It's very hard to say. I find the cheaper paints lack the pigment so sometimes the color is just "off" and not as rich. Coverage can also be an issue, and I don't find it lasts as long before you need to repaint.

difference is regal will last longer. eggshell will clean up better and regal will have better color retention. and its more durable.

@Kristine, I agree with both Lori & Design Girl! ( I am NOT a "pro painter", but I am OCD!)

The BM Regal is much higher quality paint than the Ultra Spec. It has to do with the amount of solids, plus other factors. This will actually effect the amount of coverage you get from each gallon!

If you want to compare the sheen, flat, eggshell, etc., it is important to go to the TDS sheet and check for the % of each one in EACH line of paint, as it is not at all consistent, even in the same brand.

I promise you, everything that touches the flat Ultra Spec will leave a mark or a stain. It will not wash off. Touch ups will be a nightmare!

I'm not sure if you prefer the flatter finish or if you will like the eggshell. (We have 15 grandchildren - I prefer eggshell for the ease of cleaning, when necessary.)

If flat or matte is your preference, I think Regal or Aura are comparable in terms of touch ups/cleaning, but Aura may have a slight advantage.

Your labor costs are going to be the same no matter what. I would use the BEST paint you can afford!

Can someone tell me what is the down fall of using the ultraspec 500 vs the regal...what is the real difference

Textiles have a 'hand' to them and so does paint. Cheap paint feels like someone colored your walls with chalk and sealed it with Aqua Net. It's rough, gritty and porous. With a top tier grade, your hand glides over even the flat/matte finishes. One of my favorites is Aura matte.

You don't clean cheap paint. You knock off the big stuff and paint over the dirt.

This is an old article from when Regal first launched but the info is still relevant: http://www.paintpro.net/Articles/PP604/PP604_CeramicPaints.cfm

You get one shot at that first coat. Putting crap paint on new walls is criminal in my opinion because that base will forever affect future top coats. Referencing the article, you'll be painting over basketballs forever.

What the painter wants to avoid is prepping the walls. Cheap paint doesn't catch the light which means you won't see the wall boogers and imperfections. Which means they're not his problem but they'll be yours.

Cheap paint also degrades rather quickly. You will have a dusty house. Repaint with top tier like Aura and you'll be shocked by how much less dust there is.

I could go on. I hate cheap paint on walls or ceilings and poorly prepped walls.

As far as color, that the least of the worries; gallons will match the chip no problem.

Flat always hides imperfections better than anything with a sheen, but how concerned should your painter be if the drywall was done well. Did they spray orange peel on the walls too? That really hides poor workmanship.

Why anyone would prefer having Ultra Spec Flat on their walls over Regal Select Matte or Eggshell is beyond my imagination. I want my paint to look good long after application.

On the Benjamin Moore ULTRA SPEC® 500 INTERIOR FLAT FINISH spec sheet it states "Recommended For Low abuse interior wall and ceiling surfaces in commercial and institutional environments where flat finish is desired."

The REGAL® SELECT PREMIUM INTERIOR PAINT & PRIMER MATTE 548 Spec sheet state Recommended For Residential or commercial high traffic applications where a premium quality matte finish is desired."

It is the quality of the paint that dictates the higher price.

I would call Benjamin Moore Customer Support

Consumers
1-855-724-6802 (855-Paint-02)

You might also want to read these:

https://www.painttalk.com/threads/regal-vs-ultra-spec-vs-ben-flat.48409/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/high-quality-paint/

BTW - Regal is 100% Acrylic Latex, Ultra Spec is an Acrylic copolymer.

I would be unhappy with the paint and with the fact that a decision to change what I had selected was changed without allowing me to have a voice in the decision making process.

I use eggshell finish almost everywhere, and NO, it doesnt need to be sanded in between coats. I would insist on him using the Regal paint. Its much better quality, and I am wondering what the reasoning is that he doesnt want to use it. Its your house, get what you want, or you will be repainting it in a year.

I think you originally mentioned something about primer, but just in case - be sure the painter does an actual primer coat! No such thing as paint & primer in one!

