Sherwin-Williams Promar 200
SW Promar 200 Performance Review & Guide
When choosing an interior paint for your trim or walls, it’s crucial to understand how to compare your options. Promar 200, a value Sherwin-Williams interior paint, has a bit of mixed identity, offering mid-level performance, being the ideal option in particular situations.
We will explain where Promar 200 lies within the major categories that matter most. You will also learn more about the history of this long-lived paint in a way that will either steer you towards or away from purchasing it for your next project.
Promar 200 History & Transition
Promar started as a commercial-grade price point interior house paint that residential paint contractors hardly ever considered. As constant price increases remained eminent, contractors were left toiling for other products that would provide value.
Sherwin-William responded with a new Promar 200. The changes included more than a new label. The reformulation offered increased performances at a marginal price increase, which was welcomed.
A once regional interior paint is now a national brand that all interior painters across the nation are familiar with. But why the instant national recognition? Is it the performance that wins painters over?
Promar 200 Durability & Washability
Overall, SW Promar 200 is not as durable as higher-grade paints, but it offers just enough protection in specific colors and sheens.
When painting interior walls in a flat finish, Promar 200 delivers an unmatched performance-to-cost ratio, containing less clay than the first iteration. Promar 200 interior flat can be softly wiped down in medium and light colors. The flat finish also provides a dull finish that hides imperfections better than its higher-grade counterparts.
Promar’s glossy finishes are not as washable for a mid-tier product and lack coverage compared to higher SW offerings. The finishes are also subtle and do not retain their gloss over time. 200 offers low-sheen, eggshell, and other finishes instead of glossier paint finishes like satin.
Promar Waterborne Acrylic Alkyd, on the other hand, is the exception and is one of Sherwin-Williams’ hidden gems that is under most people’s radar. It cures hard, similar to oil and sticks to glossy surfaces.
Coverage & Overall Application
The conventional version of Promar 200 was never introduced as a premium or high-performing interior paint, although some interior painters misleadingly present it in that way.
Promar is offered in all paint colors, and while generally, the coverage is not top-notch overall, the flat finish holds it on, covering as well as premium offerings.
Noticeably, the original reformulation introduced additional performance enhancements, making the application experience more appealing. First, it spreads much more effortlessly and spatters less. These performance improvements make for a cleaner painting process, minimizing unwanted spattering on floors, baseboards, and other surfaces. Less spattering also means less paper and plastic covering, making the project more efficient.
Speaking of efficiency, as a zero VOC interior house paint, Promar 200 dries within 1-2 hours on the first coat and 2-3 hours on the second. Promar 200 paint lays flat despite the quick dry time and leaves minimal brush strokes.
Cleaning rollers and brushes don’t come as easy as once, but this also means improved adhesion, another welcomed improvement.
Effective Paint Touchups
Promar is not an effective ceiling paint option but touches up exceptionally for walls. It also struggles to touch up in ultra-deep colors, but even some higher-end paints have the same issue.
This paint excels over entry-level new construction paints for new construction and commercial applications where touchups are all but guaranteed. Skimming the line between residential and commercial applications, Promar is considered a premium paint for new homebuilding and will make touching up easier.
Its effective touchups are not just for new applications; it touches up perfectly after 2-3 years, leaving no lap marks, minimal hat banding, and superior color blending.
Promar 200 Cost & Value
As professionals having purchasing experience for over 20 years, our take on paint cost is naturally different than the public’s. Seeing paint prices grossly increase over the years makes us much more critical and price conscientious. Our expectation of performance is also much higher because we understand the characteristics of premium paints.
Promar 200 has increased by nearly 110% among other paints in less than ten years. Promar 200s’ initially cost $20-$25 and now is sold for more than $40 depending on contractor pricing and seasonal sales. While the percentage increase is comparable and across the board, for only 25% more (making the price per gallon roughly $50,) the upgrade could be worth it.
If the project is small or requires high-performing durability, look elsewhere. Saving a couple of buckets won’t be as appealing as the improvements, not to mention if you are hiring a professional, you will not pay retail prices that can reach as high as $90 for premium paints. Yep, that price is for one gallon of paint!
Conclusion
To reduce paint costs, more interior painting contractors are quoting lower-grade paints, and pairing the cost savings of Promar with premium trim paint could offer a serious saving on projects that require multiples gallons of paint.
As custom residential house painters, we are more prone to using higher-grade products, but in some instances, Promar 200 offers benefits. For interior commercial painting, rental homes, and homes that contain light usage, Promar is a consideration.
Our service promises superior product knowledge, expert application experience, and insights. But if Promar 200 is not for you, we have other Sherwin-Williams product reviews to help you on your paint selection journey. Be sure to view our Facebook page or contact us.
