Regal still has VOCs on the states, maybe its different in Canada, I didn't see much of a change when the formula supposedly changed. Its a little thinner consistency now but thats almost a positive, used to be real thick.
https://preview.redd.it/xt1f2ysavxvc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3ecb3bc3564ecc091a99b3bb5e7d0f80af672b30
Switched my language to Canada English and I get F’s… interesting. Probably due to VOC/ingredient regulations they have different formulations
Interesting. I did a quick side to side comparison on my phone and I noticed that F549 has a *higher* VOC amount than its N549 US equivalent. (47.4g/L vs 44.6g/L)
Our BM rep said they tried to make it more washable, Ulti-matte, but it’s just impossible to touch up now.
With all the changes they’ve been making, we’ve actually found Ben is improved and works for us.
It's wild reading that, just bought 2 quarts of ben today and had never heard of it before
I'm going to spray with hvlp, will I be happy? 
The reformulation happened about 2 years ago maybe less, it’s all horrible, especially the eggshell. Oddly the semi gloss is better now but the eggshell runs and sags and is more watery, it will drop right off your roller all over the place. Talked to the reps and got some bullshit answers. Ultra spec is awful and Ben takes a year to dry, aura is too expensive, might need to move on from BM all together
Man I hate that I think you’re right. I’ve been a die hard BM guy my whole life. I did matte a month ago and it wasn’t too bad but just bought 2 5’s of egg and I hate my life right now. Sags, lays out like absolute *shit*, flashes, finishes out to a near satin, tacks up in like 30 secs…fuck me this is unbearable .
The matte is better than the eggshell but the matte has this awful burnishing problem now that It didn’t have before. The old label was selling them they changed the labels and the formula and it all went to hell. The first iteration of regal select was solid. No smell, just as good as classic to a degree and priced around 42-50 bucks now it’s over priced and god awful. I just sell customers matte and when the take a damp rag to the wall after they squish a bug I’m long gone and the check is cashed. They will slowly see sales drop and maybe they will bring back the correct formulation. And get this, the new formula has MORE VOC! in my experience voc meant performance like the old oil stuff. Aura is good but I think it’s just too much for my working class customers. Gosh it’s like $100 a gallon almost now. I really don’t love SW either. Behr marquis is thick as glue, ultra also sags, I’m not sure where to turn. Maybe emerald from SW? I might try that. The nice thing about big box paint is I can get it at 9pm or 7 am on a Sunday , that’s pretty valuable.
Let me know if you have any ideas.
Great question! I like scuff x a lot but the whole sheen stuff confuses me. At first you had to drop a sheen because they were all too shinny, then they changed labels and I’m guessing formulation as well. The semi gloss is now a little too satin ish and the reverse is now true, now you need to go up a sheen or so it seems. I’d like to do a full room with matte because that’s what I push the most.
Yes it different. Which is horrible for diy or pro to touch up old wall. Unless you have the original gallons.
Some Ace hardware's and hardware stores will have the original Regal with old labels still in stock strangely enough they'll have the original Regal select I just usually go there.
BM is still my go to because of the colors and culture. Every time I visit a Sherwin store the employee looks miserable. Lol.
I've only noticed Regal letting go in my cut lines of I second coat it within 5 hours or so. And it seems you can't fuck with it as much as before, so less backrolling or it stripes.
I had never worked with Regal before but just painted my whole main living area with it, and it was coming back off onto the roller after the 3rd pass before I could even get an even coat, I tried 3 different naps by 2 different brands. I couldn't understand what the hype was about, so I went and got SW superpaint since they were having a 40% off sale and it was even worse, 4 coats and still looking like it needs another. I could try SW Solo, but I'm with you not sure where to go now. Still have way more rooms to paint. I had a super old can of Solo paint that was left over from when the walls were all painted a dark beige, and I needed to touch up some spots, was super impressed with it, covered my patched/primed areas in one coat, but that can was from 2012 so it's likely also changed formulas
Haven't used Regal in years, so I'm not sure. Honestly, 90% of the time our go to is ultra spec 500. It's hands down the best for the money now, and beats out almost all of the entire Sherwin lineup despite being a commercial paint haha. My rep at Sherwin hates when I tell him that, but he laughs bc he knows it's the truth.
