I had the task of doing a small staining project over the weekend so I decided to try again some of this remarkable water-based stain that I have been selling for years. I was once again amazed at the quality of this product. Typically water-based stains have been associated with a poor quality job. Not any more. The only difference that I could see between using Saman and a conventional oil-based penetrating stain is that there is very little odor and a very fast turn around time. Both of these were welcomed by this veteran painter. I’ve smelled enough mineral spirits to last ten lifetimes, and the fact that this one (although not odorless) had such a slight smell was literally a breath of fresh air. I was able to recoat with a Saman water based polyurethane within one hour. This product, Saman Extreme, was so easy to use and virtually odor-free. Typically water-based polyurethanes have a tendency to run and sag when you’re not expecting it, not so with this product. It went on without a single drip anywhere! I was amazed at the ease of application. so I managed to get a stain and two finish coats on in one day. I’m going to sand lightly and put a third coat of clear on today just for good measure. I can’t imagine ever using another stain again. Thank you Saman for making such an easy to use, and eco-friendly (my lungs) product.

G&R Paint Company recently became one of a select group of retailers across the the U.S. who are authorized to sell Fine Paints of Europe. These paints manufactured in the Netherlands, are created to a completely different standard than their domestic counterparts. The Dutch have been paintmaking masters for the past 300 years, so they know what they’re all about, and quality of finish is what they’re all about. Due to the completely separate tinting systems for alkyds, (oil-based) and acrylics, (water-based) they are able to create incredible colors that have even more remarkable opacity. No more 5 coats to get that amazing red. The surface texture has everything to do with the way that light reflects off a paint film, thus revealing the color we see. Fine Paints of Europe has an unbelievable “feel” that makes you want to touch your walls. Fortunately the paint is hard as nails and can easily be cleaned again and again. In all my years of painting as a contractor, colorist, and retailer, I have never seen anything else approaching this kind of quality. As Fine Paints of Europe likes to say, “There is nothing more expensive than cheap paint.” I would add to that, “There is no greater value than high quality paint.” When you think about the time and effort that goes into your painting projects, why would you ever consider a cheap paint as being a value at all. It is all about the labor and the years that you will get from the paint that is applied to the walls. As I often say to my clients, when the painter is gone all that you have is whatever they left you on the walls. Make sure that they leave you a paint film and a color that will lasts for years to come.