Hi 3angles,

Sorry, I didn't see your post when it was originally written. Hopefully, you'll get a chance to read it before too long.

ANyways, I'm no fan of Behr and Ralph Lauren paints. Both are sold at Home Depot. I don't care what discound HD gets from the mfgrs. because it's still cheap. In fact, I own stock in HD and wouldn't suggest you buy that paint.

What I suggest you do is open the YELLOW PAGES and look under PAINT - RETAIL. Visit your local Retail Paint Store and buy your paint from them. Yes, you'll pay $15 - $30 a gallong. But 1) you'll have a MUCH higher quality paint (because you get what you pay for), 2) you won't be painting again in a few years, 3) it covers well and adheres well.

I've spoken to the mfgrs. that make Behr and Ralph Lauren. IN short, HD tells them what THEY want in their paints. Hence, the mfgrs. mix the paint based on the Retailer's recommendations. If you want a cheaper paint, then you cut back on the solids and oils and such. Pratt & Lambert, for example, make a good paint sold under THEIR brand name. But if you were to go to Walmart and buy the Walmart brand, you may see P & L's name on it BUT only as the mfgr.; NOT as the 'marketing name'. Again, you see, P & L makes the paint based on Walmart's specifications. It's NOT P & L's fault the paint is 'bad'; it's the specifications that make it bad.

My best to ya and hope this helps.

Jay J -Moderator

I have used Ralph Lauren paints, and I had nothing but great experience with their ordinary paints. They do cover rather well in my experience and look great. The Behr paints I have used have not covered as well.

As for the River Rock, I considered using it but eventually decided against it. First, the biggest problem with using the texture paints by RL is that the application is not nearly as easy as it sounds. The most common problem is when seams form at the roller edges that do not "roll out" as easily as they do with normal paint. It takes an experienced hand (or a lucky one) to get it right the first time. (By experienced, I mean experienced with applying the RL texture paints, not with paint, in general).

Second, the main thing I liked about the River Rock was the subtle specks of complimentary colors that the samples showed. It seemed to provide an overall depth of color that I liked. However, in practice, those specks do not show up much, if at all. Moreover, they are visible up close, but not at all from afar, which is how you look at walls (unless you are the type to habitually stand up close to a wall and face it... in which case you have more problems than I want to discuss). Because I looked at the samples closer to my eye than I ever would look at walls, I was getting a misimpression of how it would look on the wall.

So I would go with an ordinary top-quality paint, not the River Rock.

Jay J:

I don't know who you talked to at "mfgrs. that make Behr and Ralph Lauren" but whoever you talked to is full of cr*p. The manufacturer who makes Behr is Behr. The paint they make is as good or in most cases far better than the paint sold is your local retail store. HD does not dictate what paint manufacturers put in their products. Being a paint "expert" I'm sure that you know that Behr makes water-based paint that does not contain "oil". I would hope as moderator you would get your facts straight before making ridiculous accusations.

Sputnik - You are out of line and sadly misinformed. HD, Walmart and others can and do dictate what goes into products sold at their stores. When you are as BIG as they are, you can do that. Why - if they couldn't dictate they would take their contract elsewhere.

The pro painters I know would never touch Behr, Ralph Lauren, or any paint sold by a discount chain or big box. Their reputation depends on consistent quality.

Interesting, you guy's are talking about something that's never really occured to me. Can/or does, the retailer dictate to the paint company how to formulate their paints?? Hmmm!! Intuitivly I would think retailers could only go so far in making demands on paint suppliers, seems to me top companies (Behr, PPG, Dupont)have their reputations to uphold so it's hard to believe they'd put anything they're told in a can.

BobF:

At the risk of starting a flame-war, I'm afraid it is you who are mistaken. I know for a fact that the Big Box stores don't tell the paint companies what to put in their paint because the big retailers don't know what goes into paint nor do they care. Retailers of all sizes buy products based on price, service, quality, and delivery not on what is in the product.

As far as professional painters buying at the the big boxes, all you have to do is sit outside the commercial register at HD and watch how many 5 gallon containers of paint get loaded into commercial vans and pickups.

The real reason a lot of pro-painters won't buy from the big-boxes is that the small distributors schmooze the pros with things like free coffee, donuts, game tickets, etc., and have long-standing relationships. Most importantly, for the pros, since they are usually small businessmen, they get "free" credit at the distributor.

I know I'm not going to convince you since you're so adamant in your stance, but for the uninformed, I'm just setting the record straight.

'Nuff said.

Let's compromise - it's a no win thing.

Most manufacturers produce a customized/low-end product for the big guys. This would include a personized label and a product based on a price set by the customer - which would of course dictate the quality. As everybody's idea of quality differs, this will satisfy some but not others - ie those that want the best available.

I think the above is common knowledge - so let's move on. Alan

Me, move on??! Not w/o first making MY final statement on this.

I DID call the mfgrs. of a few paint companies and DIRECTLY asked them why I should pay 3x's the price for their paint at the local Paint Retailer vs. buying it at the Big Box Store. They DIRECTLY said that the reason it costs so much less at the Big Box Stores (BBS) is because the ingredients are formulated to the Big Box store's specifications. I'm not going to debate whether or not the BBS writes down the specific amount of solids or color or whatever. I WILL tell you, sputnik47, that the BBS DO tell the paint mfgrs. that they want a paint that's competitive and priced "a certain way" for their customers. Understand this - From where I'm sitting, the folks that frequent the BBS for paint are NOT the same folks (percentage-wise) that frequent the local Paint Retailer. The LPRs customers are, by far, contractors whose livelyhoods depend on quality material. Fact is fact. Call Pratt and Lambert and ask them what I asked them. Don't think for a minute that the paint in EITHER store is the same. If it was, it WOULDN'T matter which store you bought it from. YOU can sit there and do the comparisons of the 2 products. P & L doesn't care what ******* wants in the paint. I've got my facts straight, sir. It sounds like you're out of touch.

Best,
Jay J -Moderator

PS: Put your foot back in your mouth because my so-called 'rediculous accusations' are TRUTH. Pick up the phone and get back in the loop. Make the call!!!

PPS: Nuff said by me now ...

PPPS: GOd Bless America!

I just wanted to post and let you all know that places like HD do in fact have a major say in the paint lines they sell. Now HD does not make the formula or anything But they do tell Behr, Glidden, Ralph who is gonna have the better paint in there store. I know for a fact that Glidden is not allowed to put there high end paint lines in because HD wants Behr to be there High end paint line between the to. That is why you will notice that Evermore, and America Finest is not sold at any Independent dealers only the Home Depot because it is a special mix made just for them. The way Home Depot puts it is they want Behr sold as the top plus they get a biger kick back, and glidden to be to the middle class paint. I do know for a fact that Glidden has tried many of time to put better paint lines into Home Depot but they have been rejected everytime they try. So to ever doubts this just call 1-800-Glidden or try Behr and they will tell you the same thing.