They say beauty is only skin deep but when it comes to paint, you might want a little more coverage. That’s our take on Ace Hardware’s new video ad on YouTube, which touts an array of Clark+Kensington and Valspar interior paints with the sexiness of a cosmetics commercial. Complete with a pouty model, the ad’s voiceover purrs, “helpful is beautiful” in its portrayal of pros in the Ace Paint Studio helping customers pick out the right hues for their home.
We at Consumer Reports have no beef with Ace’s claims that gorgeous interior paint is as close as your nearest Ace Hardware store. But testing paint? Maybe not so glamorous.
In our tests, Ace’s upscale Clark+Kensington made our picks in all three finishes. The Clark+Kensington Semi-Gloss Enamel, $33 per gallon, is the top-ranked paint for trim, doors, and windows where you want a finish that contrasts with the walls. It hid contrasting coats superbly and was great at resisting abrasive cleaners.
The Clark+Kensington Satin Enamel, $32, and Clark+Kensington Flat Enamel, $30, didn’t beat out the reigning Behr Premium Plus Ultra Satin Enamel, $34, and Behr Premium Plus Ultra Matte, $32, sold at Home Depot. But they weren’t far behind. Unfortunately, we can’t comment on the Valspar Optimus paints in Ace’s ad; our tests on Valspar focus on the company’s Signature line, sold at Lowe’s. Of those, the Lowe’s-exclusive Valspar Signature Matte, $32, and Valspar Signature Semi-Gloss, $35, made our list of picks.
Before giving in to a pretty face, check out our paint buying guide. Then review our paint Ratings to learn which interior paints are really worth taking home.
—Ed Perratore (@EdPerratore on twitter)
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