Ben Moore Aura Semi-gloss Review. Klappenberger & Son

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Before you drop $75.00 on a gallon of premium paint, shouldn’t you know if Ben Moore Aura is worth it Let’s take a look at seven critical factors.

Ben Moore Aura Paint can

Is it:

Zero VOC
Low Splatter
Water Clean-up
Can it be matched to any color?
Mildew resistant
It uses Genex colors that resist fading with extra UV protection.
Beautiful finish

At $75.00 a gallon, is Ben Moore Arura worth it?
Evaluation # 1. Coverage?
Ben Moore Aura is known for its coverage. It is probably its most significant selling point. It is thick and has great first coverage capabilities.

I have used Arura for at least 15 years and have always found it to cover better than any other latex semi-gloss. With that said, most time, it will still need a second coat.

However, if the new color is close, and you don’t mind a couple of holidays (light spots), one coat might work.

is Ben Moore Aura Worth the money? Yes if you are looking for coverage. this shows excellent coverage

Grade: Coverage 10 out of 10
My rule of thumb is to give a 10 out of 10 if the paint covers in 2 coats. The Arura semi-gloss does that and more!

Evaluation #2. Workability
You will have little problems working with BM Arura semi. It glides on very easily, and I can get around 36-40″ out of one dip of the brush. Which is exceptionally good. If the paint can spread 28-32″, I give it a 10 out of 10. This exceeds that that by plenty.

Painting wanes cote with Aura semi-gloss

Workability Grade 10 out of 10

Evaluating its Touch-up ability
I did not paint Arura Semi-gloss on the walls where the light shines in such a way to expose the faintest touch-up spots. But I could not find that applying an additional coat changed the sheen of the paint. I touched up numerous places and found the sheen uniform throughout.

Painting walls with a semi-gloss has gone out of style. When it is done, it is mostly to get maximum washability.

Touch-Up Grade 10 Out of 10
If washability is your number one concern, then my answer to the question of “Is Ben Moore Aura worth it” not for washing.

Is Ben Moore Aura Worth it? Washability is an important factor.
The washability of the Aura did not do very well compared to other premium paints. We applied:

catsup
mustard
pencil
crayon
red wine (Merlot)
coffee (dark roast)
and allowed the stains to dry for 24 hours.

is Ben Moore Aura Worth the money? not if you are looking for a durable paint

The soiled areas were cleaned with;

Krud Kutter
Spray Nine
Simple Green
Orange Cleaner
Bleach and water solution
All of the stains came off after a couple of minutes using a micro-fiber cloth. There were just two problems. First, the paint got very soft and sticky. Second, the paint scratched off with my fingernail.

I do the same test with all the 21 other paints, and only three other products have this issue.

Sherwin Williams Emerald Gloss
Ben Moore Regals Select Semi-Gloss
Ben Moore Ben Semi-Gloss
My guess is when you make a paint zero VOC; you take some of the necessary ingredients out to make a paint washable and durable. I prefer to see low VOC on a paint can unless the customer is pregnant or has special health circumstances.

Washability Grade: 8 out of 10
scratching Aura semi-gloss off wall with fingernail

Durability
The durability of the paint does soften with the cleaning. The stickiness was not subtle. However, if I did not purposely scratch the paint, it would not have come off. Also, once the cleaning surfaces dried, the paint went back to its hard, smooth finish.

Durability Grade 9 out of 10
When cleaners are not applied, the finish is hard, smooth durable. I had no problem wiping off stains with mild dishwasher detergent. However, the house cleaners did soften up the paint if the chemical were left on for a couple of minutes.

To answer the question, “Is Ben Moore Aura worth it?”
My answer may surprise you. Because Arura semi-gloss best quality is its coverage, I would use if:

I was selling the house and wanted to try and change the trim color in one coat.
I had smooth-finished wood doors (not Masonite wood grain doors).
Interior columns and pillars
Smooth woodwork surfaces
Walls – only if you were trying to get away with one coat. It would have to be a slight color change.
When you want the paint to self-level.
Bathroom trim painted with Ben Moore Arura Semi-gloss. It looks nice!

Where I would NOT recommend using Arura Semi-gloss
Kitchen cabinets – due to its weakness in the washability
2. Bookcases – Ben Moore Advance, C2 Cabinet Grade Paint would be better choices

3. Walls – if you are planning on applying two coats.

To see how it compares to Regal Select and other premium grade paints see the links below.