I haven't seen paint on eBay either (a stipulation they have? I haven't looked into it.) There is always your local Craig's List, although you probably wouldn't garner as much as you would from eBay.

Did you open the third tin of paint at all? If so, the retailer will likely take it back. Mine did because I got a trim colour that I decided I didn't want to use.

The paint tins come packaged at the factory - they are not mixed in the store. So, someone who wants "Matchstick" will get the exact same thing, especially if it came off the same lot, whether it came off the dealer's shelf or the one you send back to them. Check with them.

I had extra paint left from two rooms, too. Since I have mail-ordered mine from Canada, I buy plenty. Maybe we could do an informal swap!

I did see a large quantity of F&B exterior paint on eBay within the last year. I inquired, thinking I might use it to repaint my double-ugly house color. Didn't take the plunge, however.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I got my paint from a dealer in Toronto and they say they won't exchange it or take it back - even though the cans are completely untouched. It might be in part because I did a fairly bold red and there is probably not much demand for that color. Perhaps a neutral trim color he might have exchanged. However, there is a finite shelf life of 6 months - 1 year for this paint. Thus if I am to resell it I must do it asap to give its new owner paint in original condition.

Anyway, yes Craig's list is a good idea. Does it cost to advertise there?

amysrq: What colors/finishes do you have excess of?

Thanks again.

Tina

I wish we had a F&B store locally, I'd love to try this paint.

FYI, homeowners generally are not allowed to ship paint as it is considered a hazardous substance. IATA (airline regulation) has strong regulations as to who can package paint and how it must be labeled - and there are heavy fines and jail time. I've posted a link with more information. You can legally transport it in your car or using ground transportation, so if the local dealer doesn't take it back, consider donating it to Habitat or using it for another project.

"Paint Doesn't Fly  NPCA's Transportation and Distribution Committee has developed a brochure on the potential risks associated with shipping paint by air or carrying paint aboard a passenger aircraft entitled "Paint Doesn't Fly." The brochure's most important message is that improper shipment of paint or paint products by means of air transport could be extremely dangerous and costly. The brochure explains that paint is often considered a dangerous good and therefore must be properly classified, packaged, marked, labeled and documented in accordance with applicable hazardous material regulations. These regulations also require specialized training for those persons that ship paint. "Paint Doesn't Fly" also provides contacts for further information."

Sky

Here is a link that might be useful: paint doesn't fly

Gad zooks...I could be jailed for shipping paint to my Mom for her bedroom!

I have a can each of Vert de Terre and Buff leftover. But, given the shelf life (which I wasn't aware of...is that specific to F&B?) it's already past due. Oh well, Habitat it is.

Yes, all of us F&B'ers have learned that it covers FAR better than your average paint, even using three coats. I have quite the collection of half full cans leftover.

As to the shelf life, that is news to me. I didn't read very carefully I guess. I can tell you that I just had to touch up some trim (you know, baseboards and the like) and the paint was well over a year old and worked perfectly. This was the eggshell.

SOOOOOOO glad you are happy with the paint!

Ivette

Thanks for all the great input. It is good to hear about the paint shipping via air regulations. If I do ship it I will check with UPS about ground shipment. I think that is fine because that is how I have received paint before.

Re: shelf life: The instructions online say 6 months shelf life. The dealer told me the same thing. He said if stored well it would last longer, but nowhere near as long as regular Ben Moore paint, for example. Something to do with the natural ingredients/clay base.

Pirula: I LOVE this paint. I read all your posts and your enthusiasm encouraged me so much. I am sick to think how much extra I ordered, but I am glad that you found it goes much further than they say too. I was worried my painter was putting on too thin a coat because I reckon we got almost 600 sq ft out of the modern emulsion while the can says only 400.
Same thing with the estate: it went a LOT further than the can says. BTW, like you said, I need THREE coast of the estate, but only two of the modern. You are an F&B expert.

The good thing is that I know now what my paint is for life. I was not brave enough to splurge on it for trim - in part because I want to be able to touch up over the years and the shelf life is an issue. After a bad experiment with the Ben Moore Aura on the trim in the first room (don't like the color or the finish) I am going back to using Ben Moore Super White semi-gloss for all my trim. Needless to say I now have an overage in the Aura which will have to be donated to my painter or habitat.....

Farrow and Ball rocks, and if you get the color and the quantity right (which I did not) and don't was a lot of money trying samples (which I did) then I reckon it is very well worth the money. Oh yes, I am SO glad I did not go with Aura for my walls... so many said it would be better than F&B and that F&B is overpriced etc etc..... for me it is the complete opposite. Plus, F&B's colors are to die for....

Just my 2 cents!!

Tina

Tina, I have a bunch of the estate and while I got the same feeling that I was getting about 520-550 or so sq. ft per gallon, note that the tin says 475sq.ft per gallon for the estate emulsion. I think all the others say 400 but the estate tins definitely say 475 - as does the product sheet for this paint. Note this link is to a pdf file.

