Benjamin Moore ADVANCE is a water-based alkyd paint that cures to a hard, furniture-quality finish. This product is known for its smooth leveling and durability that make it easy to achieve a professional-grade paint job on cabinets, trim, and other woodwork. Find everything you need to know about Benjamin Moore ADVANCE paint in this review!
Where to Use ADVANCE Paint
Benjamin Moore ADVANCE is primarily used for painting cabinets, trim, detailed woodwork, furniture, and interior or exterior doors. ADVANCE applies to a variety of substrates, including primed or previously painted wood, wallboard, plaster, masonry, and metal.
- Cabinets and Furniture: ADVANCE is durable enough to withstand daily wear and tear, making it ideal for painting kitchen cabinets, furniture, and other frequently-used surfaces. It’s also mildew-resistant, so it’s a good choice for high-humidity spaces like bathrooms or kitchens.
- Interior Trim and Doors: ADVANCE is popular for painting baseboards, crown molding, door and window casings, and interior doors — creating a durable surface that keeps woodwork from showing damage over the years.
- Exterior Doors: While ADVANCE is primarily an interior paint, the high-gloss interior/exterior sheen is also formulated for use on exterior doors. It makes an excellent front door paint, combining an elegant shine with a very durable, water-resistant finish that stands up to the weather and regular scrubbing.
Benjamin Moore ADVANCE Finishes
Benjamin Moore ADVANCE paint comes in three washable finishes: satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss. Because ADVANCE was engineered for use as a trim, door, and cabinet paint, there is no flat/matte finish available.
| Finish | Recommended Because | Spec Sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Satin | Low-gloss finish that hides flaws; easiest option for DIY projects | ADVANCE Waterborne Interior Alkyd Satin Finish Data Sheet (TDS) |
| Semi-Gloss | Adds visible shine to doors, trim, and other woodwork | ADVANCE Waterborne Interior Alkyd Semi-Gloss Finish Data Sheet (TDS) |
| High-Gloss | Creates a hard, mirror-like coating that is easy to clean; rated for exterior use | ADVANCE Waterborne Interior/Exterior Alkyd High-Gloss Finish Data Sheet (TDS) |
ADVANCE Paint Performance Details
Doors painted with Benjamin Moore ADVANCE in Storm AF-700, Satin
ADVANCE is a waterborne alkyd paint. The alkyd resins replicate the smooth, durable coating achieved by traditional oil paints but with resistance to yellowing and low VOCs even after tinting. And as a water-based alkyd, ADVANCE cleans up easily with soap and water — unlike oil-based paints that require clean up with chemical solvents (such as ADVANCE’s predecessor, Satin Impervo). Here’s what you need to know about how ADVANCE performs.
Dry Time
| Dry Time (to touch) | Dry Time (to recoat) | Full Cure Time |
|---|---|---|
| 4-6 hours | 16 hours | 30 days |
ADVANCE requires 16 hours of dry time before applying a second coat. The slow dry time is what allows the paint to level — resulting in a very smooth finish that hides lap marks. Because ADVANCE dries so slowly, it’s easy to work with during application whether you’re a professional painter or a homeowner.
Just make sure you have enough time to let ADVANCE dry before recoating or returning a space to use. The full cure time for an alkyd paint is 30 days. It’s not a convenient product for projects with quick turnaround, but if you have the time, the results are well worth the wait.
Flow and Leveling
ADVANCE is loved for its ability to self-level, meaning it flows easily into a smooth surface free from lap marks. However, to get that great end result you’ll need to apply thin coats and let the surface dry for the full recommended time. Rushing the project and/or putting on too thick of a coat will likely result in brush marks.
Durability and Washability
ADVANCE achieves a highly durable coating in each finish. The high-gloss sheen creates the hardest enamel of the three available sheens, but each finish stands up to repeated washing.
Be sure to let ADVANCE fully cure before returning surfaces to heavy use. Although 5 - 7 days is the minimum recommended wait time, it’s a good idea to let any alkyd paint cure for a full 30 days to prevent damage.
Surface Preparation and Application
ADVANCE is a slow-drying, self-leveling paint that is easy to apply with minimal lap marks or brush strokes — as long as you avoid overly thick coats. We recommend applying 2 thin coats of ADVANCE for the best color and sheen consistency, sanding in between and being careful to let the first coat dry completely. (Note some projects may require more than 2 coats depending on the vibrancy of the color and the previous color being painted over.) Because it cures to a hard, durable finish, there’s no need to topcoat ADVANCE paint.
Remember that glossy paint requires a perfectly smooth surface, as flaws will be highlighted by the paint’s shine. Any imperfections need to be filled, sanded, cleaned, primed, and sanded again after priming.
ADVANCE is not a self-priming paint. When choosing a primer, avoid lacquer primers as they can interfere with the adhesion of ADVANCE paint. For primer recommendations, check out our Guide to the Best Paint Primers for Every Project and consult the ADVANCE technical data sheets.
Why We Recommend Benjamin Moore ADVANCE
Kitchen cabinet doors painted with ADVANCE Satin in Benjamin Moore Blue Macaw 784
Benjamin Moore ADVANCE is our team’s go-to recommendation for painting cabinets and other woodwork, as long as you have the time to apply 2 thin coats of paint, wait for each coat to completely dry, and let the paint cure. It’s hard to beat the premium results that you get with ADVANCE paint, and the product is easy to work with whether you’re a contractor or DIYer.
Plus, as a Ben Moore paint, ADVANCE is available in over 3,500+ colors and is engineered with Ben Moore’s patented Gennex Color Technology for vibrant, durable colors across the color spectrum.
Order ADVANCE Interior Paint at Ring's End
Ring’s End is proud to be the largest Benjamin Moore paint dealer in the Northeast. You can shop ADVANCE interior and exterior paint at any of our store locations, place an order for pick-up, or have it shipped to your door anywhere in the U.S!
If you have any remaining questions about this product, feel free to contact our team of Benjamin Moore experts. We’ll be happy to help.
Benjamin Moore ADVANCE
Grade: Premium Quality
Formula: Waterborne Alkyd Enamel
Finishes: Satin, Semi-Gloss, High-Gloss
Colors: 3,500+