As a painting contractor, I get asked all the time by clients which paint brand is the best. Over my 15 years of experience, I have used a variety of paint brands (Behr, Valspar, Sherwin Williams, PPG, Gliden, Dunn Edwards, Benjamin Moore, Vista, and more). Each company has their levels of grade paint within each brand (economy, pro grade, premium, ultra premium, etc.). And each brand has paint targeted toward the specific project being performed depending on the surface you are painting over. For example, some products are more designed for wood substrates while other products are more designed for metal substrates. With that said, generally speaking, you would need to compare each brand's premium paint grades against one another. Sherwin Williams' premium grade paints are the Duration and Emerald lines. And Benjamin Moore's premium grade paints are the Aura line. When comparing paints, one needs to consider many factors such as ease of application, leveling, adherence, durability, washability, weather resistance, and sheen appearance.
Before I go any further, it is important to note the different soluble bases paint comes in. The two main solvent based paints are oil-based and water-based. Oil-based paint uses as their solvent oil, while water-based paint use water. There are also other solvent based paints out there as well, such as lacquer and shellac which use a synthetic polymer or alcohol base. But in this thread, I will be mostly comparing paint brands when it comes to their water-based products (as this is the most commonly used paint among contractors and homeowners).
As a painting professional, paint quality is very important. Over the years, I have experimented with the different paint brands in pursuit to use the best product for my customers. I have used Sherwin Williams consistently due to their competitive pricing and convenience of their many locations. But with all the seeking, I have found a home with Benjamin Moore. Don't get me wrong, Benjamin Moore can be really pricy! But I believe that it is worth the cost. With all the labor and time spent on painting preparations, I want to use the best quality paint that will last for years to come. As a painting contractor, the most important attributes of paint is adherence and durability. I want to make sure the paint tightly grips to the surface and withstands the various elements. Benjamin Moore offers products that best meet these needs that are most important to me. I want my customers to enjoy my work for years without flaking, peeling, and fading. Therefore, Benjamin Moore paint products are a staple for my business needs.