Behr produces both water-based and oil-based paints. While the vast majority of their popular interior and exterior wall paints (such as the Marquee or Premium Plus lines) are water-based acrylics, they also manufacture dedicated oil-based and alkyd formulas for specific applications.
Oil-Base Paint
When selling your house, stick to light, universally appealing neutrals like warm whites, greige (gray-beige), and soft taupe. These shades maximize perceived space, make rooms feel bright and clean, and allow potential buyers to easily visualize their own furniture in the home.
The test to determine whether your paint is oil-based or water-based is pretty easy. Simply put some methylated spirits on a rag and wipe at a small section of your wall. If the cloth is stained with the wall colour, it is water-based.
Behr offers a wide array of high-quality water-based (acrylic/latex) paints and finishes for both interior and exterior surfaces. Known for their easy application, low odor, and simple soap-and-water cleanup, these water-based formulas range from versatile interior wall paints to durable exterior coatings and clear wood finishes.
BEHR Oil-Base Semi-Gloss Enamel is formulated for easy application with a roller, sprayer or brush. It is ideal for application on siding and trim. This mildew-resistant formula will help protect both interior and exterior surfaces from scuffs, rust and household chemicals.
Oil-based paint is durable and glossy, making it ideal for high-traffic woodwork but it's being phased out due to environmental concerns. The strong odors, long drying time, and yellowing over time are key drawbacks of oil-based paints.
The glossy surface of oil-based paints makes it so difficult for any other paint to bond. That's why, if you apply water-based paint straight to oil-based, it will flake and crack as the water-based paint pulls away. So, to get oil-based ready to paint over, you need to take away a lot of that gloss.
Red is universally considered the hardest paint color to cover. Vibrant red pigments are highly transparent and inherently prone to bleeding through subsequent layers. Other notoriously difficult colors to cover include black, dark blue, dark green, and bright yellow.
Beige tones, hues of white, and grey should be the colors of choice for your furniture, curtains, drapes, and other home accessories. Neutral colors not only give that plush look, but they also give you that warm feeling.
Since demand outweighs supply, housing prices are higher, and homes sell faster. Meanwhile, the worst months to sell a house are November through March or during the fall to winter, when potential buyers are preoccupied with holiday plans. Sellers should expect lower sales prices and higher DOM during these months.
Cool gray is being replaced by "mushroom" neutrals (warm taupes and greys with subtle green or violet undertones), warm earthy khakis, and soft, natural sages.
BEHR PREMIUM PLUS Exterior is a 100% Acrylic, low VOC formula designed for a long-lasting finish that resists moisture, fading & stains and provides a mildew and corrosion resistant finish.
Eggshell is better for most walls because it offers a practical balance. It provides a soft, subtle sheen that hides most imperfections while being washable and durable enough for everyday scuffs. Flat paint absorbs light to conceal flaws perfectly, but it is notoriously difficult to clean.
Yes, Home Depot stocks a variety of oil-based paints, primers, and enamels for both interior and exterior use. These products are highly durable, rust-resistant, and ideal for surfaces like trim, doors, and metal.
There are three main types of “impossible” colors: Forbidden colors. These are colors our eyes simply cannot process because of the antagonistic way our cones work, for instance “red-green” or “yellow-blue.”
Top 10 Timeless Paint Colors for Your Home
For optimal paint adhesion, cover the oil-based paint with a high-quality primer such as those listed below. If any color or stains show through, apply a second coat of primer.
These three golden rules — fat over lean, thick over thin, and slow-drying over fast-drying — work together to help you create vibrant, long-lasting oil paintings.
Bob Ross primes his canvases using Liquid White, Liquid Black, or Liquid Clear as the foundational base for his famous wet-on-wet technique. These specially formulated liquid oil paints are applied in a very thin layer across a pre-gessoed canvas. This creates a slick, wet surface that allows thicker oil paints to easily glide, slide, and blend together.
You can often use old paint if you mix it very well, but several factors determine its usability. The general paint shelf life for unopened latex paint is around 10 years, and oil-based paint can last up to 15 years. Once opened, this lifespan typically reduces to a couple of years, depending on storage conditions.
Professional artists use both acrylic paint and oil paint depending on their style and the demands of their projects. Many artists who work in realism or portraiture prefer oil paints for their blending capabilities and depth of color.
It is completely normal for oil-based paint to still be tacky after 24 hours. Oil-based formulas dry via a slow chemical oxidation process rather than rapid evaporation. It typically takes 24 to 48 hours to dry to the touch, and up to 5 to 7 days to fully cure.