Elena Rossi
Benjamin Moore and Kelly Moore are two popular paint brands with multiple interior and exterior paints in a variety of sheens and formulas. While both brands offer similar features, such as colour tools and zero VOC waterborne colorants, there are some key differences to consider when choosing between the two. Factors such as volume solids, colour accuracy, coverage, and price can impact the overall quality and durability of the paint. Understanding these differences can help consumers make an informed decision about which paint is better suited for their specific needs and preferences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of coats | One coat of Benjamin Moore paint is not as good as two coats of Kelly-Moore paint. |
| Colour options | Both Benjamin Moore and Kelly-Moore offer a wide range of colour options and tools to help customers choose the right colours. |
| Colour consistency | Kelly-Moore offers ready-mixed paint to ensure better colour consistency, but Benjamin Moore offers superior coverage and hiding capability. |
| Primer | Benjamin Moore's premium Aura line is a paint and primer in one formula. |
| Volume solids | Benjamin Moore paint has a higher number of volume solids, resulting in better long-lasting coverage from fewer coats. |
| Zero VOC waterborne colorants | Kelly-Moore was the first to offer zero VOC waterborne colorants and recycled-reclaimed paints. Benjamin Moore also uses zero VOC waterborne colorants. |
| Pricing and availability | Painters may prefer Kelly-Moore due to better pricing and availability. |
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What You'll Learn
Benjamin Moore Aura
Aura is perfect for interior or exterior painting and can be used on rough surfaces. The paint is designed to be extra durable, with woven roller covers that provide the optimal balance of surface smoothness and hide, while also offering shed resistance.
When using Aura, it is important to consider the sheen, which refers to the shininess of the finish. The sheen can be adjusted based on the traffic level and condition of the wall. For example, a high-traffic area may require a more durable and washable sheen, while a low-traffic area could use a softer sheen for a more subtle effect.
Overall, Benjamin Moore Aura is an excellent choice for those seeking a premium paint with superior coverage, colour depth, and durability. It offers a smooth finish and is available in a wide range of colours, making it a versatile option for various projects.
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Volume solids
When comparing Benjamin Moore and Kelly-Moore paints, volume solids are one of the main factors to consider. Volume solids refer to the elements of paint that are left behind once it has dried.
Paint typically contains four main ingredients: water (or solvent), pigment, additives, and a binding agent. The water (or solvent) helps to apply the paint to a surface, the pigment colours the paint, additives give special properties such as mildew resistance, and the binding agent holds onto the pigment and additives. When the paint dries, only the binder, pigment, and additives remain.
The volume solids of a paint can be determined empirically by applying the paint to a steel surface with an application knife and measuring the wet film thickness. The paint is then cured and the dry film thickness is measured. The percentage of dry to wet represents the percentage of volume solids.
Understanding the volume solids of a paint is important for calculating the true cost of different coatings and how much paint is needed to perform its function. Higher volume solids generally mean a higher price per gallon.
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Zero VOC waterborne colorants
When it comes to paint, Benjamin Moore and Kelly-Moore are two popular brands that offer a range of options for interior and exterior painting projects. Both companies provide tools to help customers choose the right colours and offer multiple formulas and sheens. One notable difference is that Benjamin Moore's Aura line is a premium, more expensive option that serves as both paint and primer, offering superior coverage and an ultra-smooth finish.
Now, turning to the specific topic of Zero VOC waterborne colorants, this type of paint is becoming increasingly popular due to its environmental and health benefits. Zero VOC paints do not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are organic chemical compounds that can evaporate under normal indoor conditions and contribute to air pollution, both indoors and outdoors. These compounds are released as gases and can pose health risks to those who live in painted spaces.
