-line enamels (latex or oil) on trim, doors, cabinets, ect. Dulamel is my fav. Cost more but I price it into the job. Exterior I use top-line primers (mostly oil) and topcoats. That being said, Super Spec line is good paint. I have done jobs entirely with it and would not hesitate to suggest it to customer if they wanted to save money. I would warranty SS just like I would BM's higher priced lines.
Not trying to get you do anything different than you already do, just sayin' what works for me.
Title: Re: What is the best exterior paint
Post by: RandalJFurburger on September 19, 2012, 10:53:51 PM
I'll say this one time and one time only Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior has not equal.  Ben Moore has the patent on the waterborne colorant system that is used in all of their new line including Regal Select int/ext Aura int/ext Ultra Spec int/ext as well as several others.  Yes it is pricey but if you're going to pay a professional 3,000+ to do the work don't you want something that will last, not fade, and keep a consistant color.  If you're a professional you should want to put the best possible product on your job because your job is a reflection of you, if you explain the product to your customer they will be willing to pay for it seeing as how paint is the least expensive thing on the job.