@Ivy Lou,
I have gotten some good advice from the BM paint store where we buy ALL of our paint. I have also gotten some "not-so-good" input, as in "our store brand is just as good". No, it wasn't even close. Thank goodness it was just the wall paint for one bedroom!
I also read a lot on painttalk.com (professional painters site). You can't post there, but you can post questions on diychatroom.com, & some of the same "painter pros" will respond in that forum.
IMO, Most of Sherwin Williams paints are NOT the quality of Benjamin Moore (where comparing similar priced products).
We are finishing up a fairly large project, where my husband & I have painted all of the interior doors, trim and most cabinetry. When we started, we were using Muralo paint, which was amazing. But that company was sold to "California Paints", and the quality is no longer there.
We have changed to Scuff X Satin to finish the rest of the project. We did 3 full size doors as a test; very pleased with the sheen level, and the "hardness" when it was cured.
My husband has an HVLP/turbine set up and sprays almost everything.
(We did test a quart of the Advance, but the extra drying & curing time really slows us down when we're painting.)
I also just used Aura for the first time, on a pair of nightstands. It was very easy to use, leveled very well, and has a very nice finish! I think it had a short re-coat time, but I still waited overnight for the 2nd coat.
A lot will depend on whether you are brushing or spraying, what you're painting over, how much prep you do (or don't do). One MAJOR factor which I don't think people realize has a huge effect, is the heat and/or humidity level WHILE you're painting.
If the heat is too high, or the humidity too low, the paint starts to dry to quickly. That can cause numerous issues. If you're spraying, it might feel "gritty". If you're brushing, you would get more brush marks, etc.
It's alot of work - if you're planning to do it yourself, the more questions, the better!
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