Behr Premium Plus

When it comes to Behr Premium Plus, which is sold at Home Depot, the difference in opinion between professional painters and review sites is vast and jarring. The brand usually fares well in professional reviews, but is the source of pointedly negative comments from most painting professionals. A major reason is that numerous reports say Behr is harder to work with, needing more prep time, better care in application and sometimes more coats to achieve the same results as more expensive paints, especially in the case of darker colors. But, while the extra time represents lost profit for professionals, homeowners say that the cost savings is often worthwhile and most say that they are pleased with the results. Overall, contractors recommend spending more on Benjamin Moore Aura (*est. $55 per gallon) or Sherwin-Williams Harmony (*est. $40 per gallon).

The best professional review for Behr Premium Plus interior paint can be found at Consumer Reports. Paints are graded on their performance in key areas, and recommendations are made. However, there's no discussion of paints other than the recommended ones, and even that discussion is limited. Jim's Home Repair Stuff has even less discussion, does not explain how it determines its top choices, and the latest update is now dated. User forums such as DIYChatroom.com and DoItYourself.com have lots of conversation and some interesting insights from both professional painters and homeowners.