ben InteriorBenjamin Moore paint review

Why it happens. Burnishing, and the spec behind it is volume solids. ben eggshell carries 35.0 percent against Regal Select's 41.1 — roughly a sixth less material on the wall per pass — and the stain-release chemistry BM builds into Regal Select is not in this line.

The fix. Gentle wipe with mild soap and nothing more. If the wall genuinely needs scrubbing weekly, ben is under-built for it and the fix is Regal Select on that room, not a better technique.

Why it happens. A painting contractor left mustard, ketchup, coffee, wine, crayon and pencil on a ben semi-gloss wall for 24 hours. Coffee, wine and pencil wiped away fine; the ketchup and mustard only came off when the paint came off with them, and the film peeled under everyday degreasers like Krud Kutter and Simple Green. That was semi-gloss, the sheen in this line that should clean up best.

The fix. Keep degreasers off it entirely. Wipe fresh spills early with plain water and mild soap, and treat a set stain as a touch-up job rather than a cleaning job. Any wall that meets grease wants a tougher line.

Why it happens. ben is noticeably thin when you pour it, and that loose body is the flip side of how nicely it rolls. A contractor running it against SuperPaint and Hi-Hide got spatter off the ben roller the other two did not throw, and Good Housekeeping's testing docked it to three stars partly for splattering.

The fix. A 3/8-inch nap or shorter, a lighter load on the roller, and more drop cloth than a thicker paint needs. It is not universal, but plan for it rather than discovering it over your floor.

Why it happens. ben covers acceptably but it is not a one-coat paint, and dark colors are where the thin film shows. BM dealers put ben at up to three coats going over or into a dark color, where Regal Select tops out at two.

The fix. Budget the third coat and the third gallon up front. On a navy dining room that extra coat can erase the whole saving, which is the moment to re-price Regal Select instead.

Why it happens. Touch-ups blend cleanly inside the first few weeks. After a season the patched spot catches light differently, which is common in entry paints.

The fix. Re-roll wall to corner rather than dabbing, and keep a labeled quart from the job. Do not bank on spot-fixing scuffs in year two.

For a homeowner repaint, yes. ben is the consumer entry line; Ultra Spec is the contractor entry line. ben rolls smoother, hides a touch better, and comes in the full color deck. Ultra Spec is cheaper by the bucket and fine for rentals you will repaint often. If you are doing your own walls and want a clean result, ben is the better few dollars.

On previously painted drywall in good shape, no — ben is a paint-and-primer in one and self-primes there. On bare drywall, raw patches, glossy trim, or stained spots like water rings, marker and smoke, prime first. ben is not a stain blocker. Use Zinsser BIN or a bonding primer, then topcoat.

Price and performance both step up, and volume solids are the reason. ben runs about $47 a gallon at roughly 35 percent solids in eggshell. Regal Select is about $73 to $75 at roughly 41 percent, with stain-release technology behind its better washability. Aura is about $90 to $94 with matte solids up to 48 percent, the richest deep colors and the best wear.

In satin or semi-gloss, a powder room or a low-steam bathroom is fine. For a daily-shower bathroom or a kitchen wall behind a stove, ben is under-built. It scrubs and resists moisture less than Regal Select or Aura Bath & Spa. Use a tougher line where the wall gets wiped weekly or sees real steam.

Two, in most real situations. ben covers well for an entry paint but it is not a one-coat product. Light color over light color in eggshell can sometimes hide in one pass on a primed wall. Going over patches or light-over-dark always wants two, and a true dark color can pull a third.

Plan on three when you are covering or applying a dark color. BM dealers confirm ben can need a third pass there, while Regal Select tops out at two. If you are buying gallons for a color change, price the third coat before you assume ben is cheaper.

Yes. The current ben interior formula is zero-VOC, meaning 0 g/L before tinting, the same emissions class as Aura, and it stays low-odor in practice. That makes it a defensible pick for nurseries and bedrooms you need to sleep in the same night. ben Exterior is the exception at under 50 g/L.

The entry consumer grade. Dealers describe the ladder as ben good, Regal Select better, Aura best, with Ultra Spec 500 on the contractor side below it and Ultra Spec SCUFF-X alongside. The spec that separates them is volume solids: ben eggshell at about 35 percent against roughly 41 in Regal Select and up to 48 in Aura.

It costs almost exactly the same as Behr Marquee, roughly $47 a gallon, but they sit at opposite ends of their ladders: Marquee is Behr's flagship, ben is BM's entry line with thinner solids. Sherwin-Williams Cashmere runs about $66, between ben and Regal Select. You pick ben at this price for the 3,500-color BM deck and dealer tinting, not for the thickest film per dollar.

Thin film and no stain-release chemistry. Owners describe walls picking up greasy-looking handprints from clean hands within months of a repaint, and BM counter staff will tell you a rub against a ben wall stands a fair chance of chipping or scratching. It is why dealers steer the line toward renters and households without kids or pets.