The quality of the primer will greatly affect the outcome of the paint. It needs to "seal" the wall so there is not uneven absorption.

I am not sure about primer. I think he is using a primer that is tinted with color. He is just going to use the eggshell regal that we have. I am sure it will all be fine. Thank you everyone. Now my hood just came and it was supposed to be custom painted to match a door we sent and no door and hood raw. So onto the next panic....I am so jealous of the people that don't try and save money coordinating things themselves and pays someone else to coordinate everything from design through construction!

Kristine, for most of us, no one else will care as much about coordinating things as you will. It is your home! I was friends with a woman who made $1 million a year + as part of the design team for high end homes. Her job was to make sure all the cabinet hardware, towel bars, light switches, etc., etc., were exactly what & where they were supposed to be.

Talk about pressure!

I am a nurse working in Covid and this is more stressful. I can’t imagine doing this every day for multiple simultaneous projects although I’m sure I will learn from all these instances. Trick is to keep it in perspective, correct it and move on. Thank you everyone for the input.

@Kristine It looks like you've weighed everything and are going with Regal. I think you'll be happy with this choice. You've done your research :) And echoing everyone - this needed to be a decision you were in on from the beginning. With homebuyers, I always ask who is the main decision maker for each area. "you can make this change, but I'll need a permission slip from your wife" lol Hopefully things will get ironed out and you'll be thrilled with your finished project!

Sadly far too few companies or people take enough pride in their work to do it well. As home owners we have to watch every tradesman, every order, every can of paint, every decision and make sure we have enough knowledge to make the right decisions. Unless you are paying someone an absurd amount of money you will get someone who has one eye closed.

Fwiw (not a paint expert), but our painter recommended the BM Regal and we painted our interior walls with Classic Gray in eggshell and love how it came out... We painted the interior ourselves and def did not sand between coats. My screwup was that we used eggshell in simply white for the ceiling, guess that is a no no. Oops. :-).

One thing that is SUPER important when you paint, and hardly ever mentioned - the humidity level! If it is too low, your paint will dry too fast. That can cause overlap marks on walls, and in the case of trim, a NOT smooth finish.

Mary Elizabeth makes a great point. Read the directions. Too hot, too cold, to wet or too dry can all impact the finish of the paint. The thickness of the coat is also important. All of this information is found on the can or the technical data sheet.

Flat absorbs light, eggshell reflects it. If you like light spaces, eggshell wins.

if you're painting wood trim, I'd use the Advance. it's top of the line for trim work applications. I've used regal, aura, advance and the other 500 (Outside!) Advance is beautiful for trim work.

Just my own varying opinion in working the field for many years- paint quality and application for wood is very crucial and walls lesser. As long as the painter applies 2 coats on walls, I would not anticipate significant issues. Yes, there are luxurious paint lines that apply like butter, I'm all for it- but it's not entirely necessary. I prefer eggshell for certain wall colors like white and matte for darker colors. Additional color issues occur when "color matching" is attempted between brands.

I wouldn't use Superhide or Ultraspec if you GAVE them to me!!!!!

>>>> That would be like using a rattle-can of krylon to repaint a Testarossa or Enzo!

I'm now Manager of a pretty busy Paint-Dept., & been in paint for 20 years now.

* I've used paints from C2, FPE, ACE, Behr, Magnolia, BM, Ralph-Lauren, etc.

* Sanding between coats of Eggshell is the biggest load of hooey I've ever heard! Between coats of Semi-Gloss or Gloss...yes.

* Sanding on a lightly textured wall between coats? Also....ZERO benefit!

* Now....a light sanding after 2 FULL coats of a GOOD Primer, like 123, will make for a beautifully smooth wall, assuming no texture. This ISN'T up to a "Level 5" Standard however!!

* REGAL is 75 times better than those 2 low-end soups.

* Builders & many painters like Flat because it "Touches-up better" & "Hides Imperfections".

* What ISN'T usually stated......<<<< Flats cost the least >>>>. Remember that.

* Bottom-Tier Flats??? Even cheaper..............

If I owned Rental-buildings.....YES, use the low-end soup.

