Review: Behr Paint Plus Primer

Friday, March 12, 2010

First, thanks so much for all of your kind comments yesterday.

I’ve mentioned before that I used Behr’s new Paint plus Primer in my master bedroom, and I’ve had many of you ask how I liked it. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this paint, it’s a new line from Behr (available at Home Depot) that is supposed to be the equivalent of paint and primer in one (thus the name) allowing for better coverage and fewer coats.

Behr Paint Plus Primer 

It’s around $30 a gallon, as compared with $23 (?) for the regular Behr paints. The Paint Plus Primer line has it’s own amazing color options (much better colors than the regular Behr line - in my opinion), but as an FYI, the colors can only be mixed by Home Depot in the Paint Plus Primer.

So here’s my take. I liked it. I was able to paint my master bedroom in one coat. I liked the color (Silver Tinsel) and I liked the finish (I used eggshell).

Here’s the thing though, unless I’m painting over a really dark color I’m usually able to paint a room with one coat using the regular Behr paint. So that’s why it’s a tentative endorsement. I liked the paint, it’s great, there are tons of gorgeous colors to choose from, I would use it again…but I like the regular Behr paint too.

Have I totally confused you? :-)

Have a great weekend!

sig

28 Suburbanites Said:

Melanie said...

I must paint wrong because I NEVER can do one coat on the walls. I did buy this paint to repaint the guest room but I haven't started yet. I love Behr paint and I bought the new paint for $37:( Hope it works in one coat.

AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage said...

Melanie - make sure there's plenty of paint on your roller on the first coat and check as you go to make sure there aren't any little "naked" spots. I used to skimp on paint on the first coat (I guess I was saving it for the 2nd?), but now I use more on the 1st coat and it usually works out pretty well.

I'll also be doing a series on paint in the next week or two, and I'll try to help clear things up some more.

Cami said...

Thanks for the review. It is nice to know someone else had tried it.

Kat said...

I just painted our hallway with the Behr paint/primer combo, and will continue it into our living room. I really liked. I am painting over textured walls and I feel like it it covers better then plain paint would. There are a few thin spots that I need to go back over, but other then that, one coat did it!

Mathilda said...

this is the best paint EVER to paint over dark colors actually in general it is the best!!

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

No, makes complete sense! I'm a one coat girl on lighter colors myself, and I completely agree with your response to the first comment. I used to try to use as LITTLE paint as possible and the people at the paint store set me straight about that one when I brought up this issue to them!
Have a great weekend! Janell

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

So glad I found your blog. I was wondering if that paint was good and would cover in one coat. Thanks for the info. Your home is beautiful.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

So glad I found your blog. I was wondering if that paint was good and would cover in one coat. Thanks for the info. Your home is beautiful.

Thrifty Decor Chick said...

I JUST got some of this today for the Bub's room! I wanted the low VOC and that's the only way Behr offers it. I love their new line of colors -- our dining room is one of those! I am excited to try this out -- I was going to have to prime over a few things in there so we'll see how it turns out. Better not see some bunnies peeking out! :)

Mama Thompson said...

I used it on some bedroom furniture and I LOVE it. I just liked that I could do 2 coats of the paint for a perfect paint job, instead of having to prime it and then do 2 coats of black...painting furniture is a pain and the fewer coats I have to do the better:)

cindy said...

I've been eyeing this paint. My experience says it's all about the kind of roller you use. If I use one of those 6" jobbies with low nap, I can get it on in one coat usually...but I'm anal and always do a quick second coat. :)

~ Regan said...

Good to know.. My hubs is so funny about painting- He will prime a while wall before painting it! THank goodness this will save us a step.

Anonymous said...

I painted over bright red with a soft blue Behr Paint plus Primer in my powder room. It only took one coat, (probably would have benefitted from a light second coat in a few areas). I also used it to paint our kitchen cabinets, worked well in that application as well. I give it a ringing endorsement. I actually just went and got a full set of their colors today so I can work with them on client projects.

Pedaling said...

i'm getting ready to paint a room in my house- so this was very helpful- not confusing at all- any ideas or tips are welcome- this will be the first time for me to do it myself!

claudia b said...

Behr is my favorite, so thanks for the review on the +Primer line!

Nicole @ the style hatch said...

I love the Behr Paint Plus Primer.. We have used it all over our house! Only one coat also! The colors I have used are: Creamy Mushroom, Studio Taupe, Elephant Skin and another one I can't remember the name of. (I get the most comments on the first two!!)

