Coronado Paint (Benjamin Moore acquierd brand) Peeling on Exterior Doors

Stay away from Coronado paint being sold by Benjamin Moore!

Here's a cautionary tale that might just make you double-check your next paint purchase at Benjamin Moore. Today, we're diving into the world of the acquired Coronado brand paint and how a seemingly innocent paint choice turned into a DIY disaster.

The Quest for Perfect Paint

Picture this: you're an experienced painter, having covered everything from walls to banisters with precision. You've relied on trusted brands like Benjamin Moore, known for their top-grade interior paints. So when it came time to tackle your double front doors, Benjamin Moore seemed like the natural choice for a smooth, high-quality exterior semi-gloss finish.

With high hopes, you sent someone to fetch "Benjamin Moore's top-grade exterior semi-gloss paint" for your primed metal front doors. But what arrived was not what you expected. Instead of the familiar Benjamin Moore label, you found yourself staring at a quart of Coronado paint, a brand you'd never even heard of despite having just Googled Benjamin Moore's best grade exterior.

The Mystery of Coronado Paint

Coronado? It didn't ring a bell. It didn't even have the Benjamin Moore name anywhere on the label. To make matters worse, it boasted "interior/exterior" and "quick drying" – not exactly the qualities you were seeking for an exterior project if you want good leveling of brush strokes.

A quick online search revealed that Benjamin Moore had acquired Coronado paint a few years back to compete with big box stores and brands like Valspar. What's more, reviews and mentions of Coronado paint were few and far between, leaving you feeling like you'd stumbled upon a paint odd ball. It's like it almost didn't exist or was a weird in-law we don't mention.

The Sales Pitch

My doubts escalated when I called the store to voice my concerns. Despite my reservations and specific requirements for slow drying times and high leveling capabilities, the owner stood firm, insisting that Coronado was their way to go "for doors inside and out." The person I sent to buy it was given no alternatives; it was simply a case of "Here ya go."

The Painting Process

Reluctantly, I decided to proceed with the Coronado paint. I took the necessary steps: lightly sanding the existing white latex exterior paint, applying two coats of Zinsser BIN primer, and then layering on 2 to 3 coats of the Coronado in a darkish blue shade. I even generously allowed double the recommended drying time between each coat of primer and top coat. Weather conditions were ideal for painting.

The Unpleasant Surprise

The results initially appeared passable, but the true horror unfolded two weeks later on a humid morning. Long faded water streaks ran down the entire length of my once-pristine doors, and hundreds of small water bubbles had erupted, creating an unsightly rash-like effect.

In all my years of painting (and even being given very cheap paint to use occasionally on volunteer projects) I'd never seen such complete failure of paint performance.

Upon closer inspection, I discovered that water condensation had seeped beneath the Coronado paint, causing the streaks and bubbles. These doors were deeply recessed and hardly ever exposed to direct rain.

In disbelief, I lightly scraped my fingernail over the paint, and it peeled right off, revealing the solid primer underneath still hanging on tightly.

The Aftermath

A call to the store yielded sympathy but no immediate solution. They said they had never encountered such an issue with Coronado paint before. Yet, you couldn't help but remind them that you had never chosen Coronado in the first place. They are sending a "tech rep" to look at my doors, but at any rate it will be a total re-do with different paint!

In the end, this paint predicament taught me a valuable lesson: even if a trusted brand like Benjamin Moore acquires another, it doesn't necessarily mean you can swap the two with ease.

So, the next time you're reaching for that paintbrush, remember the Coronado conundrum, and make sure your choice is as solid as the primer on those ill-fated front doors. Happy painting!