"I was surprised to see some bad reviews of Emerald here, so I browsed through them to see what problems people had. One person could have solved his/her problems by purchasing a $4 strainer to remove lumps from his/her paint, which will appear in most paints as part of the storing and shipping process. Another complained about wall imperfections showing through semi-gloss; this is a characteristic of *any* gloss present in a uniform wall coating, not just Emerald, and reflects a wrong choice in finish sheen for the surface being painted. The final review I read regarded bubbling, which is a guaranteed error in surface preparation and not the fault of the paint.
I don't think the paint can be blamed for lack of proper preparation or incorrect sheen choice, so I'd specifically like to address the negative reviews with a counterargument in support of Emerald.
We brushed and rolled Emerald onto smooth and infrequently painted drywall walls in a client's home this week. I was very impressed with the single-coat coverage, though we applied two. Open time for blending into almost-dry cut lines and apportionment rolling of high walls was incredibly forgiving and produced a wonderfully smooth and even finish. Spread rate was as good as what I've come to expect from Duration Home-- a gallon goes a long way.
My only caution, not complaint, is that the VOC-free tints tended to separate from the paint very slightly during use. I would recommend occasional stirring of trays and cut cans, and boxing or marrying single gallons to ensure uniformity of colour throughout the project.
High-end and discriminating clients will love Emerald, and love *you* for putting it on their walls. Homeowners, if you take the time to strain your Emerald paint for lumps you discover, clean/sand/prepare your walls thoroughly, and plan your project with the correct sheen choices and paint amounts, I have every confidence you'll achieve the same fantastic results we did.
J. Pancer, New Approach Painting"