Which reminds me, guys, did you or your painters follow F&B's advice, use a "medium pile" roller and then lay off with a brush? I did the lay off with brush and while it creates a wonderful striated (brushed!) finish, I found that because I'd cut in earlier and the paint at the top was dry that I can see a brush set-down mark at the very top of the room. So I've been wondering if the brush idea is as good as it sounded, if everyone has done this and successfully, or how I could've not gotten this. Certainly, had I not cut-in at the ceiling the length of that roof segment I wouldn't have but I'd imagine cutting-in in 3foot segments would create other discontinuities?

mindstorm: I'm not following you (sorry, we got our monthly shipment of the wine club tonight and OMG, it's So good, i've had way too much). I did a three inch brush cut in at the trim and edges and I see no brush marks. Hmmmm...did I misunderstand???

tina: your trim is done and I'm sure it's beautiful. but I think you would have been fine with F&B eggshell. Like i said, I just touched up and it's been over a year and the paint is fine. But I understand, it's pricey to take chances with.

I'm SO glad you love it as much as I do. I've never tried the Aura (after my time), but it's hard for me to believe that anything can match F&B. Period.

Ivette

P, I was quite unclear. Sorry about that.

The cut-in is lovely. But at the end of the day, the question I have is really about hte rolled section. I wanted to know if you brushed over the roller when laying off. If you look at the pdf file they define their preferred technique - roller then brush to lay-off. It is "different" and I wanted to know if you did the same. If so, then I'll ask a followup.

Thanks. Which wine? R@y*l B!tch? Il B@stardo? H@rny? H@ll on Wheels? I need something stiff, too - listening to the debate tonight and trying to write a paper. Pear yogurt did not cut it.

Pirula, Hmm.. yes I so would have liked to have F&B pointing on the trim everywhere. I have changed over to the BM Super White in semi-gloss as of yesterday. I used that in my bathroom all over beadboard and trim and I still like it after a year or so. And it is easy to get hold of. With all the mistakes on the Aura I might as well have tried a gallon of the F&B..... I hate all these painting mistakes. It always seems to cost more in the trial and error than in the actual materials you finally use!

I just got my second ceiling done in slipper satin (estate). The color is awesome. The walls will be Parma Gray and I can't wait to see them up. I'll keep posting about how I like the other colors as they go on in the other rooms!

Tina

Tina

As for laying off...I asked about that here (or on Home Dec before there was a paint forum). I think Michael (Brushworks) discouraged me from doing it, so I didn't. Seems like a heck of a lot of work I didn't want to engage in. I did do three coats and sometimes on the first go round I roll and then cut in. (shhhh, don't tell...) Perfect finish every time.

amy, thanks so much for the answer! Brushworks and faron discouraged me too but I did it anyway coz I figured F&B or someone who's used it would have a better idea about what works best for it. I hadn't gotten an answer from someone who'd used it, so I went for it. Yes it was a lot of work and if I could figure out the technique to do it well, I'd love to do so again. The finish looks amazing with that - BUT because I'm not a super painter, there are some discontinuities that bug me all the more because the main part looks sooo good. It looks like silk - both from further away where the finish looks amazing as well as up close because the very fine brush marks look like fine silk stries. BUT, till I work it out, I probably shouldn't try it again in a rush. Where it didn't work out, I have had some problems and I have had to sand and retry. There are a couple of low wall segments which I may have to redo entirely because I've got some 8" sections here and there that I've really screwed up on.

Hmmm, interesting that you cut in after. So, only in the first go around or each time?

BTW, are you in Mass yet??? Do let me know when you get here and get settled in or if you want some help finding out about paint or other services etc.

Hmmmmm....was Mindstorm "typing drunk there"? (hee-heee!)

I just found your 2nd paragraph hilarious! Fell off my chair laughing!

Faron

at what faron???? I must be one of those crying drunks because I don't see anything funny. Wish you'd share the joke.

hey mindstorm:

No, I didn't try that, sorry I wish I had then we could chat. I just didn't trust myself enough to do it. I will always wonder though, if it would have been even more beautiful. It's already like having velvet walls, but still. I'm sorry. are you not happy with it??

I cut in first, then rolled. I saw on tv recently where somebody cut in later. That strikes me as more difficult, as I tried to roll over my cut in as much as I could.

Will give you details of wine club tomorrow. All from Napa. Quite wonderful.

Ivette

P, yeah, the brush layoff was a bit tricky for some very subtle reasons. There's GOT to be a way to do it well but I'll have to work it out. I'm not happy with the few areas where I goofed. But in the main it is absolutely amazing. I plan to restart over on the two low walls (less than 3.5' high and about 10' long) and then call it a day. That way the whole room will be and should be as gorgeous as the other 85% of the walls already are. The paint is amazing - but I suspect that experimental technique did me in (sorry for the crassness). I'm not sorry I tried it though next time I'll call F&B and ask them to elucidate with loads more detail on how they want to do that brush layoff given the couple of issues I hit upon.

Mindstorm,
I'm sincerely sorry! I though you were "swearing" in that paragaph; using the @ symbol...after mentioning wine, and needing a drink.
Sorry...I blew it!

Faron

Oh *that* second paragraph! I thought you were amused by "cutting in after painting". I was staring at that line looking for a double entendre in "cutting in after", or "first go around or after" etc.

As for the paragraph with the @$#% terms - nothing in the least bit funny or less than serious about that. All wines, baby. Good ones. Ask Pirula - she'll attest to it. She's actually had at least one of those - my knowledge of 'em is purely academic.

;-)

LOL!

If it's wine, I've probably had it.

So you've got me intrigued now. Maybe I'll try this in my laundry room! Which may be going French Gray. Haven't quite decided yet.

Ivette