My own home, or homes of our customers?? NO. WAY. IN. HELL.

(btw..........we don't get Paint-complaints)

Faron

You live and you learn. Regal eggshell is going up on walls. I truly appreciate all the feedback and advise. It just wasn’t sitting well with me and when you are doing a big job where you are paying attention to so many details, paint, especially paint that is already purchased and available, is not an area I’m wanting to compromise. My contractor was fine with it. He has been doing a good job, taking down walls, putting in windows, patch-working in new hard wood with existing floor and looking flawless. I think he was just taking a short cut with this and he didn’t realize that I have agonized over every decision and would both know and care. He probably didn’t realize that I stand in the rooms at all hours to see undertones in different lighting. I am happy with all the research though because I was trying to do a white, but I think it would have been really difficult with my limited natural lighting. I think I would have also freaked with any yellow undertones. I am loving BM classic grey. Moves from vanilla/white color to light grey, but the beige undertone keeps it warm which I prefer. At first my old white dove trim went terrible with it and made it look cool, but now that the trim is down and next to my Oxford white cabinets it looks great! I also put it in my powder room and we just installed the herringbone marble floor and it looks great! So again thank you!!! This project is the first time I’ve used Houzz and I really appreciate all the input from people that know better!

It was the right decision.

Kristine, I am soooo glad y]to find your post. I am dealing with the exact same quandary. And equally as ocd. I’m even using classic gray as well!! Looks like you went with regal eggshell a year ago, can you let me know how you’re doing with it?? I actually have to PAY to upgrade to regal. It’s quite expensive. But after allllllll the time I agonized selecting paint, I simply CANNOT get it wrong.

@Joy Booker I am in the middle of my remodel. did you end up using Regal and what finish? I know it is low VOC, but not 0. how was the smell from the paint? thanks, appreciate any info!

@susanrhill34, if want to compare VOC levels in different paints, you can look at the TDS sheet. It will be listed as "parts per unit" (quart or maybe gallon).

@susanrhill34, I've used Regal - very nice paint, but it may have been re-formulated as per gov't regulation for VOC levels, since I used it. I've also used BM Aura. Aura goes on beautifully, but I would save it for more formal rooms (i.e., not a child's bedroom). For durability, I really like the Scuff X line from Benjamin Moore!

Whatever you choose, be sure it goes on a properly prepped & primed surface.

I have "multiple chemical sensitivities", and none of the BM products have been a problem.

@Mary Elizabeth thanks for the info. I called BM today and they said that Regal is .38/gallon, aura is .01/gallon (basically 0) and Ecospec/Ben/Ultra 500 are all 0. I have used Ultra 500 in the house previously and no issues..I am also quite sensitive to chemicals. based on what I have read in this thread, seems like for durablilty, etc Regal is a good choice, although would prefer 0 VOC. I am encouraged though that you have used and had no issues. I have read that VOC issues can linger in the air for months. I am not familiar with Scuff X. did you use it in a child’s room? appreciate any info you can offer..thanks so much!

looking for the TDS for ben moore.

@susanrhill34, you said this is for a remodel? Are you doing the painting or do you have a contractor for that? Painting just walls or also doors & trim (or other)?

BM Scuff X is under their Ultra Spec series. Originally meant for "high traffic" areas like schools, etc., but it seems to have taken off for homes.

I used Ultra Spec 500 in eggshell once, but found it impossible to clean or touch it up.

I haven't used Regal for a number of years. My favorite paint (sold by my BM dealer) was Muralo. Unfortunately, that company was sold.

Which is why we switched to the Scuff X. We used it for our lower walkout level (matte for the walls & satin on all the doors & trim). Painted it over 2 years ago.

We have 15 grandchildren, and it has held up perfectly.

Here is another discussion you might find helpful:

Regal Select on New Construction, do you need to prime first? (houzz.com)

Also, both Faron79 and Lori A. Sawaya can give expert advice!

This forum is packed with super smart cookies and everyone probably already knows this but just in case….

VOCs are a separate issue from odor.

One has nothing to do woth the other.

