I am a builder and designer with 20 yrs experience. Paint is one of the MOST important features for most homeowners across the board. I always recommend against eggshell paint - it shows EVERYTHING. Even with the most meticulous tradesmen, you are dealing with building products that naturally expand and contract with weather and other factors. People used to choose eggshell for washability. Modern technology has allowed that same durable washability to exist in flat paint. Most people have ultimately been more satisfied with the look of flat paint with that washable additive. The BM paints you mentioned are not like starter builder grade, those are in the 200 range. It's probably recommended for facilities & commercial due to the durability of the product. I do not think it will affect the color, as much of what you look at is presented in flat paint. Eggshell requires sanding in between each coat which is time-consuming and costs more, however, you should have both been informed and given the opportunity to decide, weighing the factors. While I universally prefer flat, it is not my house! I'd love to see pictures of your progress. Good luck on your journey, feel free to reach out with any other questions I can answer from afar. - Tracie

Okay so I should be fine with the ultra spec 500 in classic grey flat and color will match same as regal. Our contractor has a relationship with the paint store so they are refunding us the difference and taking back the regal. Why is there such a difference in price?

@Kristine There are some differences. Eggshell, semi-gloss & gloss are typically a little more. They also make different specialties like self leveling, non-sueding & such to make it easier for non-professionals to get better results, these are more costly. It sounds like you've got a good team in place! I'm sure they'll get it spot on for you!

Thanks! That makes me happy and so far everything they have done has been great, They had to replace and integrate wood flooring and it is flawless. They have done some big demo work as well, taking down walls, putting in windows, replacing siding...all great. So I am glad to hear it's fine and I will just let them do their thing, Honestly I mainly care that the color comes up the same since that is part of the vision hahaha.

@LP Sherwin Williams paint I'd recommend that's washable is Promar 400 or 700 or Superpaint. If you're tackling the project yourself, I'd say Cashmere will be your best result it's self-leveling :). If you're using a pro, they might have something more to offer based on the surface & color selection. Good luck with your project!

Ughhhh Lori I saw your comment after the comment reassuring me from Custom Edge. I have the regal eggshell here. I wish I just got the regal in matte which I was debating. My contractor would have just used the better paint and still gotten the matte he was looking for as far as hiding imperfections or to make those high walls look best. Oh well...Can someone tell me what is the down fall of using the ultraspec 500 vs the regal...what is the real difference beside things like smell...is there any difference in the look, color etc...

@Kristine I don’t have as much experience with BM paints as sw, but reading the specs, I think it’s suitable for most people with professional application. The main thing I steer away from is the eggshell finish. For a super knowledgeable paint expert like Lori, she may be able to tell differences I cannot. Sorry I can’t tell the differences the Regal offers. I’d definitely discuss with your contractor. Paint covers so many surfaces, you’ve GOT to be happy with the results!

So many things going into design and I'm no expert so I am hoping no difference for me between regal and ultra spec 500. I am getting the difference back in cost so it's not like I'm paying the higher price and getting lower cost paint. Hopefully it's like red wine, the $30 bottle and the $100 bottle taste the same to me. I am not sure why contractor did that other than maybe he thinks it covers better and likes to work from the same 5 gallon vs individual gallons, but I am just guessing. Again, I still don't know the difference between the regal and ultra spec 500.

@Lori A. Sawaya I've been told numerous times over the years that they have to sand in-between coats of eggshell or it bubbles. I wonder if it's climate that makes a difference or regional trend. I'll have to look into this for legitimacy. I so prefer the finish of flat paint that I don't use it often anymore.

I do too and with all the time I spent choosing color, I can't believe I picked sheen so willy nilly as that is equally important. Again, I really would love to know the difference between regal and ultra spec 500 hahaha. Remodeling really is a nightmare, especially when you have a touch of undiagnosed OCD hahaha...my husband is a saint lol

Regardless of how much research you do, there are thousands of components that go into remodeling & building - can't catch all of them. I've done a bit of research. There are some pro painters who prefer the Regal, but some that prefer the Ultra spec 500. One being a BM distributor, so it can't be the less expensive preference for these guys. I can't find a true comparison between the Regal and Ultra Spec. I'll see what I can dig up tomorrow. Your husband sounds wonderful lol!

hahaha my hubby is great, so that's a plus! Thanks for the research I'll be curious to see what you find because I can't seem to find what differentiates them.

I would NOT be happy. I always buy my own paint as I find some painters want to take the easy/lazy way out. If they don't want to use the product I select, I can get another painter who will. I use Regal eggshell all the time. Sometimes I do use matte as too, it depends on the project. I find the paint he used to be cheaper and inferior. I LOVE Farrow and Ball as well.