Other brands that offer zero VOC paints include ECOS Paint, which provides a comprehensive list of ingredients and VOC test data, and AFM SafeCoat, which was developed in collaboration with physicians to create healthy, eco-friendly products for sensitive environments like hospitals and schools. Additionally, Clare Paint offers a designer-curated range of water-based, zero-VOC paint colours that are Greenguard Gold Certified, ensuring fewer pollutants and healthier indoor air quality.
When selecting a zero-VOC paint, it is important to ensure that the brand meets zero-VOC paint emissions standards and does not include VOCs in their tinting process. Healthier Homes is another brand that offers water-based, non-toxic acrylic paints blended with organic clay, natural minerals, and non-toxic zero VOC colorants, providing durability and customisability.
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Color tools
Benjamin Moore and Kelly Moore both offer a variety of colour tools to help customers choose the right shade for their projects.
Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore offers a colour match tool that allows users to scan a colour they like and instantly find its closest paint match. The device connects to the Benjamin Moore Colour Portfolio app, which features the brand's digital fan decks of over 3500 colours. Benjamin Moore also offers a lightweight foam core board that can be brushed with 8 oz. paint samples to view colours in different rooms and lighting conditions.
Kelly Moore
Kelly Moore offers a similar suite of colour tools. The brand's website features a Find Your Colour tool that allows users to explore colour families, best-selling colours, and colour collections, as well as view online colour brochures. The Colour a Room tool allows users to see how chosen colours would look in pre-loaded rooms, with the ability to adjust colours on walls, ceilings, and trim. The Personal Colour Viewer offers a close-to-real-life view of paint projects. Kelly Moore also offers a tool to explore colour palettes, allowing users to browse the brand's shades and create a colour palette that can be emailed. The Shop by Colour Family feature lets users narrow down their search by grouping colours into families and displaying the most popular hues. Kelly Moore also offers the myColorVisualizer tool, which allows users to see how their chosen colours will look in a room, as well as the KM Paints app for accessing digital colour fan decks.
For professionals, Kelly Moore offers free architect and designer colour tools, including colour swatches and fandecks. Architects, interior designers, specification writers, and general contractors can also access one-on-one consultations and job site inspections to identify the ideal paint system to meet performance and colour requirements.
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Discounts and pricing
Benjamin Moore offers sales and discounts on key dates such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Black Friday, with discounts of up to 30% on popular colours and paint types. They also provide a Paint Calculator tool to help customers calculate how much paint they need, reducing overbuying. Benjamin Moore Aura, the brand's premium paint line, is more expensive and offers superior coverage and an ultra-smooth finish.
Benjamin Moore also offers a variety of coupon codes and promotions. Customers can sign up for the newsletter to stay informed about sales and new colours. The Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio app allows users to visualise paint colours in their space before committing to a purchase.
Kelly-Moore, on the other hand, offers a 10% discount for new customers on orders over $499. While there is no mention of sales or promotions on their website, Kelly-Moore was the first to offer zero VOC waterborne colourants and recycled-reclaimed paints.
Both Benjamin Moore and Kelly-Moore carry a wide range of interior and exterior paints with various sheens and formulas. Benjamin Moore has over 7,500 stores in the US, while Kelly-Moore products are available through Contractors Wholesale Supplies.
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Frequently asked questions
Benjamin Moore's premium paint line, Aura, is a paint and primer in one formula that offers superior coverage and an ultra-smooth finish. It is more expensive and holds up against stains, scuff marks, mildew and fading. Kelly-Moore was the first to offer zero VOC waterborne colorants and recycled-reclaimed paints. It also offers ready-mixed paint to ensure better colour consistency, but also provides custom-mixed paints.
This depends on what you are looking for. Benjamin Moore's premium Aura line offers better coverage and protection, but it is more expensive. Kelly-Moore has a wider range of colour options and is better value for money, but may require more coats.
You can take a Benjamin Moore paint chip to Kelly-Moore and have them mix a matching colour. However, this may not always be accurate. Alternatively, you can buy a sample size of the Benjamin Moore colour and have Kelly-Moore match it.