I don't think I would paint with anything else, that's unless I found a color I really really liked somewhere else!

Nicole

Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia said...

My girlfriend used this to paint over her red walls and loved it!!!

momma-o-minnie said...

I bought a $5 seconds can to cover the turquoise that was in the now boy's bathroom. It needed a total of 3 little touch-up places (where the roller missed or I didn't get close enough), It cleaned up easy, it literally "seals" the walls and has a buttermilk consistancy.
I would recommend it, but then I only paid $5.... I would probably recommend anything for $5

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

One coat is amazing! I will have to give that a try. It sounds like it saves a lot of time!

XOOX
Jen

Jeannine | The Small and Chic Home said...

I think this new "paint with primer" trend is kind of funny. The paint is thicker, which is great for coverage, but I don't know why companies try to say there's primer in there...as if the primer magically knows to coat the wall first?

Anyway, I did a test between Benjamin Moore's Aura (my fav for consistence and full spectrum color) and Glidden's new premium brand. The Glidden didn't do so well. The Behr looks much more promising after reading your description. I'm still not sure I can part with my Aura, though!

TheVirginiaHouse said...

I have to say that "normally" (in my pre-kids days) I would buy any ol' cheap paint and take my sweet time slapping each coat on. Now... I have used Behr+ the last 3 paint jobs I've done and I love it! In all three cases I have only had to do one coat which is wonderful in my current "No don't touch thaaaaaattt!" days. I would use it again in a heartbeat!

Marie said...

Funny to stumble upon this b/c we just painted our bedroom a few days ago. We always bought the cheap paint, you know, the one that rhymes with flidden. Well, we heard that Behr is awesome so decided to splurge and try it out. We bought samples of both the regular Behr paint and also the Behr Paint and Primer in one. Honestly, I did not notice that significant of a difference to pay $10 more per gallon. It was however, much much thicker and nicer than the cheap stuff. We went from a taupe color to a light gray color in one coat with the regular Behr paint and am now sold out for Behr. Thanks for your input!

MeenyMoe said...

We are remodeling our spare bedroom into a great craft room for me!! I had the room painted two colors, cinnamon cake & a rich chocolate brown on an accent wall. We went to Home Depot to buy paint to re-do the room. We had picked out 2 light shades of Behr paint (limelight and hushed white). The paint mixer guy suggested the Ultra Primer + Paint that Behr sells. I'd never used it before. He assured us it would cover that chocolate wall in one coat. While it did cover the chocolate wall nicely, I did have to go over a couple of places that the brown peeked through lightly. Overall, I was pleased with it. It was really thick compared to the regular Behr paint. I painted 2 accent walls with limelight (kinda a muted aqua color) in regular Behr. It, too, had to have two coats and that was over the cinnamon cake color which is a dark cream. I love Behr paint, though. That is the only brand I ever use in my house.

Unknown said...

Behr paint is a pricey paint but its quality is amazing. I purchase last time a modern living room furniture and I paint my room with matching the color of my room's furniture and rug. Well after all I give 4 stars to this paint. Although it has only one cons and that is its price.

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for this review! Quick question, I need to cover red walls. Should I be buying oil based or water based primer?

Rob said...

I am no longer a professional painter anymore(gave that 20 years back) but I do still paint 3-4 of my rental properties each year. This time I decided to try the Behr PPP. I figured the time saved with the one coat was worth the extra costs. I painting an off white over a flat interior, light pale blue painted only two years ago. I have to say I am very dissapointed with the Behr PPP.. I have had to apply two coats and still there is some areas that need some touch-up. This painting experience has turned out to be a waste of money and my time.

Unknown said...

you should never do just one coat of paint. Ya it might look real good but it will only be half as durable and last you half the time. I sell paint for a living and hate huge companies that just want to sell you something. truthfully any 100% acrylic paint will bond with most substrates. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS PRIME WOOD AND NON POROUS SURFACES. Also another good tip would be , if your buying paint and the salesmen doesn't even ask what you are painting or what you project is, youre in the wrong store!

skaterjroc@live.ca

Julie said...

Great post! I've used Behr paints in almost my entire home. I just blogged about painting in high gloss... I painted my moldings, trim, hollow core doors and even a couple of ceilings using Behr's Ultra Pure White in High Gloss.

www.julieloveshome.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/bringing-sexy-back-with-paint/

Thanks
Julie