The Behr and Rust-oleum Exterior Paint

For the last couple months, I have been painting my front porch's ceiling.  And let's just say, I have been neglecting this part for way toooo long.  After much success with Benjamin Moore's Advance (High Gloss WHITE) on windows trim, I decided to give it a go on the porch's ceiling as well.  Many people say you should use Satin or Flat, but I think BM Advance's High Gloss is an excellent choice in term of color, texture, and durability. 😀  

You can see in this picture between the old white paint, and BM Advance.  The old paint have not been touch for 10 years, and multiple flaking spots are in deep-need for re-paint. 😅

Boy, oh boy...

So after finishing up the front porch, next up on the list is my exterior door sills (the wooden part right below the door).  One of them has water rot in the front that has been repaired using wood filler, but that is a story for another day.  

After some research, I decided to go back to Rust-oleum again.  The oil paint did really good job, so I am incline to think this one should be decent at minimum.  BM Advance will work, but it is a different color and its cure time is 30 days.  Don't think I can wait that long without accidentally stepping on it!

Anyways, for this project, I went to Home Depot and got myself a quart of Rust-oleum Painter's Touch - Ultra Cover Premium Latex Paint - Satin Espresso, and a bag of their anti-skid additive, because the sill can be slippery during the rain. 

While in the paint area, I spotted Behr e600 exterior paint.  Ah, yes.  Behr paint.  If you ever do an online search for Behr paint, you will see plenty of trash talks on so various forums for their texture and durability.  Behr got no-respect.  But I decided to give a chance.  Or at least a sample size chance.

I asked a HD paint guy if they have a sample for their e600 exterior paint.  The guy hesitates a bit and hand me an 8oz plastic tub.  Behr Color Sample - Interior / Exterior - Paint & Primer - SATIN * DEEP BASE * B3703.  Not the same because they do not have e600 sample size.

Frustratingly, there is no detail on the tub about which Behr's product this sample tub matches to.  But after numerous searches on Home Depot website, it seems they only provide a sample paint for Behr Premium Plus line.  Thus, I will assume this sample tub matches that.

In case you never look up Behr's product lines, they have three main lines for paint -- 

Behr's Product Lines

• Marquee -- The high end paint.
• Ultra -- The medium grade paint.  Seems like a popular choice of the three.
  
• Premium Plus -- Behr's lower end paint.
  

And that bring us to this week's test trial between two latex paint -- Behr PP vs Rust-oleum Ultra Cover.  I decided to do two simple tests on an old scrape wood.

1. Primed and paint.
2. Paint directly on the wood.
   

The primer used here is Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 (water-based primer).  The pictures really speak for itself...

The Two Contestants

1. Primed and paint

2. Paint directly on wood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a day-and-night differences on #2 test.  During the painting process, Behr feels watery and this shows up when there is no prime underneath; despite the fact that PAINT & PRIMER is written in front of the tub.  Rust-oleum, on the other hand feels more substantial with some thickness to it.  Personally, I like the feel of Rust.

The result here should hopefully convinces you to pay a bit more for the better paint.  Would Ultra or Marquee do better?  No idea, since there is no sample paints.  Honestly, if HD wants to sell more paints, they should have sample paint for their high-end ones.  Because, let's be honest, nobody want to repaint same thing every year!