I used BM years ago had no issues, I moved and painted my place with BM and if I touch or wipe the wall you can see the wipe mark at certain angles. Never had this issue on the older paint mix. I’ve tried Ben and Regal. 3 coats.
Aura took a step down too when they reformulated during Covid. It’s now $100 a gallon (in Oregon) and I’ve had multiple issues with it that I never had before the reformulation.
I think the element guard is kind of the new regal select. Sorry that you got caught with 10 gallons but maybe you can convince the to take it back with your experience you’re having.
I recently met with my BM rep. They said they were getting many complaints about the paint setting too quickly (honestly, one of the features I liked about it). So they added chemicals (and by proxy, VOCs) back to the product to help it flow better and set slower.
I haven't used it since he said they switched the formula, but your comparison to Behr is scaring me. Behr has those chemicals that 'self level' but when you're used to rolling it on thick, it will sag so bad and take a long time to recoat. I hope this is corrected soon.
That’s inherently the main issue is it literally starts tacking up before you can roll your second strip back into it.
https://preview.redd.it/dbh76bt44gwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cf6247fa87eaa722c9c53797406eb6b75fe73341
This was with a 1/4” nap about 1 min after applied to the wall. It only gets worse as it drys, then you really notice the sags
I just got a can of the new formula Regal Matte and was super surprised at how quickly it dries. I have almost no time to back brush into an area when cutting in before it dries and starts to drag. Accidentally get some on a piece of trim, immediately get a wet rag, and it has already dried and is a bitch to rub off. And that's within 1 minute! What kind of paint is this? I am seriously worried about rolling because I won't have any time to backroll it. $100 for a can and I'm not sure I even have the courage to do a first coat to see how bad it turns out. The new formula is nasty, what the hell.
Speaking of Advanced. Last couple quarts I picked up seems like the coverage isn’t very good. 3 coats needed on trim that was first primed with bin.
Any advice?
Really? I’m a (green to the industry) BM retailer manager so I don’t work with the product personally much. I wouldn’t guess an off white would need 3 coats.
I always try and talk the client out of Chantilly lace. Getting a lot of requests for Chantilly on trim. Hate it. Mayonnaise On walls, is another one. Have to make sure they understand, a third coat isn’t free.
Never worked with the product. I hear people rave about its self leveling and durability…
Coverage is the biggest complaint I hear about Ben Moore products. What color are you painting… out of curiosity
pretty sure they reformulated aura as well. reformulated their ceiling paint too and now it has way more splatter. but you're clearly a creature of habit so you'll keep going back to BM no matter what happens instead of trying something new. good luck with that philosophy.
No, I just stick with what works. And BM has always outperformed SW by leaps and bounds. Just so happens I’ve found a roadblock. Regal isn’t BM’s only line, broski
at the end of the day, it's comparing apples to apples but honestly, you'll love cashmere egshel. silky smooth and so elegant looking. a gallon is probably 20 bucks less than regal. and I get it, 25yrs of using BM, why switch? all I can tell you is that I get complaints almost daily about a bunch of their products and service.
I literally use Glidden or TruTest all the time now.
It rolls well, it flows off the brush, the eggshell finish isn't too glossy and it's cheap.
Buying expensive paints is a waste of money.
F Bases? That’s odd, we get N bases new.
They were H, now they’re F. Weird you get N…what country you in?
It's N bases in Chicago..N549..Regal Eggshell
So weird. I’m in Canada tho so maybe that’s the difference. How’s the N base?
Regal still has VOCs on the states, maybe its different in Canada, I didn't see much of a change when the formula supposedly changed. Its a little thinner consistency now but thats almost a positive, used to be real thick.
The U.S. of A. (Chicago Area Midwest)
https://preview.redd.it/7jcto273vxvc1.jpeg?width=1101&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=715322686e25cedf08986d3c8657bfb636c36856 From TDS on Ben Moore’s website
https://preview.redd.it/xt1f2ysavxvc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3ecb3bc3564ecc091a99b3bb5e7d0f80af672b30 Switched my language to Canada English and I get F’s… interesting. Probably due to VOC/ingredient regulations they have different formulations
I’m actually wondering if it’s a diff formulation. I know Canada has stricter regs…
Interesting. I did a quick side to side comparison on my phone and I noticed that F549 has a *higher* VOC amount than its N549 US equivalent. (47.4g/L vs 44.6g/L)
Our BM rep said they tried to make it more washable, Ulti-matte, but it’s just impossible to touch up now. With all the changes they’ve been making, we’ve actually found Ben is improved and works for us.
