Your home says a lot about you and your personality, which is why many homeowners spend a great deal of time deciding on and finding the perfect paint for their project. There are a tremendous amount of things to consider when searching for paint, from colors, sheens, accent walls, and everything in between. And once you narrow all of that down, you are forced to finally decide between the wide array of paint brands. Like many homeowners, you may be left wondering, "Is there a difference between brands? What brand works better? Who do you choose to use? It’s just another step in the decision-making process where you have to weigh out the pros and cons.
Here at HomCo’s paint department, we hope to make it as easy as possible for you to find the perfect paint to bring your vision to life. That is why we wrote this blog comparing Behr vs. California Paint, two popular brands of paint, in a variety of categories including price, quality, ease of application, and odor.
Price
For many customers, price is the most important factor when deciding between two brands. If you are expecting to paint a large surface area or many rooms with the same color, the cost of paint can quickly add up. We compared the retail price of Behr paints and California paints from retail stores in the Flagstaff area. We will be comparing the Behr Premium Plus Ultra line to the California Paint Malibu Premium. Both are interior paints, in eggshell color, and deep bases.
The retail store stocking Behr Premium Plus Ultra sold it for $32.98 a gallon while California Paint Malibu Premium can be picked up for $35.
Quality
A paint's quality is determined by a variety of factors, including the type and amount of resin used as a binder, the type and amount of pigment, the volume of solids, and the film thickness. The type of resin used as a binder affects the overall durability and flexibility of the paint; if it is too weak, it can cause chalking or flake over time. The amount of pigment in the paint determines its color strength, opacity, and coverage. Volume solids measure how much solid material is present in a coating compared to its non-volatile components such as water or solvent. Finally, film thickness measures how thickly applied the coating is; too little will not provide adequate protection from weathering, while too much can cause sagging or cracking on vertical surfaces.
Both lines of paint, Behr Premium Plus Ultra and California Paint Malibu Premium are highly regarded as each brand’s premium offerings for consumers. We found that both brands covered our test area completely, with only a few noticeable differences. When running a hand over the dried Behr Premium Plus Ultra, you could still feel the wood grain. The California Paint Malibu Premium’s High Hide Formulation did a better job of providing an even finish.
Ease of Application
There are a variety of factors that can affect the ease of application when painting. Some of the factors can be dependent on your environment when painting. Things like temperature, humidity, and even dewpoint are all environmental factors that can change from day to day, and that can change the outcome of your paint application. Despite this, there are differences in the composition of paints that can make their application different even under the same environmental conditions. Most paints consist of the same basic components: pigments, binders, liquids, and additives. But each brand may use slightly different mixes of these components in their final product. This will cause each brand’s paint to behave differently under identical environmental conditions.
When tested, we found that Behr paint was much thicker and harder to apply. It was comparable to a paste consistency, which lead to going back over the paint multiple times to get a smooth, even coat. The California paint was found to be easier to apply and went on smoother with fewer clumps.
Odor
The smell that paint gives off is due to the curing process of the paint. Although people usually refer to paint as “drying” it is more accurate to refer to this process as “curing” since the paint is going through a chemical process to harden on the surface of your walls. The paint cures due to the presence of VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds. The VOC level will directly correlate with the strength of the odor the paint fumes will have. The higher the level of VOCs present, the stronger the paint smell will be.
While painting with Behr, the odor was very strong and unpleasant. We were only painting a small section in a big room, and other people would walk into the office and ask what that smell was. This is because Behr Premium Plus Ultra paints contain levels of VOCs. While painting with California Paint, the odor was barely noticeable because California Paint Malibu Premium is a zero VOC paint finish!
Behr vs. California Paints - so which is better?
With all the different brands and options that are out there, there is always going to be a range of decisions to make. Every individual project will have its unique circumstance that will determine what the top priority will be when selecting a paint brand. Both Behr and California paints are nationally-recognized brands that have stood the test of time among homeowners and contractors alike. However, when we vetted the two brands we thought that California Paints better serves the interest of our customers and we highly recommend using their products for your next project.
Are you curious about comparing another paint brand or wondering what type of paint is right for you? Stop by HomCo and visit our paint department today! We are proud to be Flagstaff’s local paint experts and look forward to helping you with all of your paint needs!
