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Valspar is a popular paint manufacturer based in Minneapolis, and its paint adorns the walls in many homes across the country. However, finding the right type of Valspar paint to use can be difficult, but our Valspar Signature vs. Reserve paint comparison will help.
We will explore the different features of the Signature and Reserve paint from Valspar, outline their pros and cons, and, lastly, discover which one you should use to decorate your home.
You can find out a quick overview of the differences between Valspar Signature and Reserve paint below.
Main Differences Between Valspar Signature vs Reserve Paint
The main differences between Valspar Signature vs Reserve paint are:
- Valspar Signature has ScuffShield™ Technology, whereas Valspar Reserve does not
- Valspar Reserve can often paint a wall in one coat, whereas Valspar Signature will require several coats
- Valspar Signature has a recoat time of two hours, whereas the Valspar Reserve has a recoat time of up to four hours
- Valspar Signature is relatively inexpensive, whereas Valspar Reserve often costs more money
- Valspar Reserve has coverage of 400 ft²/gal, whereas Valspar Signature’s coverage is between 200 ft²/gal – 400 ft²/gal
Exploring Valspar Signature and Reserve Features
Both Valspar Signature and Reserve are high-quality paints, and choosing which one you need is challenging. So let’s have a deep dive into their features to find out how they compare against each other.
Number of coats required
The number of coats required is one area where Signature and Reserve paint from Valspar can be very different from each other.
If you are using either paint to cover a ceiling in a spare bedroom or another room that isn’t used very often, you could probably get away with one coat to spruce up the room. However, painting another area of your home usually requires more than one coat which can significantly add to the time required.
Valspar Reserve is a one-coat paint that can often cover the walls, ceilings, or trims in your home without the hassle of having to add another layer of paint. The coverage of Valspar Reserve is 400 ft²/gal, and just one coat can leave a high-quality finish with fabulous coverage. This can massively save you time on painting and give you more opportunities to focus on other areas of your home.
Valspar Signature will require two or more coats to achieve a high-quality and non-patchy finish. This means you will need to spend more time applying a second coat, and the coverage isn’t as extensive either (Signature paint has a coverage of 200 ft²/gal – 400 ft²/gal).
Some things will impact how many coats are required for both sets of paint, and this includes the color you are painting over and the shade you are applying.
The bonus of both the Signature and Reserve range is that they offer a two-in-one paint and primer.
Flexibility
If you need to paint a room in your home that experiences regular temperature fluctuations (such as a bathroom or a laundry room), run-of-the-mill paint isn’t going to cut it. You need paint that can withstand these changes and offer a degree of flexibility so that it can be used in several rooms in your home. This is also advantageous because if you want the same color in your bathroom and hallway, you can use the same paint.
Both the Signature and Reserve paint offer mildew resistance, and this means that they can be easily used in all areas of your home, such as in your bathroom or kitchen, and still perform admirably. These two paints have a high degree of flexibility, and you can apply them anywhere in your house or apartment.
Cleaning
Eventually, your freshly painted and high-quality finished wall is going to pick up dirt or need cleaning due to a spill. This is true if you have kids or pets at home, and it is essential to use paint that you can easily clean because you won’t want to retouch parts of a wall just because something was spilled accidentally. So, how do Reserve and Signature paint compare when it comes to cleaning?
Both Reserve and Signature paint from Valspar can be cleaned with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. They are two of the best paints on the market for cleaning purposes, and any marks or spills can normally be wiped off without having a significant impact on the finish.
However, one major difference is that Valspar Signature comes with ScuffShield™ Technology. This feature lessens the impact of scruffs appearing on your walls and aids in resisting any marks ruining the look of your room, and it also enhances the overall durability of the paint.
Drying time
Decorating your home is pretty time-consuming, and it can be tricky to fit it in between work and family life. One thing that can lessen the impact of painting a room is the time between coats.
Valspar Reserve can often cover a room adequately in just one coat. However, if you are painting a light color over a darker color, this isn’t always going to leave a high-quality finish, and you may need to apply another coat. The drying time for their Reserve paint is between one to two hours, and it is recommended to leave it up to four hours before applying a second coat.
Valspar Signature has a shorter touch drying time. The drying time for this paint is 30 to 60 minutes, and you can usually apply a second coat after two hours. The Signature range requires at least two coats, but the time between coats is less than Valspar Reserve.
Even though there isn’t a massive difference in the drying time between these two paints, you’ll need to wait longer before applying it if you need a second coat of Valspar Reserve.
Longevity
Another vital feature to consider when choosing between paint brands is its longevity and how long the paint will look good in your home. If you are painting a room yourself, it isn’t something you’ll want to do again in a year’s time. So, how do Valspar Reserve and Signature stack up against each other for durability?
Both of these paints offer fade resistance, and they should bother to retain a high-quality finish a few years down the line as long as there aren’t too many spills or stains. As long as you clean these paints correctly (for example, don’t use abrasive cleaning materials), they shouldn’t fade or become discolored.
On paper, there isn’t a big difference between Reserve and Signature for longevity. However, one feature that can tip durability in favor of Valspar Signature is the ScuffShield™ Technology. This helps prevent marks and scuffs from appearing, so the chances of you having to clean the paint and lose its quality finish are reduced – this can help with durability.
Also, both paints have mildew resistance with ideal for longevity in areas of your home such as a bathroom.
Comparing Valspar Signature and Reserve – Pricing
The price that you are willing to pay for paint will vary between people. If you are painting the room yourself, you can perhaps afford to spend more money as you won’t need to shell out for a decorator.
Valspar Signature is generally the cheaper of the two paints, and it is often sold at a lower price per gallon than Valspar Reserve. The difference isn’t huge and unless you intend on purchasing a lot of paint. However, if your budget is tight and you need high-quality paint at a slightly more affordable price, the Signature range is more cost-effective.
