All the painters we've interviewed say BM stores are independently owned, therefore can't get quantities larger than 1 gallon and very little discount to painters, that BM is mainly used to redecorate rooms. Those are interesting comments. "Mainly used to redecorate rooms" is a silly thing to say. Ben Moore paints are used for paint jobs of all sizes up to and including industrial and commercial. If you've talked to someone at the Ben Moore store and they are carrying Aura, I would guess it's not a small, independent, Mom & Pop type Ben Moore paint store with limited capabilities. They are carrying Aura, that hints to some volume and capacity for having a clue about what's new and up-to-date. I don't think Aura comes in 5 gallon buckets. Even if the store doesn't do 5's at all, so what. Buying paint in single gallons might be less convenient for the painter to work with, but since there's not much of a discount (apparently) anyway it really shouldn't matter outside of being less convenient. You're paying for the paint so what's it to them. Something isn't adding up here in the painter's story. A painter should be able to tell you how much paint and primer is needed. That's their job and it can be different for every painter. Some guys do two full coats and some others do two fffuuuulll coats -- they all paint differently. It's my opinion that no one can make the call about how much paint better than the guy doing the painting cause he knows how he paints. Make sense? It's not your job to determine how much paint is needed. I would agree about priming the new drywall for Aura. Although I know of one new house where they did not. Not surprised that's what the Ben Moore store told you. The whole thing with Aura is that it doesn't require primer and no more than two coats - so what else would the store say, KWIM. That's why you need a good painter. If you had a good painter, he'd tell you to prime before Aura and why. Luckily, you have the guys here for input and second opinion. Again, if it were my new house and my money going to pay for the gallons of Aura, the walls would be primed first. Working mainly with the uber brands of paint, I can't tell you how many painters don't understand. Just this week, I spec'd Aura for a dining room and the painter keeps referring to it as "that fancy stuff". Even after he uses it and even if he thinks it's a great product, he will never be able to get past the fact that it's $55 a gallon. Stuck. In a rut. Will never see the light. Good luck with the project.

If you don't get much response here, try posting on the Home Decorating forum, with photos if possible.

DAP makes ALEX in several different formulas: ALEX PAINTER'S CAULK - (white only) acrylic latex - 25 yr. ALEX FAST DRY - (white only) 40 min. drying - 35 yr. ALEX PLUS - (clear & colors) acrylic latex with silicone - 35 yr. The most flexible and durable caulk/sealant from DAP is DYNAFLEX 230 but it is known to have a problem with mildew so don't use it in wet or damp areas. DAP's answer to that problem appears to be ULTRA 230 PREMIUM with Microban. Both have a 50 yr. satisfaction guarantee and cost considerably more. I would avoid the clear DAP caulks that turn white because they have a reputation for shrinking excessively and require more time before painting.

Can anyone tell me which paint will be absolutely flat. There is no paint industry standard for gloss or sheen. It's the subjective names that brands give to their different finishes that cause the confusion. For example... WTH is "pearl". WTF is "delicate". And so on. Generally speaking, however, paint brands follow the same-ish process to ascertain gloss levels of their paints. Remember, however, we cannot confirm that all the data was obtained exactly same way brand to brand so the comparisons you make are at best an ESTIMATED GUIDELINE of gloss levels. But, hey, a guideline is better than nothing. So, here goes: First thing you need to know is gloss is measured in units. It's called Gloss Units and you'll see it referenced as GU. Gloss units, GU, run on a scale of 0 GU to 100 GU. 0 is dead flat, 100 is ridiculous-mirror-like shiny. Find the GU for the brand/grade of paint you want to use on the paint can label or Google the Technical Data Sheet (TDS). Here's one for PPG's Manor Hall Flat . Here's what it says about Manor Hall Flat - SHEEN: Flat: 0 to 5 (60º and 85º Gloss Meter). The 0 to 5 is the Gloss Units (GU) and it goes on to tell you that measurements for those GU's were done at 60º and 85º. Measurements are done at a 60° angle, an 85° angle, or both. 60° applies across the board and is most common. 85° is used for the low-gloss end of the sheen spectrum because of math. One might say it (85° angle) helps to dissect units of flattness into smaller bits so they are easier to discern. Now you know how gloss is measured and why the confusing, subjective finish names are not consistent across paint brands. Now you know of two places where to find Gloss Unit (GU) information for the brand/grade you want to use. Now you know why you will see measurements at 60º and 85º. And that 85º speaks to the lower-gloss end of the sheen spectrum. What you need next is some context for the Gloss Units you now understand and know where to find. So you need a table. And here it is from the Mater Painters Institute, MPI. They got rid of the subjective finish names that paint brands made up and created this table of Gloss Levels 1 to 7 based on Gloss Units (GU). Gloss Units that all brands use to measure gloss and sheen. Hope this table from MPI helps you find the flattest flat finish out there.