Color match caution

Abrowneyegirl · ‎03-15-2010

Everyone talks about how easy it is to color match paint but we have a great example of the opportunity for error.

2 of my friends both wanted to use a paint color that I use in my home. My paint is SW they both used a Behr equivalent color matched. 2 different Home Depots.

They both complained that something was off with the color. When we visited, we agreed (even my DH noticed). So out of curiosity, we took samples of their paints to compare to ours as I know lighting, finish, time of day, carpet, etc all affect how paint colors look.

I painted a piece of foam core and YES all 3 colors were different, VERY different.

We are unsure if the machines at HD need regular calibration (if that is a thing) or what or where the error is, but it was an interesting project.

I am going to check in with a relative of mine who has complained for years that one of the colors she used that I use is not the same. Now I wonder, did she use SW paint or a color match version of the color? (she has even accused me of giving her the wrong paint name)

queendiva · ‎03-12-2010

I guess I don't understand. Interior painting is an expense and a job which is done infrequently. Why not get exactly the color you want? Even white has many variations.

If you want a S-W color, buy it from S-W! If it's more $ than HD, save the money somewhere else and be happy with the end result of the painted room.

skatting44 · ‎07-26-2019

If you are matching a paint color than I would use the exact same brand of paint . I would not mix paint brands . Also, you need a like colored dry wall primer before applying the paint to get the best saturation of color .

So, if your friend did not use a dry wall primer or if she just had the builders grade flat McCormick paint than her walls may have " soaked up the paint color " and the color looked lighter . It could be a mistake by the person who mixed the paint . I have never worked one of those paint mixing machines so am not sure if maybe human error can be factored in .

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@queendiva wrote:
I guess I don't understand. Interior painting is an expense and a job which is done infrequently. Why not get exactly the color you want? Even white has many variations.
If you want a S-W color, buy it from S-W! If it's more $ than HD, save the money somewhere else and be happy with the end result of the painted room.

Probably good advice, about just buying the brand that has the color, but I think people try to color match because they prefer a brand of paint.

I used to be a die hard Sherwin Williams user, and nothing else, but a few years ago, I fell out of love with their paint after a couple of different purchases didn't give me the results I was used to from their products.

So I think people have a brand preference for quality or performance, but like a color from another brand.

Abrowneyegirl · ‎03-15-2010

@Mominohio wrote:
@queendiva wrote:
I guess I don't understand. Interior painting is an expense and a job which is done infrequently. Why not get exactly the color you want? Even white has many variations.
If you want a S-W color, buy it from S-W! If it's more $ than HD, save the money somewhere else and be happy with the end result of the painted room.

Probably good advice, about just buying the brand that has the color, but I think people try to color match because they prefer a brand of paint.

I used to be a die hard Sherwin Williams user, and nothing else, but a few years ago, I fell out of love with their paint after a couple of different purchases didn't give me the results I was used to from their products.

So I think people have a brand preference for quality or performance, but like a color from another brand.

I too used to be a SW brand loyal user. When we bought our current home I went to my tried and true painters who requested/recommended I NOT use SW as they have found the quality to have deteriorated in recent years despite the price increase. They know I am very particular and told me I would not be happy with the finish. Since they paint for a living and have done so for decades I trusted their opinion.

Abrowneyegirl · ‎03-15-2010

@skatting44 wrote:
If you are matching a paint color than I would use the exact same brand of paint . I would not mix paint brands . Also, you need a like colored dry wall primer before applying the paint to get the best saturation of color .
So, if your friend did not use a dry wall primer or if she just had the builders grade flat McCormick paint than her walls may have " soaked up the paint color " and the color looked lighter . It could be a mistake by the person who mixed the paint . I have never worked one of those paint mixing machines so am not sure if maybe human error can be factored in .

We always use tinted primer and 2 coats of paint every room every time our painters know this is my formula and it best for us to keep the walls and the color looking fresh and new for years.

I was not sure if this was causing the problem so that is why I took paint samples home with me and painted them all on a piece of foam board to compare apples to apples. Even in the Tupperware containers, I could see the colors were different!

I too wonder about human error in the mixing at the store.....

Mom2Dogs · ‎03-09-2010

@Abrowneyegirl ...recently I had paint mixed at my local Sherwin Williams store and the clerk at the store told me if I needed more paint to be sure and get the paint at the same location...he said the machines could be a tad off or just slightly different at each location and I could end up having a slightly different color mixed.

depglass · ‎03-10-2010

If it is life and death for you to get the exxact same color, buy the exact same paint. Obviously I'm missing something here. DH once took a car back to our old bodyshop guy, 450 miles away from here, because he thought he was the only one that could work on our car. Well, we still own that car and the paint still doesn't match.

stevieb · ‎03-10-2010

Paint mixing used to be more of an art. Now, they rely on a computer generated formula and it doesn't always work. I took a paint 'fomula' to Lowe's to match a Home Depot Behr color and try as they might they couldn't match it. Several quarts later that I fortunately didn't have to pay for, I went back and bought Behr. The match might or might not have been exact but it was close enough for me, as any deviation wasn't visible to the eye.

In my pantry with my cupcakes...