Benjamin Moore Paint Grades: Understanding The Differences

what are the different grades of benjamin moore paint

Benjamin Moore is a well-known paint manufacturer that offers a range of interior and exterior paint grades to meet various needs and preferences on different surfaces. The company's paint products are of high calibre, but they offer a variety of quality levels to cater to diverse market demands. Benjamin Moore's paint grades include Super Hide, Super Spec, Regal, and Aura, with the latter being the highest-quality and most expensive option. Other paint grades include Ben, a budget-friendly option, and Advance, designed for cabinets and doors. Ultra Spec 500 is an affordable contractor-grade paint for new builds and rentals, while Regal Select is a mid-range option that provides excellent coverage.

Characteristics Values
Highest-grade paint Aura
Second-highest grade paint Regal Select
Budget-friendly option Ben
Designed for cabinets, trim, doors Advance
Durable scuff-resistant paint Ultra Spec SCUFF-X
Affordable contractor-grade paint Ultra Spec 500
Builder's grade Super Hide
Business applications Super Spec

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Benjamin Moore's Aura paint

Benjamin Moore Aura paint is the company's highest-grade paint and best formula. It is an ultra-premium interior paint that offers unparalleled colour and beauty. It is available in thousands of colours and various sheens, including matte, flat, eggshell, pearl, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. The paint is rich and thick, providing a beautiful finish and outstanding durability.

Aura is known for its excellent coverage, with the ability to cover any colour in no more than two coats. It is also low-odour and environmentally safe. The paint is washable and can be used in high-traffic areas without the colours fading. Its advanced colour lock technology ensures lasting, incomparable colour, and the paint is designed to be washable without colour rub-off.

Benjamin Moore Aura paint is easy to work with and provides a smooth finish. The paint is specifically designed for use with Benjamin Moore Aura rollers and brushes, which offer optimal surface smoothness and shed resistance and are ideal for interior or exterior painting, including rough surfaces.

While Aura paint is the highest-quality option offered by Benjamin Moore, it is also the most expensive. As such, it may be more suitable for those planning to stay in their homes long-term or for those seeking the highest-quality paint for their projects.

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Regal, Regal Select, and Super Spec

Benjamin Moore is a well-known paint manufacturer, offering a variety of quality levels to meet diverse market demands. The company's paint products are divided into four major interior paint quality categories: Super Hide, Super Spec, Regal, and Aura, in ascending order of quality.

Regal

Regal is a premium paint range from Benjamin Moore. The products in this line are constantly changing and have been reformulated multiple times over the years to enhance their quality. Regal products are available in any colour and can be tinted in flat, matte, eggshell, pearl, semi-gloss, and high-gloss finishes. They are designed to compete with other high-end paint brands on the market.

Regal Select

Regal Select is a mid-range paint that provides excellent coverage, a smooth finish, and even levelling. It is Benjamin Moore's best-selling paint and has been a trusted brand for over 60 years. This paint is ideal for surfaces that are prone to abuse and soiling, as it can be easily cleaned with soap and water. It is a premium-quality 100% acrylic paint with excellent hide, spatter resistance, and seamless touch-ups.

Super Spec

Super Spec is a level above Super Hide and is designed for business applications where cost is a consideration, but quality and durability are less crucial. It is available in flat, eggshell, and semi-gloss finishes and can be coloured in any shade. Super Spec is an affordable option, but it may not offer the same level of durability as the higher-quality paints in the Benjamin Moore range.

Each of these paint grades has its unique characteristics, uses, and price points, catering to different customer needs and preferences.

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Ben, Ultra Spec 500, and Advance

Benjamin Moore offers a range of paint products that vary in quality and price. Ben, Ultra Spec 500, and Advance are three of their interior paint lines.

Ben Interior Paint

Ben Interior Paint is a premium paint that offers an effortless painting experience with its smooth application, extended open time, exceptional touch-up capabilities, and scuff resistance. It is easy to apply, touch up, and maintain. Ben paint is available in thousands of colours and delivers stunning results with zero VOCs and low odour. It is user-friendly and provides flawless results, making premium paint more accessible.

Ultra Spec 500 Interior Paint

Ultra Spec 500 is a zero-VOC, professional-quality interior coating designed for painting contractors. It offers exceptional adhesion, holdout, and stain suppression, creating a smooth foundation for premium topcoats. This paint is exclusive to Benjamin Moore and can be used on a variety of interior surfaces. It provides maximum paint pickup and release, resulting in a lint-free finish on smooth, semi-smooth, and semi-rough surfaces.

