Benjamin Moore Advance versus Benjamin Moore Command Paint
Updated: 4 days ago
Are you getting ready to start your next painting project and not sure which paint to use? Both Benjamin Moore Advance and Benjamin Moore Command are great products but of course each have their strengths and weakness. I've used both for refinishing kitchen cabinets, furniture, interior trim, doors and I'm ready to share the pros and cons of each. Hopefully this will help you decide which one is best for your painting project.
To the left is a photo of me assessing cabinet doors for imperfections in the paint. The doors were sprayed using an airless sprayer and Benjamin Moore, Advance paint.
Let's start with Benjamin Moore, Advance paint. It's an alkyd waterborne paint so it dries smooth and hard (similar to an oil-based paint) but clean up only requires soap and water. I have used this mainly for kitchen and bathroom cabinets, but also on furniture and interior trim/doors. Based on my experiences, here is a list of pros and cons of usingAdvance.
Pros:
There's a longer open time which means you can go back and correct imperfections or drips without brush strokes left behind.
The longer open time allows the paint to level out before starting to dry which decreases visible brush strokes.
It comes in four sheens (Matte, Pearl, Semi-Gloss and High-Gloss) to suit any project or design you're working on.
It's easily sprayed with a handheld sprayer, airless sprayer and hvlp sprayer.
The finish is durable, wipeable and dries hard making it great for highly touched surfaces like cabinet doors and drawer.
Sprayers, brushes and rollers can be easily cleaned with soap and water.
Low VOC's (volatile organic compounds), so not as many harsh chemicals or odours. In fact, I've never had a single client complain about the paint smell.
Cons:
Longer dry and recoat time. Advance requires 16 hours to recoat which means, in most cases, you'll be waiting until the next day to apply another coat of paint.
The longer open time has benefits, but because the paint flows freely longer before starting to dry, you may see drips or sags in the paint where applied to heavy. You can avoid this by not applying paint too heavily.
Can only be used on interior surfaces.
Although the paint is dry to touch in 4-6 hours, it's doesn't fully set or harden for at least two weeks. You can install cabinet doors back on before that time, you just need to be extra careful not to scuff or get food on them during that 2 week period.
Below is a photo of Benjamin Moore, Advance (Pearl Finish) brushed and rolled on cabinet doors. You'll notice a little texture in the paint but it's subtle due to the long dry time allowing it to level out.
Below are doors and drawers painted using an airless sprayer with Benjamin Moore, Advance (Pearl Finish) which gives you a durable, factory finish look.
* Proper preparation is the most important factor when it comes to paint adhering. Click on the button below to read my Guide to Refinishing Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets. It will give you tips and tricks to help you succeed in your next cabinet or furniture refinishing project.
Let's move on to the newly released, Benjamin Moore Command. This paint is a waterborne acrylic urethane and is encouraged for industrial or commercial settings but can be used for residential job as well. I've used this product for painting exterior signs, furniture and spraying on cabinet doors. Below are the pros and cons of using Command paint.
Pros:
Can be used on interior and exterior surfaces.
It can withstand foot traffic, so it could be used on stair treads or garage floors.
The paint in flexible so it prevents possible cracking or peeling on surfaces that are susceptible to shrinking or expanding (ex. wood).
Durable and wipeable surface when fully cured.
Dries to the touch in 15 minutes which is great for painting doors. You can flip and paint the other side sooner.
Fully cures or sets in 24 hours! This is the biggest pro of this paint.
Can be applied in temperatures as low at 2 degrees Celsius, which is helpful in the winter months if your garage or shop are prone to cooler drafts.
Easy to spray with a handheld sprayer or airless sprayer.
Smooth finish can be attained when using a paint sprayer.
Low VOC's, no harsh chemicals or odours.
Cons:
There are only two choices for sheens (Satin and Gloss).
It dries quickly so you need to work fast with this paint. If you go back to smooth out a previously painted area, you're likely to see unwanted brush strokes.
When rolling the product, it produced tiny bubbles in the paint. With most paints the bubbles will level out, however because the paint dries so quickly, it left me with little craters in the finished coat. I used a foam, mohair and standard roller and got the same results. I wouldn't use this paint for cabinets if you're rolling based on my experiences with it. You could have better luck than me, but spraying or brushing the paint might be the best options for your project.
The doors below are sprayed with Benjamin Moore, Command (Satin Finish) using an airless sprayer giving a smooth, durable finish.
Below I was making a number sign for my house. If you look closely, you can see the craters left in the finished coat rolling Benjamin Moore, Command. I let it go in this instance because it was an exterior sign for my home, however for cabinets or furniture those tiny craters would be very noticeable.
I hope this helps you decide which paint would be best for your next project. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below! Happy Painting!