Your home says a lot about you and your personality, which is why many homeowners spend a great deal of time deciding on and finding the perfect paint for their project. There are a tremendous amount of things to consider when searching for paint, from colors, sheens, accent walls, and everything in between. And once you narrow all of that down, you are forced to finally decide between the wide array of paint brands. Like many homeowners, you may be left wondering, "Is there a difference between brands? What brand works better? Who do you choose to use? It’s just another step in the decision-making process where you have to weigh out the pros and cons.
Here at HomCo’s paint department, we hope to make it as easy as possible for you to find the perfect paint to bring your vision to life. That is why we wrote this blog comparing Behr vs. California Paint, two popular brands of paint, in a variety of categories including price, quality, ease of application, and odor.
Price
For many customers, price is the most important factor when deciding between two brands. If you are expecting to paint a large surface area or many rooms with the same color, the cost of paint can quickly add up. We compared the retail price of Behr paints and California paints from retail stores in the Flagstaff area. We will be comparing the Behr Premium Plus Ultra line to the California Paint Malibu Premium. Both are interior paints, in eggshell color, and deep bases.
The retail store stocking Behr Premium Plus Ultra sold it for $32.98 a gallon while California Paint Malibu Premium can be picked up for $35.
Quality
A paint's quality is determined by a variety of factors, including the type and amount of resin used as a binder, the type and amount of pigment, the volume of solids, and the film thickness. The type of resin used as a binder affects the overall durability and flexibility of the paint; if it is too weak, it can cause chalking or flake over time. The amount of pigment in the paint determines its color strength, opacity, and coverage. Volume solids measure how much solid material is present in a coating compared to its non-volatile components such as water or solvent. Finally, film thickness measures how thickly applied the coating is; too little will not provide adequate protection from weathering, while too much can cause sagging or cracking on vertical surfaces.
Both lines of paint, Behr Premium Plus Ultra and California Paint Malibu Premium are highly regarded as each brand’s premium offerings for consumers. We found that both brands covered our test area completely, with only a few noticeable differences. When running a hand over the dried Behr Premium Plus Ultra, you could still feel the wood grain. The California Paint Malibu Premium’s High Hide Formulation did a better job of providing an even finish.
Ease of Application
There are a variety of factors that can affect the ease of application when painting. Some of the factors can be dependent on your environment when painting. Things like temperature, humidity, and even dewpoint are all environmental factors that can change from day to day, and that can change the outcome of your paint application. Despite this, there are differences in the composition of paints that can make their application different even under the same environmental conditions. Most paints consist of the same basic components: pigments, binders, liquids, and additives. But each brand may use slightly different mixes of these components in their final product. This will cause each brand’s paint to behave differently under identical environmental conditions.
When tested, we found that Behr paint was much thicker and harder to apply. It was comparable to a paste consistency, which lead to going back over the paint multiple times to get a smooth, even coat. The California paint was found to be easier to apply and went on smoother with fewer clumps.
Odor
The smell that paint gives off is due to the curing process of the paint. Although people usually refer to paint as “drying” it is more accurate to refer to this process as “curing” since the paint is going through a chemical process to harden on the surface of your walls. The paint cures due to the presence of VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds. The VOC level will directly correlate with the strength of the odor the paint fumes will have. The higher the level of VOCs present, the stronger the paint smell will be.
While painting with Behr, the odor was very strong and unpleasant. We were only painting a small section in a big room, and other people would walk into the office and ask what that smell was. This is because Behr Premium Plus Ultra paints contain levels of VOCs. While painting with California Paint, the odor was barely noticeable because California Paint Malibu Premium is a zero VOC paint finish!
Behr vs. California Paints - so which is better?
With all the different brands and options that are out there, there is always going to be a range of decisions to make. Every individual project will have its unique circumstance that will determine what the top priority will be when selecting a paint brand. Both Behr and California paints are nationally-recognized brands that have stood the test of time among homeowners and contractors alike. However, when we vetted the two brands we thought that California Paints better serves the interest of our customers and we highly recommend using their products for your next project.
Are you curious about comparing another paint brand or wondering what type of paint is right for you? Stop by HomCo and visit our paint department today! We are proud to be Flagstaff’s local paint experts and look forward to helping you with all of your paint needs!