Paints

Buying a can of paint should be an easy task. But walk into any home center or paint store and you can easily get confused and overwhelmed by the number of choices on the shelves. Brand lines keep expanding, which is great, but when prices jump by $5 to $20 per gallon, it can leave you wondering: Which paints deliver? And are the more affordable options just as efficient?

The good news is that the perfect paint for your needs is out there, and CR can help lead you to it. We test dozens of interior and exterior paints in a variety of finishes to help you find the best one for the job and your budget.

If an exterior paint project is on your to-do list this spring, take heed to this important pro tip: Make sure that outdoor temperatures are at least 50° F when applying the paint and that they don’t drop below 32° F at night. When the temperature dips, it can cause dew to form on the paint, making it harder for the paint to dry the way it should. That could make the paint susceptible to cracking and affect how long the paint lasts. While you’re painting, it’s also best to make sure there’s little to no wind so that you don’t mess up your paint job.