I'm not a professional painter, but I've painted quite a few rooms and I've got to say that I recently painted a bathroom using Behr paint for the first time and I was extremely pleased with how easy it was to work with and the result was great. My new favorite interior paint is Behr premium bath and kitchen paint.

I'm amazed I didn't read any of this before we started getting our house ready to sell. I will never buy Behr paint again, either! I am very disappointed to find so many people having serious problems with CRs top rated paint!

We painted the white trim and doors in the hall with Behr Premium Enamel - also white. The exterior door was cleaned and primed, and the paint was so thick it went on goopy. The hall doors were all cleaned with tsp as per the directions. Did I mention it was white over white? It took 4 coats of paint! Every time we put a coat on there were shadows and it looked like we had painted over a dark color. The worst painting experience to date!

I can't help but wonder if there are just huge variations in the production of this product!? They got their good rating, then just let it all go to heck?

We recently used Behr to paint our daughter's bedroom - ceiling, walls, trim and doors.  Since this is new, I can't speak to the durability or fading, but I can say I was somewhat disappointed when applying the paint.

The Behr ceiling paint didn't cover well at all.  It tended to dry too quickly, leaving toller marks and making it hard to keep a wet edge.  Had to rely on feathering from section to section to try to keep an even appearance.

The Behr wall paint went on pretty well when not applied to heavy - it had a tendency to sag.  When applied carefully it came out okay in the end.  This is a light purple-pink going over a pale green-blue without primer in between, so I was impressed that 2 coats, even though thin, were able to cover the old color.

I first painted the trim with my Purdy brush, but could not get smooth coverage.  Much like the ceiling paint, the semigloss on the trim dried too quickly, leaving heavy brush marks and making it hard to keep a wet edge.  Ended up using a cheap foam brush to get the best appearance!  Haven't painted the closet or room doors yet.

The week prior to this work, I used Lowe's Valspar to paint a couple of doors (new, primed, on sawhorses).  The Valspar went on thick and sticky and was still tacky after 2 days!  Lowe's did refund my $ without any problem, saying that I may have gotten a can of paint from a "bad batch".  That's why I then went to Consumer Reports' recommended Behr paints.

This work was all done in air conditioned 72-74 degrees, 35-45% humidity.

After having such a good experience with CR's recommendations, I'm surprised by this one.  I'm only a part time painter, but other pros I know tell me to use Shermin Williams - they love working with it, and their customers don't call back to complain about durability or fading.  Yes it is more expensive, but it seems the old addage of getting what you pay for is still true.

After reading the CR article, we bought some test cans of Behr premium wall paint and found it to be thin.  So we'll stick with our tried and true favorite for the next painting project coming up this Fall.

Our preference, after painting eight different rooms in our current home, is the Benjamin Moore paint.  It is thick, stays wet on the roller, dries reasonably quick and covers most walls in one coat; we're generally going from builder white to medium colors.  The durability has been excellent-even in a bathroom.  We love that they offer several different finishes (something like 6 to 8) so you can get get exactly the look and finish that you want. 

I wish to second all the posts about the poor quality of Behr paints.  I've just finished the second coat, and the roller marks are unbelievable.  Too thick, does not flow well, and the end result is disgusting.  I'll be sanding and scraping this mess off the wall right down to the bare plaster before starting over with some other paint.  I think I'll go back to Benjamin Moore; Behr has seen the last of my money.  What's left of this gallon is going back to Home Depot, and they can deal with it.

I would recommnend using an eco-friendly paint, especially in your daughters room. The VOCs found in the paint can be very harmful to yours and your daughters health. I am not trying to preach to you anything, I am just concerned about peoples well being. 

I recently painted my home and  the ecofriendly paint I used was ECOtrend. I just wanted to help out!

 

Eco friendly is what has ruined modern paints. Smells don't bother me, I do have enough sense to open windows when I paint!

For 20 years I used old odoriferous Behr. It was the best. Easy to apply and lasted forever. Last year I chose the new eco-friendly Behr for my kitchen! What a mistake!

This eco-friendly paint didn't smell, but it did not paint either! It was too thick, too  goopy, it sagged horribly, The old color was white, the new color was a dark raspberry. I used two coats of primer and 4 coats of the paint!  It took forever to dry, it now peels easily, and chalks horribly. I have lived with it for a year and I have to paint over it now.

I will never use Behr again.

Today, I used Dutch Boy semi gloss to paint the door going into my garage. The new color is Brown. I painted over a white and desert sand color.  Slight odor, and it was a little thinner than the Behr paint. After my first coat dried, four hours say the instructions, I put the second coat on. It painted better with the second coat. For a dark accent color it did fine.

Dutch Boy is still thicker that I would like a paint to be. Does anyone have a suggestion for a thinner, easier to apply paint?

I do have a complaint about the Dutch Boy paint. When I opened the can, the paint was full of air bubbles, I had to stroke the brush a few more times than usual to paint the door without bubbles showing. I have never seen bubbles of air in the paint can before. Is this a result of being eco-friendly also? 

The small amount of VOC's in interior paint are usually in the carrier and disappear when the paint is dry and has cured, usually within one week. They never were a health issue, unless you are sensitive to them while painting a room.

I too have had problems with Behr paint, especially when it comes to coverage. As a professional remodeler, I recommend ICI Dulux Paint's professional line. For the same price as Behr paint, it goes on easy, covers in one coat, and their semi-gloss enamel flows and lays down on trim to give excellent results. It sticks to surfaces without peeling once cured, and it lasts, too. I've had no problems with touchups, even after a few years. This paint is practically idiot proof, if you will pardon the expression. You can bring in any color from other manufacturers and they can match it, so color options are endless. Why Consumer Reports has never tested or rated this paint is beyond me, as it would definitely be a top rated product. By the way, they also make a no VOC product (have for years) called Lifestyle 2000 that is also a very good paint.

Grant_Roach,

We understand that everyone has his or her preferences. It’s unfortunate to hear about your negative experience with our products. Would you be willing to elaborate on some of the coverage problems you’ve had? If you’re more comfortable doing it offline, we understand. Please let us know. We’d like to hear your professional feedback. It’s important to us that we’re addressing the concerns of our customers. Thank you in advance.

It is really very disgusting when a person buy a thing and feel cheated.
provider have to give attention what quality they give to their client.

rebeccaa

I used to paint with Behr Paints from Home Depot, but recently I switched over to Sherwin-Williams.  What can I say- what a difference!  The Behr Paint goes on fairly good, although novice painters may have difficulties since it is really thick and takes some practice. 

But now all I use is Sherwin-Williams' Duration Line.  It is Low VOC, goes on easily, and leaves an amazing finish!  I tried the No VOC Harmony line, but it isnt as great. I wouldnt recomment the Harmony series.  The Duration Line is the way to go!  Of course, Sherwin is more expensive, but it is worth it!

Try the new Glidden in Home Depot.  CR never tests for ease of application, dripping, splattering and many other features that are important.

The new Glidden performs as well as if not better than any of the Behr paints and is a better value by far

It really concerns me that so many people are validating my experience with Behr paint in these forums - yet Behr and other Lowes / Home Depot paints faired so well in the CR tests.

Lobbying?

Spending $2 or $3 more a gallon for Ben Moore has saved me months of effort in my home.

8 years ago, I tried to cover a light blue in a bathroom and was into 4 coats of Behr and confused. Shadows. Poor coverage.

Save yourself the hassle and spend the extra $2 or $3.