I get it...so tell me what is the difference that I will see. Will color be off? Will color not last? Will it not look as good? What will be the actual difference?

It's very hard to say. I find the cheaper paints lack the pigment so sometimes the color is just "off" and not as rich. Coverage can also be an issue, and I don't find it lasts as long before you need to repaint.

difference is regal will last longer. eggshell will clean up better and regal will have better color retention. and its more durable.

@Kristine, I agree with both Lori & Design Girl! ( I am NOT a "pro painter", but I am OCD!)

The BM Regal is much higher quality paint than the Ultra Spec. It has to do with the amount of solids, plus other factors. This will actually effect the amount of coverage you get from each gallon!

If you want to compare the sheen, flat, eggshell, etc., it is important to go to the TDS sheet and check for the % of each one in EACH line of paint, as it is not at all consistent, even in the same brand.

I promise you, everything that touches the flat Ultra Spec will leave a mark or a stain. It will not wash off. Touch ups will be a nightmare!

I'm not sure if you prefer the flatter finish or if you will like the eggshell. (We have 15 grandchildren - I prefer eggshell for the ease of cleaning, when necessary.)

If flat or matte is your preference, I think Regal or Aura are comparable in terms of touch ups/cleaning, but Aura may have a slight advantage.

Your labor costs are going to be the same no matter what. I would use the BEST paint you can afford!

Can someone tell me what is the down fall of using the ultraspec 500 vs the regal...what is the real difference

Textiles have a 'hand' to them and so does paint. Cheap paint feels like someone colored your walls with chalk and sealed it with Aqua Net. It's rough, gritty and porous. With a top tier grade, your hand glides over even the flat/matte finishes. One of my favorites is Aura matte.

You don't clean cheap paint. You knock off the big stuff and paint over the dirt.

This is an old article from when Regal first launched but the info is still relevant: http://www.paintpro.net/Articles/PP604/PP604_CeramicPaints.cfm

You get one shot at that first coat. Putting crap paint on new walls is criminal in my opinion because that base will forever affect future top coats. Referencing the article, you'll be painting over basketballs forever.

What the painter wants to avoid is prepping the walls. Cheap paint doesn't catch the light which means you won't see the wall boogers and imperfections. Which means they're not his problem but they'll be yours.

Cheap paint also degrades rather quickly. You will have a dusty house. Repaint with top tier like Aura and you'll be shocked by how much less dust there is.

I could go on. I hate cheap paint on walls or ceilings and poorly prepped walls.

As far as color, that the least of the worries; gallons will match the chip no problem.

Flat always hides imperfections better than anything with a sheen, but how concerned should your painter be if the drywall was done well. Did they spray orange peel on the walls too? That really hides poor workmanship.

Why anyone would prefer having Ultra Spec Flat on their walls over Regal Select Matte or Eggshell is beyond my imagination. I want my paint to look good long after application.

On the Benjamin Moore ULTRA SPEC® 500 INTERIOR FLAT FINISH spec sheet it states "Recommended For Low abuse interior wall and ceiling surfaces in commercial and institutional environments where flat finish is desired."

The REGAL® SELECT PREMIUM INTERIOR PAINT & PRIMER MATTE 548 Spec sheet state Recommended For Residential or commercial high traffic applications where a premium quality matte finish is desired."

It is the quality of the paint that dictates the higher price.

I would call Benjamin Moore Customer Support

Consumers
1-855-724-6802 (855-Paint-02)

You might also want to read these:

https://www.painttalk.com/threads/regal-vs-ultra-spec-vs-ben-flat.48409/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/high-quality-paint/

BTW - Regal is 100% Acrylic Latex, Ultra Spec is an Acrylic copolymer.

I would be unhappy with the paint and with the fact that a decision to change what I had selected was changed without allowing me to have a voice in the decision making process.

I use eggshell finish almost everywhere, and NO, it doesnt need to be sanded in between coats. I would insist on him using the Regal paint. Its much better quality, and I am wondering what the reasoning is that he doesnt want to use it. Its your house, get what you want, or you will be repainting it in a year.

I think you originally mentioned something about primer, but just in case - be sure the painter does an actual primer coat! No such thing as paint & primer in one!

The quality of the primer will greatly affect the outcome of the paint. It needs to "seal" the wall so there is not uneven absorption.

I am not sure about primer. I think he is using a primer that is tinted with color. He is just going to use the eggshell regal that we have. I am sure it will all be fine. Thank you everyone. Now my hood just came and it was supposed to be custom painted to match a door we sent and no door and hood raw. So onto the next panic....I am so jealous of the people that don't try and save money coordinating things themselves and pays someone else to coordinate everything from design through construction!