A low odor paint does not mean low VOC.

Likewise, a strong or lingering paint odor doesn’t mean you’re inhaling invisible VOC toxins.

In addition, actual allergic reactions probably have nothing to do with VOC or odor.

My husband was allergic to certain brands/grades. Some of the smelliest cans didn’t bother him at all. i.e. PPGs Breakthrough. While other, almost no odor brands, caused severe reaction.

If allergic reaction is the main concern, then ECOS is the brand to consider. We have the ECOS collection color data values in The Paint Color DNA Table

https://thelandofcolor.com/color-dna-table/

ECOS is available only online. But they use the Color Is collection from the Color Guild which can be found at lesser known paint stores like Miller, Diamond Vogel, etc. Kelly Moore uses the Color Is palette as well but they renamed the colors and there is no public cross reference (lil extra tid bit of color 411) 😊

@Mary Elizabeth and @Lori A. Sawaya

Thank you both for your input!

we will have a contractor do the painting. I have used BM Ultra 500 and had no issues with adverse reactions to paint smell, etc. My concerns are with both paint odor and also VOC level for health reasons.

I have read that VOC can linger in the air for months, but the article did not indicate if this was with high VOC ratings or just any VOC.

In speaking with my local BM store from I gathered all of their flat (or matte) paints from one level to the other (regal vs Ben) would have the same durability ( for scuffing, etc) but would differ in terms of coverage. We have never used matte paint, only flat, for walls. Any insight into how different the paint would look is greatly appreciated!

I'm not a fan of flat paint, and find that most lower tier paints, even in the eggshell finish, do not clean or touch up well.

I do all my own painting, and it's a ton of work. Two times, a salesperson at the Benjamin Moore dealer recommended one of their "lesser" paints - both were awful!

If you're paying a contractor, the biggest expense is already the labor. So even if the paint cost is double, IMO, it would be worth it.

In general:

Flat paint - for ceilings; or more formal areas; bold, rich or deep color; not concerned with fingerprints, etc.

Matte - similar to flat but gives a "richer" look, and easier to clean, if needed.

Eggshell - slight sheen; more durable for cleaning; resists fingerprints.

Satin - subtle sheen; nice for trim and cabinets

Semi-gloss - trim work & cabinets

Gloss - specialty finishes

There is a current trend for cabinets in more matte, and often dark colors.

It will also depend on the specific room and use - i,e., a children's bathroom or bedroom vs. a formal living room.

@Mary Elizabeth thanks so much for the thoughtful info.

have you ever used BM Ecospec? It does not come in matte, just flat, but could be good in an area with no traffic.

I have been leaning towards using Regal, except the concern over the paint is low VOC vs 0 VOC. the other option would be Aura. have you ever used Aura?

@susanrhill34, what is the price point difference between Ecospec, Regal and Aura?

The coatings industry (paint, etc.) is highly regulated by the US Gov't. Much more so than say household cleaners or cosmetics.

As I said before, I am ultra sensitive to many things - a person's perfume or cologne, body washes, shampoos. If I had my way dryer sheets and plug-ins would be illegal. I can't even walk down the detergent or cleaning aisle in a store.

But none of Benjamin Moore's products have ever given me problems.

Unless you have a specific allergy to paint ingredients, any of the 3 should be fine.

If paint quality is the main factor, I would pick Regal.

Uffda!

Paint, like everything else, has climbed in price the last couple years! ACE's National Retail for AURA is now ~~~$90/Gal. Regal...mid-$70's, Ben....$50.

Once you've used the new AURA, you'll be ruined for anything else!

@Faron79, I think you could advise @susanrhill34, better than me as to which paint she should use.

I've been reading your advice on painttalk.com for well over 10 years!

@Mary Elizabeth and @Faron79

thank you both for your input. Here are the prices I am getting from my local BM store. I did call Ace and they said regal flat/matte were 67/73 respectively. guess they were on sale, but a decent price.

Regal flat - $75

Regal matte - $83

Ecospec flat - $55

Aura - $89

ben - $53

Ultra 500 - $55

The entire front of my house is painted with Ultra 500 flat right out of the can, no color added. we need to repaint a good portion of this due to scuffing.

