Benjamin Moore’s “Green” Aura Paint
Finally, a high-performance, low VOC paint! Translated: this is a super premium, beautiful paint with minimal environmental impact. Most paints give off high levels of VOC’s - airborne contaminants that are toxic and contribute to ozone levels. Benjamin Moore’s Aura uses waterbourne colorants that eliminate the problem. In addition, Aura is self-priming and only one coat is generally needed. Over 144 gorgeous new colors have been created for this line, but all 3,000 Benjamin Moore colors are available in this eco-friendly formulation. I am rushing over to the Benjamin Moore store on West Lover’s Lane to pick up a sample and will post my “review” after the weekend. (Oh, how I adore painting!)
12 Comments to “Benjamin Moore’s “Green” Aura Paint”
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Aura is awesome! I painted a bathroom in a deep red. I was skeptical when Texas Paint told me that it was “guaranteed” to be one coat coverage WITHOUT priming, apply directly to texture. Yes, it is expensive, but if you consider no priming, and one coat? I saved three days, and no “paint odor.” The bathroom is gorgeous, and no second coat!
That is great news. I am on it!
I’d love to try this. I’m thinking of painting a bathroom, but I’ve never painted before. Well, once, but my ex told me I did a terrible job and wouldn’t let me paint anymore. Any suggestions on where to learn how to paint??? btw, I love all the eco friendly posts.
Please be careful with the one coat endorsement- I believe some dealers are trying to justify the higher material price with a one coat claim. Even Benjamin Moore states no more than two coats with Aura, and have a primer available for “transluscent” colors called Aura Foundation.
Aura is an excellent paint using new technology- waterborne colorants that don’t create additional VOCs in the paint for one- but the advantages go beyond the hide of the paint. How far the paint spreads, quick dry, color staying in the paint rather than your cleaning cloth, thicker paint film, excellent touch up, spatter resistance, excellent cleanability and in most cases no primer required are huge benefits and cost savings. One of the best things I have found is the blending of the area I cut in the wall where the roller meets the brushed area. Make certain you do this after the brushed area is dry!
The colors do cover very well- I have done one coat on pre-painted walls- but I always recommend two coats on any paint to allow for better touch up and consistent sheen. No one of us is a perfect painter that doesn’t occasionally have skips or light areas in our paint application!
Aura is not zero VOC- their EcoSpec line meets that criteria- but it is low VOC.
I have recently painted kitchen cabinets with Aura. Generally, I am displeased with this product.
Our main issue with this product is that it does not adhere as well as latex paints. We had not primed the uppers (done first). When we noticed the problem, we primed the base cabinets, but this did not resolve the problem. Within a day, the cabinets had chipped and the paint had cracked during very normal use. The substrate on the uppers and base cabinets was existing latex paint.
It does coat (3B - dark colours) in 2 coats, which is great. However, the second coat was essential as the first coat went on blotcy (the rep said perhaps I had overworked it, and this is very possible).
We used a 10mm roller on the uppers, and a pure bristle brush on the base cabinets. I would strongly encourage use of a pure bristle brush rather than a roller as the brush does not cause blotchiness and it really extends the quantity of paint.
Aura dries very quickly and for optimum coverage and leveling it wants to be applied in very thick coats (it’s quite challenging to get your mind around this when you are used to stretching a latex gallon).
The problem with the quick drying time is that you have to get it right on the first coat, and get it right quickly without runs.
Next we will be applying Aura to clear, untreated pine. I suspect that this product is best used on a slighlty absorbant surface such as untreated drywall or wood. Time will tell if this is true.
Other than some time saved on reapplying coats (which is not time well saved when compared to the flaking and chipping), Aura has not won any extra respect from us over BM’s EcoSpec line.
This product would be great, if used under very specific conditions.
Benjamin Moore Aura paint is amazing. Keep in mind you can’t back brush it becasue of it’s new color-lock techonolgy the pigments make the paint dry very fats therfore causing it to lift if you go back and back brush before it is dry. You can buy Aura Paint on MyperfectColort.com.
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/
I really love Benjamin Moore Paint and I am excited that they gave us this wonderfull new launch
I found this video showing Aura cover over black magic marker then washing it off.
Benjamin Moore
Aura Paint
http://www.youtube.com/custom_player
I used Aura paint in my bathroom. Love the colors. I’m just a little frustrated with how fast it dries and does not allow for overlap. I had this problem with the molding. I painted before installing and was outside in mild weather, I would paint one section bend down for more paint and try to blend in the last area with the new and it was already drying! Ended up with sections tacking up.
Does anyone have suggestions to avoid this?
Do not believe anyone on this. We were told it takes one coat, believe me we did 2 coats to get full coverage. Aura is good, but is it worth paying more than 110% more for it than Behr? Certainly not.
Do not believe anyone on this. We were told it takes one coat, believe me we did 2 coats to get full coverage. Aura is good, but is it worth paying more than 110% more for it than Behr? Certainly not.
What should have costed us $700 ended up costing us $1750 for paint alone!
This is mostly hype.
Not hype! This is a solid performer, with excellent coverage, and simply put, you get more pigment on your walls for a longer lasting, deeper color finish.
We are a huge fan of Aura, and love the new Affinity color line.
See some of the work we have done on our 6,000 sq ft home using Aura and Affinity.
http://www.scotttribe.com
Aura is the best paint ever! I will never use another paint as long as I live. It is well worth the price. You get what you pay for. I have made some very rich color selections with this paint, and it not only goes on in one coat, but the color has a greater depth than any other paint I’ve ever used. Just remember two things: 1)put it on thick and 2)do all of your cut-ins first and then go back and roll the wall. The concept is different because the product is different.