Kristine, for most of us, no one else will care as much about coordinating things as you will. It is your home! I was friends with a woman who made $1 million a year + as part of the design team for high end homes. Her job was to make sure all the cabinet hardware, towel bars, light switches, etc., etc., were exactly what & where they were supposed to be.

Talk about pressure!

I am a nurse working in Covid and this is more stressful. I can’t imagine doing this every day for multiple simultaneous projects although I’m sure I will learn from all these instances. Trick is to keep it in perspective, correct it and move on. Thank you everyone for the input.

@Kristine It looks like you've weighed everything and are going with Regal. I think you'll be happy with this choice. You've done your research :) And echoing everyone - this needed to be a decision you were in on from the beginning. With homebuyers, I always ask who is the main decision maker for each area. "you can make this change, but I'll need a permission slip from your wife" lol Hopefully things will get ironed out and you'll be thrilled with your finished project!

Sadly far too few companies or people take enough pride in their work to do it well. As home owners we have to watch every tradesman, every order, every can of paint, every decision and make sure we have enough knowledge to make the right decisions. Unless you are paying someone an absurd amount of money you will get someone who has one eye closed.

Fwiw (not a paint expert), but our painter recommended the BM Regal and we painted our interior walls with Classic Gray in eggshell and love how it came out... We painted the interior ourselves and def did not sand between coats. My screwup was that we used eggshell in simply white for the ceiling, guess that is a no no. Oops. :-).

One thing that is SUPER important when you paint, and hardly ever mentioned - the humidity level! If it is too low, your paint will dry too fast. That can cause overlap marks on walls, and in the case of trim, a NOT smooth finish.

Mary Elizabeth makes a great point. Read the directions. Too hot, too cold, to wet or too dry can all impact the finish of the paint. The thickness of the coat is also important. All of this information is found on the can or the technical data sheet.

Flat absorbs light, eggshell reflects it. If you like light spaces, eggshell wins.

if you're painting wood trim, I'd use the Advance. it's top of the line for trim work applications. I've used regal, aura, advance and the other 500 (Outside!) Advance is beautiful for trim work.

Just my own varying opinion in working the field for many years- paint quality and application for wood is very crucial and walls lesser. As long as the painter applies 2 coats on walls, I would not anticipate significant issues. Yes, there are luxurious paint lines that apply like butter, I'm all for it- but it's not entirely necessary. I prefer eggshell for certain wall colors like white and matte for darker colors. Additional color issues occur when "color matching" is attempted between brands.

I wouldn't use Superhide or Ultraspec if you GAVE them to me!!!!!

>>>> That would be like using a rattle-can of krylon to repaint a Testarossa or Enzo!

I'm now Manager of a pretty busy Paint-Dept., & been in paint for 20 years now.

* I've used paints from C2, FPE, ACE, Behr, Magnolia, BM, Ralph-Lauren, etc.

* Sanding between coats of Eggshell is the biggest load of hooey I've ever heard! Between coats of Semi-Gloss or Gloss...yes.

* Sanding on a lightly textured wall between coats? Also....ZERO benefit!

* Now....a light sanding after 2 FULL coats of a GOOD Primer, like 123, will make for a beautifully smooth wall, assuming no texture. This ISN'T up to a "Level 5" Standard however!!

* REGAL is 75 times better than those 2 low-end soups.

* Builders & many painters like Flat because it "Touches-up better" & "Hides Imperfections".

* What ISN'T usually stated......<<<< Flats cost the least >>>>. Remember that.

* Bottom-Tier Flats??? Even cheaper..............

If I owned Rental-buildings.....YES, use the low-end soup.

My own home, or homes of our customers?? NO. WAY. IN. HELL.

(btw..........we don't get Paint-complaints)

Faron

You live and you learn. Regal eggshell is going up on walls. I truly appreciate all the feedback and advise. It just wasn’t sitting well with me and when you are doing a big job where you are paying attention to so many details, paint, especially paint that is already purchased and available, is not an area I’m wanting to compromise. My contractor was fine with it. He has been doing a good job, taking down walls, putting in windows, patch-working in new hard wood with existing floor and looking flawless. I think he was just taking a short cut with this and he didn’t realize that I have agonized over every decision and would both know and care. He probably didn’t realize that I stand in the rooms at all hours to see undertones in different lighting. I am happy with all the research though because I was trying to do a white, but I think it would have been really difficult with my limited natural lighting. I think I would have also freaked with any yellow undertones. I am loving BM classic grey. Moves from vanilla/white color to light grey, but the beige undertone keeps it warm which I prefer. At first my old white dove trim went terrible with it and made it look cool, but now that the trim is down and next to my Oxford white cabinets it looks great! I also put it in my powder room and we just installed the herringbone marble floor and it looks great! So again thank you!!! This project is the first time I’ve used Houzz and I really appreciate all the input from people that know better!

It was the right decision.