Benjamin Moore vs. Sherwin Williams: Which paint is best?
So you’ve decided to paint the exterior of your home. You’ve chosen the colours and know what finish to go with, now it’s time to make the decision many homeowners struggle with: what brand of paint should I use? With so many quality brands out there, this can be a tough question, but most people will gravitate towards two of the most recognizable names in the industry: Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. Both have a long history and a great reputation, but is one better? Almost every professional painter you speak to is going to have an opinion, and will oftentimes swear by one brand or the other, but the fact is that each company has over a century and a half of experience manufacturing high quality paint and providing professional service. At Encore Painting, we regularly work with both and have a great relationship with each brand. That said, here are a few things to keep in mind when comparing the two, as well as some of our personal favourites from each, so you can make the best decision when choosing what brand of paint to use for the exterior of your home.
Is Benjamin Moore exterior paint better than Sherwin Williams?
As we said, Benjamin Moore isn’t necessarily better than Sherwin Williams, but there are many reasons why a painter might choose to go with this classic brand. Unsurprisingly, the main reason would be their high quality house paint. With so much variety, there is a series that will meet whatever painting needs you might have. When it comes to Benjamin Moore’s exterior house paint, the Aura and Regal Select lines are both great choices. The Aura line has excellent coverage – meaning it should take no more than two coats to cover a surface – and it comes off the brush or roller smoothly. As for the Regal Select paints, in addition to having great coverage, they are an all-in-one paint and primer, which can be great for less experienced painters. If you’re going that route, be sure to go for the Regal Select as opposed to just the Regal line. It’s a little more expensive but has better coverage, which makes a big difference! Both the Aura and Regal Select lines are high quality, touch up easily, and would be great choices for the exterior of your home from Benjamin Moore.
Also, in addition to producing high quality paint and giving great service, one thing to know about Benjamin Moore when comparing it to Sherwin Williams is that Benjamin Moore stores are locally owned. Whereas Sherwan Williams stores are owned by the company, Benjamin Moore stores will likely be owned by a member of your community. This does not affect the quality of the paint or the service at all, but it is something to keep in mind if you are making an effort to support local businesses!
How does Sherwin Williams compare to Benjamin Moore?
Just as with Benjamin Moore, there are many reasons why a professional painter would recommend using Sherwin Williams if you are painting the exterior of your home. When it comes to customer service, Sherwin Williams was rated #1 in Customer Satisfaction with Exterior Paints, Exterior Stains and with Paint Retailers by J. D Power, so that should tell you everything you need to know about their commitment to excellent service. As for Sherwin Williams’ exterior paint, the Emerald, Resilience, and Duration lines are all great options. The Emerald paints flow off the brush smoothly and easily, have excellent coverage, and can be self priming. As for the Duration and Resilience lines, the names say it all. Sherwin Williams Duration has outstanding durability against the elements, and Resilience has great resistance against moisture, mildew, and dirt, making either a solid choice for your home’s exterior. With renowned customer service and a top quality paint series for any situation, Sherwin Williams would be a fantastic choice for whatever exterior home painting project you might have.
When it comes to Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams, is one really better than the other? The short answer is no. Each company makes high quality paint and gives professional service, and have been doing so for a long time. The important thing to remember is that with paint, like so many other things, you get what you pay for. High quality paint is pricey, but it makes a big difference. We talked about how good coverage means that it takes no more than two coats of paint to cover a surface. Lower quality paints will often have worse coverage, so though they’re cheaper, you will need more paint to do the same job. The high quality lines that we’ve talked about from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams are on the more expensive side, but their great coverage means they will take fewer coats to cover a surface and will need to be touched up less often, which will save paint. So keep that in mind if you’re considering going for a cheaper product!
If you are working with a professional painting company, they will probably push you towards one or the other. This will likely be because they have more experience working with a certain brand. They know how the paint feels coming off the brush, are familiar with the colour fan deck, and probably have a good relationship with the distributor. Trust the professionals! Whether you choose to go with Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams, the high quality paint from each will give you high quality results.
To learn about other expert painting tips, contact the professionals at Encore Painting, or if you’re interested in starting a new painting project, contact us today for a free estimate.