MATT SHOUP, PRESIDENT M & E PAINTING, LOVELAND, CO

“Sherwin-Williams’ SuperPaint goes on smooth and thick and holds up over time to our harsh Colorado climate,” he says. “The price point, which is around $30 per gallon, makes it a great return on investment. Its low temperature capabilities allow us to paint during the cooler months.”

BOB MERIAM, OWNER MERIAM PAINTING, SUMMERVILLE, SC

“On the higher-end paints for interiors, Sherwin-Williams’ Duration matte performs well and can be purchased for less than $50,” he says. “Benjamin Moore’s Regal Select eggshell finish has one of the best touch-up capabilities. I am not a fan of eggshell on walls, but on any jobs that call for eggshell, we’ll always use this one; while for trim, I have always used Sherwin-Williams’ ProClassic in a semigloss finish. Coming in at a close second is Benjamin Moore’s Advance.”

Meriam adds that for a more economical paint that still performs well, he recommends Benjamin Moore’s Ultra Spec.

DAN BRADY, PRESIDENT DAN BRADY PAINTING & WOOD RESTORATION, TRAVERSE CITY, MI

“Manor Hall Timeless by Pittsburgh Paints works especially well on weathered cedar siding, where you have lots of dryness and texture in the wood,” he says. “It’s a thicker-than-normal paint and has the ability to fill in the roughness and bring the look of the siding back to life. The fact that this paint is thicker makes it really great on weathered siding. It fills in a lot of that dryness and lets you get an almost-new look.”

For quick-turn jobs, Brady turns to Pittsburgh Paints’ Pro Siding Plus solid-color stain. “It’s a very forgiving product; it’s hard to make a mistake with it and it’s also a really good value— plus, it will last five to seven years,” he says. “It’s a terrific product for the customer who wants a fresh look to improve curb appeal. It’s 100% acrylic so it will stick to aluminum, vinyl and plastic.”

LOUIS KATZ, PRESIDENT LJK WALLCOVERINGS, INC., HARTSDALE, NY

“Benjamin Moore’s Advance works like an oil-based product but water cleans it up and it dries within an hour,” he says. “It works great on walls and trim, and there’s no smell. We use it any time we’re doing trim work, commercial work, or a client’s home. Because it dries so quickly, the doors can be closed and people can be working in the same area. Plus, no smell means clients aren’t bothered by odor either.”

WILL SHEILS, OWNER BLUE STAR PAINT & PROPERTY SERVICES, LLC, ANNAPOLIS, MD

“For interior and exterior, I like Pittsburgh Paints’ Manor Hall line because it is a true self-primer and leaves minimum brushstrokes in the higher sheen,” he says. “I use this brand line on all residential jobs, while for smaller-budget jobs, I like Pittsburgh’s Speedhide line, which is a great option for rentals and commercial properties.”

Sheils mentions that Sherwin Williams’ SuperPaint is also a good choice for both interior and exterior use. “It covers well and stands up to heavy wear and tear,” he says.

JERRY FANCHER, OWNER/ESTIMATOR FRESH COAT PAINTERS, EDEN PRAIRIE, MN

“One of the important questions for interior repaint customers is what is their goal; for example, are they moving in or out? Many times, the customer flat out states they are moving and it is a 100% budget job,” he notes. “For those jobs, Sherwin-Williams’ ProMar 200 and 400 will do the job quite well at a low price. We use ProMar on rentals that are painted often, and houses being ‘beiged’ to sell by very cost-conscious customers.”

Meanwhile, if a customer is moving in and it’s an upscale home, Fancher recommends Sherwin-Williams’ Cashmere. “Or, if they are using deep colors, we use their Emerald,” he says. “Both are great products and are made for a long-lasting, quality job. The cost is higher, but the quality will last, and the added cost for the paint is mitigated by a lower labor cost.”

JOHN BUBENIK, OWNER THE COLOR CRAFTSMEN, ST. LOUIS, MO

“Benjamin Moore’s Aura has excellent hide and is better than most for touch-up. This is a great product,” he says. “We use it whenever we want good abrasion resistance, great hide (manufacturer says no more than two coats are necessary), and when we want the customer to rest assured that any touch-ups won’t be apparent.”

Bubenik adds that an alternate product, when great hide is required but touch-up ability is not crucial, is Behr Marquee. “We haven’t used the exterior version yet, but we’ve used the interior product several times and regard it as being similar to Aura,” he says. “Another favorite product is PPG’s Break-Through. We’ve used this product on floors, tile, and even a countertop. It’s very durable, dries fast, and is available in satin and gloss.”

DAN NOCCHI, PRESIDENT HOMETOWN PAINTERS, INC., CHICAGO, IL

“This product is ideal for recoating masonry walls,” says Nocchi of Sherwin-Williams’ Pro Industrial Multi-Surface Coating. “When spraying warehouse or industrial walls for recoat or new construction, it is self-priming, high-build, and you get a nice, angular sheen. It’s a standard staple go-to product for us. We save on labor costs, and touch-ups aren’t required.”

For residential and commercial high-end work, Nocchi likes Benjamin Moore’s Regal Select. “It has one-coat coverage,” he says. “I like the ease of application; it lays nice and leaves a nice, uniform, one-coat