If I move up in quality in the paint line, will there be a noticeable difference from one room to the next (keeping the color the same)?

If I use matte vs flat will that also create a noticeable difference between areas? Our doorways are not trimmed with molding.

I prefer a contemporary, flat look to paint in general. We are remodeling the kitchen and will also need to paint those walls..I know eggshell is best for cleaning, but do not want to have any sheen in the room, as it also opens to a large 2 story family room that will also get painted the same white.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! thank you both again!

Does your paint contractor have an account with a Benjamin Moore dealer? I would want to know the price "difference" he would charge for the different paints. (I would not expect to be privy to the price he pays.)

I will defer to Faron79 to advise whether the price difference reflects the difference in quality.

I don't get the hatred for the Ultra Spec. It's what my painter uses. The low sheen has a fabulous, velvety finish, and it has held up beautifully for me, multiple rooms done in it, both light and dark colors.

@mxk3 z5b_MI, I was sold the Ultra Spec over 10 years ago. Benjamin Moore may have reformulated it since then, so it might be better now.

I still regret using it, as that part of our home needs repainting, where none of the other rooms do (where we switched to a better paint).

Ultra Spec flat has its place in my corner of color world for sure. It’s the perfect sell-this-house-need-a-new-coat-of-paint-we’re-moving-out-someone-else-is-moving-in-so-the-walls-are-going-to-get-beat-up-and-need-touched-up affordable price per square can of paint. Specifically in Shaker Beige provided it works with fixed elements.

But I wouldn’t choose to live with it long term because so many other paints deliver a more refined final film/finish.

Of course, refined finish is totally subjective. YMMV

@Mary Elizabeth the original quote for painting the designated areas was$2500. He wanted an additional $250 for Regal. I need to speak with him to understand how many gallons of paint he is estimating to know the upcharge. Originally he priced based on Serwin Willimas cashmere. I don’t know if he has a discounted price with BM. thx!!

@mxk3 z5b_MI Ultra 500 has worked well for me in low traffic areas. In hallways is where we have had scuffing..but admitedly my biggest question is whether this would be any different with Regal or Aura in a flat finish. you mentioned your walls have a low sheen..did you use flat or eggshell? thx

@Lori A. Sawaya when we painted with Untra 500, I had been told by the BM store that it was a Paint that builiders used as it was easy to touch up as you mentioned…and also 0 VOC, which was important for me. Now trying to decide if using Regal with low VOC could present issues for me or if it is such a small difference is it negligable. I have read that VOC can stay in the air for months..although the text did not indicate whether the level of VOC to begin with is a significant factor. thx for the input!

Susanrhill-

In a way, you kind of answered your own question earlier...."Repainting due to scuffing...".

It's your $Dime & preference of course, but I can't in good faith recommend even REGAL-Flat in an Entry area. Regal Matte would be a better bet, & Eggshell better still. BM's Regal-Egg is pretty subtle. It's one of the lowest sheen Eggshells' I've seen.....very little sheen.

Bear with me here --- consider AURA Bath & Spa Matte! Barely ANY sheen here, & can handle a good amount of moisture. This is good stuff! Cheap? No....but looks gorgeous!! Sorta like comparing a Cadillac Blackwing engine to a basic 4-cylinder.

The VOC issue is almost meaningless. They are SO transient, present in SUCH low-levels, & once paint dries.....gone. Places that have been re-carpeted off-gas MUCH more than Paint EVER will. It is honestly a non-issue. Sitting in traffic will affect you more, relatively speaking.

BUILDERS use Flat for ONE & ONLY 1 reason. It's CHEAP. It "touches up" well ONLY because it's Flat. Did I mention it's CHEAP?!?!??!

The farther you climb up the "Paint Ladder", the higher the PVS percentage.....Percent-Volume-Solids. You're literally ending-up with more PAINT on the wall after drying, given equal thickness wet coats. Bugatti v. Fiat here.... ;-)

Faron

The Ultra Spec finish that was used in my house was low sheen -- this is not the same as flat (Ultra Spec also comes in flat). I'd say the low sheen is akin to a matte finish. I think this finish is beautiful.