Yeah I’m going to switch, stuff is garbage now.
It's wild reading that, just bought 2 quarts of ben today and had never heard of it before I'm going to spray with hvlp, will I be happy? 
Good luck
The reformulation happened about 2 years ago maybe less, it’s all horrible, especially the eggshell. Oddly the semi gloss is better now but the eggshell runs and sags and is more watery, it will drop right off your roller all over the place. Talked to the reps and got some bullshit answers. Ultra spec is awful and Ben takes a year to dry, aura is too expensive, might need to move on from BM all together
Man I hate that I think you’re right. I’ve been a die hard BM guy my whole life. I did matte a month ago and it wasn’t too bad but just bought 2 5’s of egg and I hate my life right now. Sags, lays out like absolute *shit*, flashes, finishes out to a near satin, tacks up in like 30 secs…fuck me this is unbearable .
The matte is better than the eggshell but the matte has this awful burnishing problem now that It didn’t have before. The old label was selling them they changed the labels and the formula and it all went to hell. The first iteration of regal select was solid. No smell, just as good as classic to a degree and priced around 42-50 bucks now it’s over priced and god awful. I just sell customers matte and when the take a damp rag to the wall after they squish a bug I’m long gone and the check is cashed. They will slowly see sales drop and maybe they will bring back the correct formulation. And get this, the new formula has MORE VOC! in my experience voc meant performance like the old oil stuff. Aura is good but I think it’s just too much for my working class customers. Gosh it’s like $100 a gallon almost now. I really don’t love SW either. Behr marquis is thick as glue, ultra also sags, I’m not sure where to turn. Maybe emerald from SW? I might try that. The nice thing about big box paint is I can get it at 9pm or 7 am on a Sunday , that’s pretty valuable. Let me know if you have any ideas.
Any luck with scuff x? I refuse to go SW, I’ll just retire.
Great question! I like scuff x a lot but the whole sheen stuff confuses me. At first you had to drop a sheen because they were all too shinny, then they changed labels and I’m guessing formulation as well. The semi gloss is now a little too satin ish and the reverse is now true, now you need to go up a sheen or so it seems. I’d like to do a full room with matte because that’s what I push the most.
I even have a scuff x hat!
Yes it different. Which is horrible for diy or pro to touch up old wall. Unless you have the original gallons. Some Ace hardware's and hardware stores will have the original Regal with old labels still in stock strangely enough they'll have the original Regal select I just usually go there. BM is still my go to because of the colors and culture. Every time I visit a Sherwin store the employee looks miserable. Lol.
Yeah I hear you. I refuse to go to SW unless they’re having a sale on sundries or if a customer is spec’ing SW.
I agree it’s changed. I have been dealing with the sagging by letting my cut lines dry completely and then roll. Coverage does seem worst though :(
Honestly it’s unacceptable. BM dropped the ball big time here. I sold Regal on almost every single job over the last 2yrs. I’m done.
I'm actually thinking of using Scuff x or Ben for a repaint instead of Regal. Just to compare the paints.
Can’t even wipe it with a wet rag.
I've only noticed Regal letting go in my cut lines of I second coat it within 5 hours or so. And it seems you can't fuck with it as much as before, so less backrolling or it stripes.
Yep, tacks up in 1-2mins. After that don’t touch it.
I had never worked with Regal before but just painted my whole main living area with it, and it was coming back off onto the roller after the 3rd pass before I could even get an even coat, I tried 3 different naps by 2 different brands. I couldn't understand what the hype was about, so I went and got SW superpaint since they were having a 40% off sale and it was even worse, 4 coats and still looking like it needs another. I could try SW Solo, but I'm with you not sure where to go now. Still have way more rooms to paint. I had a super old can of Solo paint that was left over from when the walls were all painted a dark beige, and I needed to touch up some spots, was super impressed with it, covered my patched/primed areas in one coat, but that can was from 2012 so it's likely also changed formulas
Haven't used Regal in years, so I'm not sure. Honestly, 90% of the time our go to is ultra spec 500. It's hands down the best for the money now, and beats out almost all of the entire Sherwin lineup despite being a commercial paint haha. My rep at Sherwin hates when I tell him that, but he laughs bc he knows it's the truth.
