Q&A: Why are some of the Kilz exterior paints you tested no longer in stores?

I referred to your magazine and ConsumerReports.org when shopping for exterior paint, but at my local Walmart I can't find the Kilz Exterior Semigloss paint from your June 2009 ratings. What happened to it, and do you recommend the Kilz Casual Colors I saw at Walmart?

Manufacturers frequently change the formulation of their paints and stains for a number of reasons, including to improve performance, lower production costs, or meet updated environmental standards, as we covered in our March 2009 report on interior paints.

The Kilz Exterior Semigloss paint we tested is no longer available at Walmart, exclusive retailer of the brand, because Kilz recently discontinued the satin and semigloss versions of its interior and exterior products. The company has replaced those paints with the multipurpose interior/exterior Kilz Casual Colors paints you saw in the store. For more information, read our June 2009 report on exterior paints and stains and see our ratings of exterior paints and stains (available to subscribers).

Although Kilz products have generally performed well in our past tests, we can't predict the performance of these new finishes. We plan to test the interior- and exterior-use versions of the new Kilz Casual Colors this year. Given our test cycle, we won't have initial results on the performance of the exterior paint until 2011 but should have initial results for interior paint by March 2010.

Among alternatives to the Kilz semigloss paint to consider for exterior application are the Kelly-Moore Acry-Shield Semigloss ($37 per gallon), available in the Southwest, and the Valspar Ultra Premium Semigloss ($26), sold at Lowe's nationwide. And while testing is not complete, the Behr Premium Plus Semigloss ($26), sold at Home Depot, and the Ace Royal Shield Semigloss ($25) look very promising after the equivalent of six years of use.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Visit our paints page for details on specialty paints, tools you'll need for your project, and tips on avoiding common painting mistakes.

Q&A: How can I tell a water-based paint from an oil-based one?

I've read that water-based paints are easier to clean up than oil-based finishes. How do I know whether I'm buying a water-based or an oil-based paint?

About 80 percent of paint sold today is water-based; the rest is oil-based. Oil-based paint is considered more hazardous than water-based paint because the solvents used to make it are toxic and flammable. Note that you can recycle both types.

Water-based paint often has the word "latex" as part of the product name. Ingredients include water and ethylene or propylene glycol. Water is indicated for cleanup.

Oil-based paint often has the word "alkyd" as part of the product name, and the label will indicate "caution" and "flammable" or "combustible." Ingredients include petroleum distillates or mineral spirits. Cleanup method indicates the use of paint thinner, mineral spirits, or turpentine.

Essential information: Fall is a great time to tackle interior-painting projects. If you're painting rooms inside your home, read our latest report on interior paints (article and ratings available to subscribers) and visit our paints page for details on specialty paints, tools you'll need for your project, and tips on avoiding common painting mistakes.

Forum Friday: Consumer Reports readers debate the best paint types

Painting’s a hot project, based on projections for recession-defying sales and an ever-expanding proliferation of new colors. It’s also a hot topic, as evidenced by the many discussions in our paints and stains forum.

Our ratings of interior and exterior paints and deck stains (available to subscribers) always spark discussions over the best brand of paint (Behr has its share of backers and detractors) or a debate over two specific brands (in this case, Valspar vs. Benjamin Moore).

Whichever brand you use, follow this pro painter’s surface-preparation tips (we’ve got more of our own here and in the video at right). Keep in mind this mixing trick from forums moderator Angelo Mannino, and don’t miss his warning on painting over stain.

Other posters have added valuable warnings on VOCs paints (unfortunately, one mentioned brand did badly in our tests—see our report on safer paints here) and the need to check whether paint is suitable for spraying. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Product Preview: Behr Premium Plus Ultra interior paints

A self-priming paint can save you time and money, especially when you're painting surfaces that require a primer coat for optimal coverage and adhesion, including drywall and glossy cabinets. Behr recently debuted the self-priming Premium Plus Ultra line of interior paints, which should be in Home Depot stores by mid-July. Available in low-luster (satin/eggshell), flat (interior/exterior), and semigloss finishes, the paints will sell for $31 to $34 per gallon.

