Interesting. We're also in SoCal and have had no problems with BM paint.

I actually got his name from a Benjamin Moore store, where he came highly recommended, and we are paying for the paint, so I'm not sure why he'd try to steer me to a non-BM paint.

I think his overall point was don't get too caught up in Benjamin Moore fanfare because the local VOC restrictions decrease its attributes somewhat. He didn't think there were any problems with it, per se. He just didn't think it was worth the extra $ here. He did mention he appreciates using it because it makes his job easier (goes on smoother? fewer coats needed? I can't recall why). His reference list includes several multi-million dollar homes (which used mostly Farrow & Ball). Maybe he took one look at my rumpled Target attire and figured he'd try to make it easy on me! :-)

IMO most painters get kick backs from certain paint makers so always try to use that paint. Ask to see a smaple of the BM aprroved for SCal.

BM is not the only one with low or zero VOCs..SW has the same, Behr,..We prefer SW, but it really depends on which paint you use. They all have different finishes.some better than others

The F&B has nice colors, but there is no need to pay the extra for that. Here is a short article that I found interesting

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/business/Consumer-Reports-Is-Pricey-Paint-Worth-It-240598841.html

@printesa I realize all brands have to adhere to our (wonderful!) restrictions. I think his point was that paying more for BM didn't make sense here, since the BM qualities that are often raved about in other parts of the country don't end up coming to fruition with BM's lower VOC versions. @Patricia Colwell Consulting, he seemed very forthcoming about where he gets the best discounts and Dunn Edwards was it. Though he said we could buy the paint ourselves (under his account) so that everything would be transparent.

Behr has great products. All the name brands have similar products. Some are just more expensive than others. If you're going to prime the walls first it won't make much difference. The paint will be more durable depending of the level of gloss.

Most paint brands have low VOC or zero. California used to have tougher requirements (see the cars for example), but now the same requirements are in the entire US. I didn't think BM had different paint for CA. I moved out of CA over 10 years ago so I'm not up to date with any new requirements they have. We had SW done in the basement and I can tell you that there was no smell at all (better than the version we used 10 year ago). I am sensitive to smells and I know that the paint from 10 years ago had some smell

Why not use Dunn Edwards? D-E is an old California based paint company. I'm in the upper midWest so I've not had a chance to use it but I've read enough to know that their products are regarded favorably.

Or ask the painter which is his favorite to use paint?

Do you have a specific color picked out? I have never NEVER seen a BM color matched exactly in another brand. Close,sorta,almost. But not one match ... not in Cali, not anywhere and I've tried. Some paint shades are even notorious for not being "matchable", like BM Simply White and about 2/3 of F&B. This has to do with base and pigment & so is VOC related but again, make sure you like the color match,after it has dried and cured a bit. What shade(s) did you pick anyway?

hollybar, I've heard that some colors are difficult to match. In the consumer report it says that they were able to match F&B very well..difference was within 1%

printesa, I think this is one of those times when I will have to choose my lyin' eyes over the estimable folks at Consumer Reports. The article linked above, where they say blahblah is better because it hides more in one coat, is NOT the attribute that makes me appreciate F&B. (nor,as F&B points out, is it what they aspire to do.....in fact, rather the opposite) And the claim that the blahblah shade match was within "1%", only made me wonder which specific shade they picked. Fun fact: ever look at the F&B "dupe" lists? For awhile I did, just to note all the different dupes for the same F&B shades. My point is that different paints have different qualities, pigments and bases do different things.

All that typed, I am sure blahblah paint can be a great product and I KNOW that most paint can be the backdrop for a successful and beautiful room. But the idea of an exact match across brands is foolish,imo.

I know some cannot be matched well..not too many, but if the paint you want does not come out the same as the original, then it doesn't really matter that the others can be matched. When we painted the house, I had tons of samples from more than one brand. After deciding on colors, we tried the matching and for some it worked very well. I know that F&B has few colors and some of them are probably difficult to match,..not only that, if one looks at F&B online photos of the same color, they look nothing alike so one definitely needs to get samples from them to see what the color looks like in reality. Between BM and SW, I don;t know if there is a color that cannot be matched. I know that Fine Paints of Europe are difficult to match since their pigments are better, but those are usually used for the glossy paints, so different category:)

I have never had a wear issue with Low or no VOC paints. You really do not want to be breathing in the off-gassed chemicals in paints with VOCs. The rules in California are there for a reason.

Get the no VOC paint. It looks great, it's healthier, and it's better for the environment. Win-win-win.

@Sabrina Alfin Interiors, no question we'll be going with very low/no VOC (my son and I have chemical sensitivities and we are a family of Loraxes anyway!). I was just curious to hear if there was really anything to this painter's contention that Benjamin Moore is a better paint...when outside of California. More of a thought experiment while I procrastinate on choosing paint colors, lol.

Twenty years ago, we used Australian based Porters Paints (now Sydney Harbour Paint Co.), an earth-friendly product using natural pigments. Not cheap, but OH what beauty!

I have never heard that about BM.

I am in SoCal and just finished a remodel. The GC used Dunn Edwards. As was posted above, it is a local paint company and seems to be the choice of many professionals. My previous professional paint job was done with Dunn Edwards as well.

My guess is that the issues in California might be related to oil-based paint (only available in quart cans here). Until recently, I only used oil-based paint on woodwork. It is gorgeous! However, out of concern for the health of painters and environment, I reluctantly switched to Ben Moore Advance. I have not been disappointed.

I use Ben Moore Aura matte for walls. It is more expensive than many other paints, but has been worth the cost given its durability. I have scrubbed and touched up hallways with no noticeable difference 12-15 years after original application. Other brands might work as well, but I haven't tried them and cannot offer an opinion.

IMO, the best results come from a combination of good quality paint and skilled painters who have experience with the product you choose.