Tag Archives: Benjamin Moore

How To Get an Outstanding Gloss Finish on Trim

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Because it’s durable, easy-to-clean and levels well, oil-based paint, especially in gloss finishes, has long been the preferred choice for trim and woodwork. But with the superior finish comes an unpleasant cleanup process involving solvents, gloves and time and high VOCs. Now, the options for trim have changed for the better. Benjamin’s Moore’s Advance offers the best of both worlds: a stronger, more durable finish and a soap-and-water cleanup. In fact, this water-dispersible is suitable for any surface, but in semi-gloss and high-gloss, it performs exceptionally well. Continue reading →

Applying Latex Over Oil-Based Paint

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Applying latex paint over oil-based paint follows the same basic steps as any repainting job: scrape, sand, prime, and paint. Preparation and priming are two crucial, but sometimes skipped, steps required for a quality job that will last a long time. In this case, a coat of primer is essential to enable the new finish to bond with the hard, non-porous, oil-based paint. (In addition, the primer will hide stains and create the ideal substrate for the new paint to level out and cure to a smooth finish.) Continue reading →

Caulk . . . is it all the same?

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When it comes to caulk, the conventional wisdom is that there are three basic kinds: acrylic, alkyd and silicone. To seal small gaps in the bathroom, you use a waterproof silicone caulk, which can close up tub and sink surrounds and bridge gaps in tile transitions. Most silicone caulks are not paintable. For interior woodwork, like where crown molding meets a wall or ceiling, or the corners where an imperfect miter joint allows baseboard ends to separate, use premium acrylic, which can be painted. The problem is that for many areas, such as around windows or doors, you want a caulk that will expand and contract and is paintable. Continue reading →

Hiding Wall Flaws Using a High Build Primer

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Ever spent time spackling and painting over holes only to find the paint over the spackled patch dries to different finish or texture than the rest of the wall? Some of the most careful paint prep work can end in disappointing results if primer fails to hide inconsistencies in the wall’s surface. Continue reading →

How to Deal with Fast Dry Times of Low-VOC Paints

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Low and zero-VOC paints like Benjamin Moore’s Aura are great for the environment but they do tend to dry quickly. Of course, this is an advantage if you want to get a job finished quickly – Aura can be recoated in as little as an hour or two. But with a product like this even a brief pause to answer a 10-minute phone call can be enough time for wet paint to begin to set up and once the product has begun to set up you should not brush or roll back into the drying paint. For painters not familiar with a low/ zero VOC paint’s typical working time, the experience can be tricky. Continue reading →