We haven't tested the Premium Plus Ultra products, but in our latest report on interior paints (ratings available to subscribers) Behr's Premium Plus Enamel was the top-rated low-luster and flat finish and the number four semigloss.

Behr claims the Premium Plus Ultra paints are all low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with fewer than 50 grams per liter. Our tests have shown that some paints with lower claimed levels of VOCs don't perform as well, which is why Behr took longer than other manufacturers to roll out a low-VOC product. "We wanted to make sure the technology was there," says Tom Lee, vice president of marketing for Behr.

Behr says the Premium Plus Ultra paints provide superior hiding thanks to advanced colorant technology. The finishes are also supposed to resist moisture, stains, dirt, and mildew. We'll test those claims as part of our next report on interior paints.

We have tested the self-priming Benjamin Moore Aura in a low-luster finish. This claimed-low-VOC product scored very good to excellent in most test categories. At $57 per gallon, it also has a top-tier price to go with its strong performance in our tests.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: No paint, no matter how good, can make up for poor prep work or sloppy application. Ensure a smooth finish by avoiding these common painting mistakes.

By the Numbers: Paint sales defy the downturn, says Home Improvement Research Institute

$12.5 billion

Amount of paint that Americans will be buy in 2010, according to a report
commissioned by the Home Improvement Research Institute and covered in
Home Channel News. The figure represents a 12.9 percent gain from 2008, when
sales of paints and preservatives totaled $11 billion. Sales in 2009 sales are pegged to rise by 2.9 percent, says HIRI. Based on these numbers, paint is showing signs of bucking the recession trend.

Retailers are reporting a shift from neutral off-white colors and earth tones that won't put off prospective home buyers to more active, vibrant colors for homeowners who want to personalize their living spaces. Perhaps that's why Pantone, the Carlstadt, New Jersey-based company that provides color standards for design industries, named Mimosa (swatch shown) its color of the year for 2009, succeeding Blue Iris and Chili Pepper.

Essential information: See our March 2009 report on interior paints.

Tip of the day: Avoid common painting mistakes

You don’t have to be a pro to get high-quality results. But cutting corners will produce a sloppy job, and even the highest-rated paint will fail if you don’t apply it properly.

To make your work last, DON’T . . .

Ignore prep work. “Surface prep is 85 percent of the job,” says Debbie Zimmer, director of communications and media relations at the Paint Quality Institute, which educates consumers and pros alike about buying and using paint.

• To ensure a smooth, even, and secure finish, start by wiping dust, dirt, and grime from the surface with a damp cloth.

• Tackle stubborn stains with a solution of 3 parts water to 1 part bleach.

• Fill dings and nail holes with plaster compound and patch cracks with painter’s caulk.

• Apply a primer coat to naked wood surfaces, new drywall, walls painted a dark color, and deep-set stains, such as those caused by tobacco smoke or water damage.

Skimp on materials. A gallon of paint covers roughly 400 square feet of surface. A quart should suffice to paint the molding and trim in a 100-square-foot room. Don’t eke out the job by applying too little paint—you want to try to apply the same amount to all surfaces. You can use properly stored leftover paint for future touch-ups. Click here for guidelines on paint storage.

Use the wrong tools. Cheap brushes and rollers could leave bristles and fibers on the wall, and they won’t load and distribute paint properly. A synthetic-bristle brush is best for latex-based interior paints. (You’d use a natural-bristle brush for an oil-based, or alkyd, paint.) Choose brushes whose bristles have split ends that taper to the tip. For rollers, choose a synthetic-fiber, seamless roll with a short nap; 1⁄16 to 1⁄4 inch is recommended for smooth plaster, wood, and metal surfaces.

Overapply paint. An A+ paint job requires a steady, measured hand. Start by cutting in a 2-inch strip around windows, doors, corners, and edges. Then fill in the fields with a roller. Follow a W-shaped pattern, which will distribute paint evenly and prevent drips and lap marks from marring the surface and always blend wet edge back into previously painted section.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Read our March 2008 report on interior paints, including the latest information on one-coat finishing and details on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paint.