Advance Interior Paint

Advance is a premium-quality, waterborne alkyd paint offering durable high-end finishes ideal for doors, trim, and cabinetry. It provides an ultra-smooth finish and superior results with long-lasting performance. Advance paint is suitable for both interior and exterior use and can be used with latex and oil-based paints, stains, and primers. It offers maximum paint pickup and a smooth, consistent release. Advance paint is available in various sheens, allowing for personal preference and the condition of the wall to be considered.

These three paint lines from Benjamin Moore offer different features and benefits, catering to various needs and preferences. While Ben and Ultra Spec 500 focus on ease of use and accessibility, Advance targets those seeking premium, durable finishes for specific applications.

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Specialty paints

Benjamin Moore offers a range of specialty paints for specific applications.

One of their most popular specialty paints is the Floor & Patio Paint, which is designed for painting tile floors and patios. This paint is notably thinner than Benjamin Moore's wall paints, allowing for easy application on these surfaces.

Another specialty paint offered by Benjamin Moore is the Advance paint, designed for cabinets, trim, doors, and other small wood projects. As a waterborne alkyd paint, it offers excellent impact resistance. However, it is not recommended for walls and has a long drying time of 16 hours.

The Regal Select High Build Exterior Paint is another specialty paint by Benjamin Moore, designed for exterior use. This paint is buildable, allowing it to fill in cracks and gaps, making it ideal for older homes with uneven surfaces. For areas that are particularly wet or humid, Benjamin Moore offers Element Guard, a specialty paint designed to withstand these conditions.

Benjamin Moore's Ultra Spec SCUFF-X is a specialty paint designed for high-traffic areas, as it is a durable and scuff-resistant paint. It is ideal for spaces where children are constantly slamming furniture and toys into walls.

While not specifically mentioned as a specialty paint, Benjamin Moore's Super Hide is regarded as a builder's grade paint. It is inexpensive, provides excellent coverage, and is perfect for touch-ups. However, it is not very durable and requires extensive touch-ups over time.

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Interior and exterior paint

Benjamin Moore is a well-known paint manufacturing company that offers a range of interior paint grades designed to meet various needs and surfaces. The paint grades differ in terms of quality, durability, price, coverage, and intended use.

One of the most popular Benjamin Moore interior paints is the washable eggshell finish, often used for walls. The most popular finish for doors, baseboards, and trim is semi-gloss. Benjamin Moore's interior paint quality categories, in ascending order, are Super Hide, Super Spec, Regal, and Aura.

Super Hide is inexpensive and provides excellent touch-ups, but it is not very durable. Super Spec is a step up in quality and is used for business applications where cost is a consideration.

Regal is a premium paint range with excellent coverage and washability, and it can be tinted in various finishes. It is available in flat, matte, eggshell, pearl, semi-gloss, and high-gloss finishes.

Aura is Benjamin Moore's highest-grade paint, suitable for both interior and exterior use. It is the most expensive option, with superior thickness, hide, and washability. The paint is designed to prevent fading and can cover any colour in two coats.

Other interior and exterior paint grades include Advance, designed for cabinets, trim, doors, or small wood projects, and Ultra Spec 500, a durable, scuff-resistant, and affordable contractor-grade paint for new builds, rentals, and low-traffic areas.

Benjamin Moore also offers specialty paints, such as Floor & Patio paint, which is thinner than their wall paints, and Element Guard, which is designed for wet or humid areas.

Frequently asked questions

Benjamin Moore offers a range of interior paint grades, including Super Hide, Super Spec, Regal, and Aura, in ascending order of quality. They also offer exterior and specialty paints, such as Advance and Floor & Patio Paint.

Aura is Benjamin Moore's premium paint offering. It is their highest-grade paint and is also the most expensive option. It provides excellent hide, thickness, and washability, and is suitable for both interior and exterior use.

Regal or Regal Select is a mid-range paint that provides great coverage, goes on smoothly, and levels evenly. It is available in various finishes such as flat, matte, eggshell, pearl, and semi-gloss, and is ideal for high-traffic areas.

Ben is the brand's lowest-grade paint. It is a budget-friendly option for DIYers but may not offer the same coverage and durability as higher-grade paints. It may require multiple coats, especially when painting over dark colours.

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