I had to look this up:

AURA Int Matte N522 Base-series PVS% = 47%

Super-Spec & Super-Hide series PVS% = 32% & 29% respectively.

Applied @ 4mils WET:

AURA dries to an avg of 2mils.

SS & SH dry to an avg of 1 mil.

>>> So, on avg....AURA dries TWICE as thick.

In the paint world....that is a "Country Mile" of difference.

Faron

In regards to the sheen of the Ultra Spec - the one I was sold was eggshell, and it still scuffed easily and it;s a nightmare to "touch up". But again, it might have been reformulated since I used it.

$250 to upgrade to Regal seems a "no-brainer" to me.

I would take Faron's advice regarding the Aura Bath & Spa.

ETA: Personally, I would still want to know what prep, what primer & how many coats, and exactly how many coats of paint (brand and exact line) a painter is planning to use.

See Lori A. Sawaya's post above regarding new drywall!!

@Mary Elizabeth good point about the primer, etc. I know the painter said he would do 2 coats for existing walls, there will be some smaller areas that will be new drywall, so will check on that piece per @Lori A. Sawaya comments that you referenced. I do agree $250 is negligible in the overall cost to upgrade to Regal Select Matte. thank you both for the great advice

@Faron79 appreciate the info on the PVS relative ratings. That certainly helps me understand the significant difference in durability. Sounds like the Aura Bath & Spa Matte would be a good selection for the entrance/hallway where we have had most of the issues. Since the hallway opens up into wide ”doorways” into other spaces painted with Ultra 500 flat, will it be noticeable that the type of paint changes are the corners? Sounds like should be of little consequence. thanks so much for all the info!

@mxk3 z5b_MI thanks…the BM store is telling me that Ultra 500 only comes in flat currently. Don’t know if this is a recent change, but also they are no longer carrying it, but have reserved some paint for people that are part way thru a project and need to complete with the same paint. As it turns out when they removed the backsplash in one area of our remodel, they cut thru the drywall to the opposite site (there is only one sheet of drywall in this space since it backs up to a shelf area in the hall on the other side). So fortuneatley I can still get enough paint for that repair.

@susanrhill34 @Mary Elizabeth @Faron79

The BM website says that no primer is needed for Aura, is this the case when painting drywall? It seems to be a very thick paint.

BM Aura

Does anyone have additional information that they would like to post? I am doing Classic Gray in the main living areas of my home. Trim will be SW Pure White. Thank you!

@cupofkindnesssgw

"No primer needed" is simply a marketing tool. Primer is a must on any new drywall. It's also a better prep over most previous paint jobs (especially with a major color change, etc.) You can even have it tinted to give better coverage for the new color.

Are you using a Aura (by Benjamin Moore) for the walls but a SW product for the trim? Or just a SW color?

@cupofkindnessgw I do know that Aura is very thick paint due to higher volume of solids (if I remember that part correctly:)). but suppose to be an excellent paint! Not sure about the primer question on fresh drywall, but with what @Mary Elizabeth said it makes sense to seal the ”paper” of the drywall first. You could always check with BM opn their advice. I do have some new drywall repairs in my kitchen, but it was covered with mud. The painter did paint directly on that after sanding with two coats of regal eggshell.

AURA isn't very thick in my opinion. It's very easy to apply. Last Fall.....I was experimenting with exterior BM Paints on my OWN house.

Painted most of W side with Ext Ben in Low-Lustre ( I can't STAND Flat! ). Then Ext Regal L-L. On S side....I used AURA L-L. I should've STARTED with AURA (the N-series bases)!!! Omg that stuff is nice!

The AURA actually spread the easiest, & had the most "working time". The BEN was fine, but the Regal set up almost annoyingly fast.

Bottom-line......now that actually USED all 3, give me AURA. EVERY. TIME.

Faron

If a "painter" painted over drywall mud without primer, he would be fired on the spot. The mud will absorb the paint differently than the other parts of the wall and you will have "flashing".