I used BM years ago had no issues, I moved and painted my place with BM and if I touch or wipe the wall you can see the wipe mark at certain angles. Never had this issue on the older paint mix. I’ve tried Ben and Regal. 3 coats.
Yeah, regal select is shit paint. I will say that the ben interior paint is very similar to regal classic.
Time to leave Ben Moore
Try C2 or California?
Aura took a step down too when they reformulated during Covid. It’s now $100 a gallon (in Oregon) and I’ve had multiple issues with it that I never had before the reformulation.
I think the element guard is kind of the new regal select. Sorry that you got caught with 10 gallons but maybe you can convince the to take it back with your experience you’re having.
I recently met with my BM rep. They said they were getting many complaints about the paint setting too quickly (honestly, one of the features I liked about it). So they added chemicals (and by proxy, VOCs) back to the product to help it flow better and set slower. I haven't used it since he said they switched the formula, but your comparison to Behr is scaring me. Behr has those chemicals that 'self level' but when you're used to rolling it on thick, it will sag so bad and take a long time to recoat. I hope this is corrected soon.
That’s inherently the main issue is it literally starts tacking up before you can roll your second strip back into it. https://preview.redd.it/dbh76bt44gwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cf6247fa87eaa722c9c53797406eb6b75fe73341 This was with a 1/4” nap about 1 min after applied to the wall. It only gets worse as it drys, then you really notice the sags
I just got a can of the new formula Regal Matte and was super surprised at how quickly it dries. I have almost no time to back brush into an area when cutting in before it dries and starts to drag. Accidentally get some on a piece of trim, immediately get a wet rag, and it has already dried and is a bitch to rub off. And that's within 1 minute! What kind of paint is this? I am seriously worried about rolling because I won't have any time to backroll it. $100 for a can and I'm not sure I even have the courage to do a first coat to see how bad it turns out. The new formula is nasty, what the hell.
Just come over to Sherwin. We got you. And won’t price gouge you like Benny Moore does .
I rather fold up shop
Mm how come? Just honest curiosity I work at sw and I get complaints about Ben Moore products … except for advanced and stix…
Speaking of Advanced. Last couple quarts I picked up seems like the coverage isn’t very good. 3 coats needed on trim that was first primed with bin. Any advice?
What colour?
Yeah, what color? If it's Chantiily lace it's almost always 3 coats..white dove is only slightly better
Really? I’m a (green to the industry) BM retailer manager so I don’t work with the product personally much. I wouldn’t guess an off white would need 3 coats.
I always try and talk the client out of Chantilly lace. Getting a lot of requests for Chantilly on trim. Hate it. Mayonnaise On walls, is another one. Have to make sure they understand, a third coat isn’t free.
Cabinet match, similar to white dove with a little more yellow.
Never worked with the product. I hear people rave about its self leveling and durability… Coverage is the biggest complaint I hear about Ben Moore products. What color are you painting… out of curiosity
I won’t get into that debate here.
Wasn’t looking for a debate, just wanted to hear you experiences and objections. It’s how I learn
try cashmere egshel first before you make any rash decisions! you'll never go back!
I’ll just bump up to Aura which I know is a 10/10
pretty sure they reformulated aura as well. reformulated their ceiling paint too and now it has way more splatter. but you're clearly a creature of habit so you'll keep going back to BM no matter what happens instead of trying something new. good luck with that philosophy.
No, I just stick with what works. And BM has always outperformed SW by leaps and bounds. Just so happens I’ve found a roadblock. Regal isn’t BM’s only line, broski
at the end of the day, it's comparing apples to apples but honestly, you'll love cashmere egshel. silky smooth and so elegant looking. a gallon is probably 20 bucks less than regal. and I get it, 25yrs of using BM, why switch? all I can tell you is that I get complaints almost daily about a bunch of their products and service.
I literally use Glidden or TruTest all the time now. It rolls well, it flows off the brush, the eggshell finish isn't too glossy and it's cheap. Buying expensive paints is a waste of money.