As counter intuitive as it sounds, you might have trouble getting good coverage with dark-colored paints, even when applying them over a lighter surface. We hear this complaint a lot with red paint, though it can happen with any primary color.
According to Deborah Zimmer, director of communications and alliances with the
Paint Quality Institute, the reason has to do with the balance of raw ingredients. "In order to make a ‘deep-tone' paint, like red or any other dark color, a formulator must remove some of the titanium dioxide (TiO2) or decrease the overall pigment level," she explained by e-mail. "Since TiO2 and other white pigments contribute to hiding, it can take multiple coats of the darker paint to get that nice, even finish."
Valspar claims it has solved this pigment problem with its launch of Signature Colors with Hi-DEF Advanced Color System. The "ultimate hiding formula" in these low-luster, matte, and semigloss interior finishes is supposed to cover most old colors in a single coat, while its "super-saturated pigments" promise exceptional color accuracy.
In the past, Valspar Signature Colors paints have been among our top-performing products in all three finishes. Among low-luster and semigloss paint, Valspar might have even been number one overall if not for the fact that formulas by Behr, Kilz, and Benjamin Moore delivered slightly better hiding.
Will Valspar's new colorant technology vault it to the top of our Ratings? Our latest round of
interior paint testing is under way and we'll let you know the results. Read our review to find the highest-quality paints for your next project, and follow these
expert tips for proper application.
—Daniel DiClerico
