Behr vs. Valspar: Which Is Better?
By: Tessa
Team Behr vs. team Valspar: Which is better? It’s a pretty heated debate in the exterior design world. But we’ll just cut to the chase on our opinion pretty quickly. The best one depends on your project circumstances and goals. If you’re hoping to up your home’s curb appeal game, it’s certainly smart to do your research about these two brands before landing on the best one. We’ve listed some factors to consider when exploring the Behr vs. Valspar conversation.
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Behr as an Exterior Paint: The Good and Bad
Pro: Behr Paint is Readily Available (If Your Town has a Home Depot)
Let’s start with the positives of choosing Behr paint. It’s pretty easy to get your hands on a can since Home Depot carries this brand. So, if you run out of paint midway through your project, you don’t have to wait until mail day to continue. You can also read through the online reviews on the retailer’s website so you can get a consumer’s point of view on your desired color.
Pro: Behr Doesn’t Crackle or Easily Fade
The sight of cracked paint is disheartening considering the time and money it takes to repaint your home’s exterior. According to Consumer Reports, you don’t have to worry about Behr’s Premium Plus Ultra Exterior paint betraying you with a cracking finish, despite its thick consistency. Plus, Consumer Reports also says that this paint is resistant to color fading, so it’s perfect for even the pickiest color-chooser.
Pro: Less is More with Behr
Behr paint also has excellent coverage, however, we still suggest that you apply at least two coats so it can withstand whatever the weather throws its way. If you’re getting fancy and using a paint sprayer, Behr paint plays well with this tool and disperses evenly with it, saving you product in the long-run.
Con: Certain Behr Paints Won’t Resist Dirt
Who wants to spend Saturday power washing the house? Certainly not us. So if you choose Behr’s Marquee Exterior or Premium Plus Exterior, keep in mind that these two don’t include the necessary fillers that make it resist dirt. However, other Behr paint grades can rise up to the challenge, like Behr Premium Plus Ultra Exterior. Good news, most Behr paints are resistant to mildew.
Con: Behr Paints Don’t Roll on Easily
Remember how we raved about how Behr paints go on easily with a paint sprayer? Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. Behr paints can be quite tricky to apply with your average paint roller and brush set. However, it can be done if you’re willing to put in a little more effort and go over the same spot more than twice.
Valspar as an Exterior Paint: The Good and Bad
Pro: Valspar Paint is Readily Available (If Your Town has a Lowes)
Valspar and Lowes are exclusive, meaning you won’t find Valspar being sold any place else. So if you have a Lowes within driving distance, you could go straight to the store and get samples on a whim. The retailer keeps most of the finishes on hand, from semi-gloss to eggshell.
Pro: Valspar is Easy to Apply with a Roller
Valspar glides on super smoothly with a traditional paint roller, which means you don’t need to invest in or rent a paint sprayer. This is because Valspar paint is much thinner than Behr paint.
Pro and Con: Valspar is Resistant to Mildew, but Not Dirt
Similarly to Behr paint, Valspar paint is no match for Mildew thanks to its high-quality fillers. However, Consumer Reports hasn’t reviewed a Valspar paint that is resistant to both mildew and dirt.
Con: Valspar Dries Fast, But a Little Too Fast
Typically, we’d add a fast drying time to the list of pros, but in this case, it’s actually a bit of a downside. Paints that dry too fast show paint streaks more often than not, which is why most professionals don’t use Valspar.
Con: Valspar Paint is Thin
Although its thin texture is the very quality that makes Valspar paint so easy to apply with a roller, it’s a double-edged sword. Since this paint is thin, you’ll most likely need more than a couple of layers to get the right amount of coverage.
We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.
Behr vs. Valspar: Which is Better
Here’s the deal on the Behr vs. Valspar debate. Behr clocks in at $42 for a gallon of their high-quality grade Premium Plus Ultra Exterior paint. Valspar’s high-grade DuraMax Exterior paint costs a little less at $39 a gallon. However, coverage matters, and since Valspar is thinner, you’ll probably need more of it to get the job done, especially if you’re painting a dark house light.
However, not everyone is comfortable using a paint sprayer, and a high-quality paint sprayer typically runs around $250. So if you would rather use a paint roller, we say go for Valspar, but overall we think Behr’s Premium Plus Ultra Exterior paint is the very best option, and you can certainly apply it with a roller if you’re willing to put in the effort. In fact, we rank Behr close to our vary favorite paint brands, like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams.
If you want an expert opinion on which paint brand will work best for your DIY project, contact brick&batten for more information on our virtual exterior design services.
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