SW gives good contractor discounts. If you can SW SuperPaint with a contractor's discount (usually 40% off, I think), you will get down close to what you want to spend.

My experience has been that you don't save much by getting a low quality paint, because you'll just have to use more of it to get good coverage. Not to mention it takes time to do extra coats of paint because the first two didn't cover well.

SuperPaint used to be SW's top of the line, but now they have some others that are more expensive. I've always used the SuperPaint successfully until recently when I've tried some of the higher end products. I get a family discount.

SuperPaint comes in a nice eggshell finish which would be good for cleaning with your kids and dogs.

I don't know about the new drywall primer - never had to do that - I've only repaired and repainted damaged drywall, in which case I did use a primer.

If you are looking for cheap, I would recommend BM Super Spec. It's not a 100 percent acrylic which is why it is cheap and it's still not bad in terms of durability and coverage. You can also use the Super Spec primer...I think I pay around $16 per gallon. You do want to backroll the primer as this will just make prepping for your finish coat a whole lot easier. If you don't backroll, all the fuzz around the seams and patching dries to a rough finish that has to be sanded. The backrolling helps to even everything out.

Thing about BenM Super Spec in flat is that is touches up really, really well. In many ways it's a great paint for when a house is in moving in/moving out phases. Long term it isn't the type of paint you can wipe down and clean up. You will have to get out the paint can and touch up. It's a good choice as long as you know what to expect and clearly understand what it will do for you. Personally, the final finish is not one of my favorites, but for the phase your house is in and your situation I'd agree that it's a good option.

thanks for the responses.

I think the SW SuperPaint is the stuff my buddy says we can get for $16 or $18 per gallon. I will be running to town for supplies and I will be stopping by the SW and Ben Moore store.

Are there any brands from the big box stores worth looking at? They are just convenient, being open late and on Sundays.

I have read good things about Ace and it is nice they are local. I need to ask if they will give me a discount as their list price is around $23 a gallon.

Any opinions on primer? The zinnsner (sp?) 1,2,3... gets good reviews. Will that work for new drywall?

Hi Mikeyvon!

I'm at a U.S. "Top 40" (national paint volume) ACE store here in Fargo, ND.

We go through thousands of gallons of ACE-Royal paints every year here...we also have Ralph-Lauren & the high-end C2 line ($40-$46/gal.)

The ACE-Royal line is 100% Acrylic Resins.
* ACE's national Retail for an Eggshell-sheen gallon is $22.99.
* You may like the Sensations-Flat series...It's got 3M's Scotchguard in it!! It's a neat Matte sheen, and you can clean Spaghetti-sauce off of it when the 2 coats have cured a month.
* This flat avg's ~$25/gal.
* Otherwise, I'd use the Satin sheen for "active" households!!
* Zinsser's 123 is just fine for any priming. It's usually better than an entry-level PVA primer.

Follow Paintguy's backrolling advice!!!

Faron

Are there any brands from the big box stores worth looking at?

NO

Well our local Ace will be giving us a couple of dollars per gallon discount. So we have decided to go with them for our paint.

We are going with Kilz 2 primer just for cost reasons and we got around 7 gallons of it free from a friend.