Real Life Farrow and Ball Paint Experience

last year

I'm helping DD paint her first home. She was given 15 gallons of Farrow and Ball Modern Emulsion in "Pointing," and so we are using it to do the main part of her house (LR, DR, kitchen, and hall). This is my first time painting with this paint, though of course I've known about it and seen it for years. I was curious to find out if it was somehow really that much better than the paints I typically use (BenMoore and SW), given that it is quite a bit more expensive.

My finding:

Painting with the F&B feels pretty much identical to the BM and SW. I have a LOT of experience painting -I've done all of my own painting for thirty years, and I'm a much better painter now than I was twenty years ago. The F&B feels very familiar in terms of coverage and the amount of control it requires to control drips, etc. BUT I was disappointed to discover that it needed three full coats (and you could easily argue for another) to get smooth, even coverage. After Googling a bit, it seems like this is a bit of a common experience. Bottom line: I wouldn't use it again -why add hours to a job when you don't need to? I've never had an issue with two good coats with the BM or SW. I have a few professional painter friends who use F&B, BM, and SW all the time. I'm going to ask them about my experience but just wondered if people here wanted to weigh in.

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Comments (10)

Arapaho-Rd
last year
last modified: last year
Never used F&B. House originally painted in BM before we moved in. Recently, I've started painting the interior and went with Consumer Reports using BEHR. I know it's not everyone's choice but I've not had any problems with it. The exterior was painted with it 3 or 4 years ago and it looks the best it ever has (fingers-crossed). Of course prep is the most important part (to me) and our painter did an excellent job with that. I've never used SW. Don't think CP reviews F&B,
nicole___
last year
last modified: last year
BEHR is MY absolute favorite paint! A paint contractor friend of my husbands, lists me as an employee, so I can get his volume discount....I've tried them ALL! And...some are as good-as Behr. When I'm doing a speciality item, like wrought iron railing I use SW, about $150 gallon for the primer...then $90a gallon for the paint. But you use very little, lots left over on a BIG project. I even touch up appliances. Hobby Lobby little tiny pots of enamel works. Note: I prefer SW wood stain.
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I have never used Farrow & Ball but I do like the colors I see online. Two paints I have used in the past that are very poor quality (to me) is Glidden and Valspar although I have heard that Gliddens high gloss is nice. We have had five different houses during the time the kids grew up over a twenty four year span and I can find absolutely no difference in wear time or hardiness between Behr paints and BM. My youngest son used to put his hands on side of halls and walk down hall walls with his feet. He was constantly jumping up and hanging off painted ledges...same amount life span and easy clean off between BM and Behr and same painting coverage. Recently my husband and I used SW in master bath and I do love the feel of that paint for cutting in, it's pleasurable to paint with and you can't beat the great sales they often have. I do not have enough experience with long term use with SW to compare though. The reason I normally switch back and forth between BM and Behr is due to a color I may like.
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mtnrdredux_gw
last year
I don't do my own painting, so I don't know. I know that my painter likes FnB Estate Emulsion (he does not procure it, I do). I've never asked why, since I like their colors.
bbstx
last year
@nicole___, eons ago before stainless appliances were used extensively, DH and I moved into a house where the cooktop had a chip out of the paint (white). I discovered that if I tore a hole in a paper towel just barely larger than the chip and used spray appliance paint, it was not noticeable at all. The torn edge of the paper towel prevented a distinct delineation between the patch and the existing paint.

When I had the exterior of my old house painted, the painters told me they did not care what paint I used as long as it was not Behr. Interesting that so many others like it.
nicole___
last year
@bbstx....about 15 years ago BEHR changed their formula. It now says it has primer IN IT. I use the highest quality they sell, about $40 a gallon. I can usually get by with one coat. It's washable if I use semi-gloss or satin! Home Depot sells it. Lowes sells Valspar. Another favorite!
Funkyart
last year
last modified: last year
My painter also requested "not Behr". He really liked my choice of BM Affinity.. he said it went on like butter and only required one coat.

Sorry, I have no experience with F&B .. other than I love many of their colors.

Edited to say.. I meant BM Aura paint. Affinity is the color line. I think it was BeekeepersWife who strongly recommended the matte finish. I was very nervous but it is beautiful.. the perfect choice for both colors I used.
Zalco/bring back Sophie!
last year
My experience is the same as Mtn. I have also used Little Greene, which my painter liked even more than he liked F&B. Pointing is one of my favorite whites.
Arapaho-Rd
last year
F&B colors are just beautiful, I agree.
Bunny
last year
I've mentioned this in other threads, but here in the North Bay Area, the painters seem to love Kelly Moore (no relation to Benjamin Moore).
lakeaffect_gw
last year
last modified: last year
My dad was a house painter part time his whole working life and FT after he retired, and he swore by BM, so that's what I've always used. And then I fell in love with F&B Duck Green, and no BM color even came close, so I got the F&B Duck Green and painted my kitchen cabinets that color. I never thought that BM Aura would be surpassed, let alone by a mile, but I think F&B is a vastly superior product, and I'll use it again, maybe not for a project like, say the exterior of my house, that would be too pricey, but for a room, I could justify the cost. Regarding number of coats, I always do three, I don't think any paint covers properly with just two coats, especially in high traffic/usage areas.

Real Life Farrow and Ball Paint Experience

Comments (10)

Arapaho-Rd

nicole___

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