What is the best paint for kitchen cabinets in NB — Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin-Williams ProClassic?

Both Benjamin Moore Advance and Sherwin-Williams ProClassic are excellent cabinet paints, and either will give you a durable, beautiful finish on NB kitchen cabinets — the right choice often comes down to where you’re buying and which applicator you’re using.

Benjamin Moore Advance is an acrylic-alkyd hybrid that levels exceptionally well, meaning brush marks almost completely disappear as it dries. It has a longer open time (it stays workable longer before skinning over), which is forgiving for both brush application and spray work. In a humid NB kitchen, that extended working time can actually be an advantage. It dries to a very hard, furniture-grade finish that resists nicks, grease, and daily wear. Advance is available through Benjamin Moore dealers in Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, and other NB cities — expect to pay 0-85 per litre for this product. One limitation: it can take up to 30 days to fully cure to full hardness, so treat freshly painted cabinets gently in the first month.

Sherwin-Williams ProClassic is a similarly positioned product — an acrylic-alkyd hybrid with excellent hardness, levelling, and durability. Many professional painters in NB favour ProClassic when spraying because it atomizes beautifully through an airless or HVLP sprayer, giving a factory-smooth finish. It’s available through Sherwin-Williams stores in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John, typically running 5-80 per litre. ProClassic also cures to a very hard surface and holds up well in the high-humidity environment of an NB kitchen where steam and temperature cycling can stress cabinet coatings over time.

Practical tips for choosing between them: If you’re brushing and rolling (a DIY-friendly approach), Advance has a slight edge due to its superior self-levelling and longer open time. If your painter is spraying (the professional standard), ProClassic is a top pick. Both require a good bonding primer first — Advance Primer or All-Purpose Enamel Underbody for Benjamin Moore, or All Surface Enamel Primer or Extreme Bond Primer for Sherwin-Williams. Don’t skip the primer — it’s what makes the topcoat bond to previously finished wood or laminate surfaces.

For NB homeowners hiring a professional, ask your painter which product they’re most experienced spraying — a skilled painter with their preferred product will always outperform a painter using an unfamiliar one. Both products are genuinely excellent, and the skill of the applicator matters more than which brand is on the can.

Need help finding a professional cabinet painter in your area? New Brunswick Painting can match you with local painters through the New Brunswick Construction Network — get a free estimate on your kitchen cabinet project.

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