If you look at our alternatives section below, you can find Valspar paint which is cheaper than both the Signature and Reserve brands.
Valspar Signature and Reserve – Ease of Use
If this is your first time painting a room, the thought can be a bit daunting. Getting a high-quality finish without showing brush strokes and other imperfections is something that comes with practice and experience, but some brands of paint do a better job at hiding these imperfections than others.
There isn’t a huge difference in the ease of use between Valspar Signature and Reserve, and we don’t think one is majorly easier to use than the other. Both of these paints provide a good level of coverage (although Valspar Reserve has coverage of 400 ft²/gal, which is better than Signature), and the finish of both paints is smooth.
You don’t need to worry about brush strokes or roller marks showing with either of these paints as they blend and dry in well. Overall, both Valspar Signature and Reserve are ideal for beginners and experienced painters as they are both easy to use.
Pros and Cons
Valspar Signature
Pros
- Features ScuffShield™ Technology to resist marks and stains
- Paint and primer two-in-one
- Mildew resistant and can be used in bathrooms
- Short drying time of 30 to 60 minutes, and recoat in two hours
- Anti-fade properties and can be easily cleaned
- Relatively inexpensive paint while offering a high-quality finish
Cons
- Coverage isn’t as good as Valspar Reserve
- This paint requires at least two coats
Valspar Reserve
Pros
- Many walls only need one coat
- Paint and primer two-in-one
- Mildew resistant and can be used in bathrooms
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Has great coverage of 400 ft²/gal
Cons
- Can be more expensive per gallon
- Doesn’t have ScuffShield™
- Longer recoat time of up to four hours
Are There Any Alternatives?
If you decide that Valspar Signature and Reserve isn’t what you need for your home, there are some alternatives out there you can consider.
Valspar Ultra 2000
Valspar Ultra 2000 is a paint and primer that can be applied to interior walls and ceilings. This paint has quite an extended drying time of up to four hours, although it is closer to one to two hours in most cases. It is recommended to wait four hours before applying a second coat to extend the overall time it takes to paint a room.
A good aspect of this paint is its coverage, as it offers 350 ft²/gal – 450 ft²/gal, which is above most Valspar paint. In addition, this paint is available in several sheens, including Eggshell, Flat, Satin, and Semi-Gloss, which overall is relatively easy to clean and maintain.
Valspar Ultra 2000 doesn’t have some of the advanced features of Signature and Reserve; however, this paint is very durable and favored among many professionals. Another significant bonus of Valspar Ultra 2000 is that it is cheaper than their Signature and Reserve ranges.
Valspar Ultra 4000
If you require paint for commercial purposes, the go-to is usually Valspar Ultra 4000. This paint is fantastic and conceals surface imperfections, cracks, and bumps, and it is one of the cheaper paints in the Valspar brand. You can easily cover a large area with this paint as not only is it very inexpensive, which allows you to buy a lot of it at a cost-effective rate, but it has a coverage of 350 ft²/gal – 450 ft²/gal too.
This paint is available in Eggshell, Flat, Semi-Gloss and, like the Ultra 2000 range, it requires around four hours before adding on a second coat. Therefore, this paint would be suited to larger projects (such as the inside of a garage) where you need to cover walls with a decent finish and don’t want to spend a lot of money doing it.
Express Coat
The final alternative is Valspar Express Coat.
This paint is perfect for quick painting jobs that don’t necessarily need to be a high standard but still need to look good. For example, if you have a rental property or are quickly touching up your home for sale, Valspar Express Coat is usually a good and inexpensive option. The drying time for this paint is 30 – 60 minutes, while you can apply a second coat in around two hours. It also has good coverage of 300 ft²/gal – 400 ft²/gal, and the Express Coat paint is easy to clean.
You can buy several sheens in Valspar’s Express Coat range, including Eggshell, Flat, Satin, and Semi-Gloss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer: Yes. Valspar is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, although they are a global company and have employees worldwide. Their paint is sold in many countries across the world.
Answer: It depends on what type of paint you buy. While Valspar can be a bit more expensive than some other paint manufacturers, they offer budget-friendly paint, such as their Ultra 2000 and 4000 range.
Answer: Valspar Signature has a touch drying time of 30 to 60 minutes, and you can usually apply a second coat after two hours.
Answer: Valspar Reserve has a touch drying time of one to two hours; however, it can take up to four hours to apply a second coat. This is a one-coat paint, but sometimes a second coat is required for full coverage.
Answer: Yes. Both Valspar Reserve and Valspar Signature can be easily cleaned. You should avoid using abrasive materials and cleaning products as this can damage the finish of the paint. Instead, use a soft cloth or sponge with soapy water and gently wipe marks, spills, and stains.
Answer: ScuffShield™ Technology is a feature of Valspar Signature paint. It helps prevent marks and scuffs from appearing, and this means you won’t need to clean your painted surfaces as regularly. This can help increase its longevity and high-quality finish.
Answer: Both Valspar Reserve and Valspar Signature are available in several sheens. This includes Eggshell, Flat, Satin, Semi-Gloss.
Verdict – Choose Valspar Signature to rejuvenate your home
If you want high-quality paint that provides a fantastic finish alongside many other features, choose Valspar Signature.
We like that this paint comes with ScuffShield™ Technology which should cut down on marks and scuffs from appearing. This feature also increases the longevity and durability of the Signature range, as the paint shouldn’t require regular cleaning. While the coverage of the Signature paint isn’t as good as Valspar Reserve, the paint is more cost-effective.
Also, Valspar Signature paint takes less time to dry and less time before you can apply a second coat. This means it comes out on top for us, and we recommend this paint for any room in your home.
