Sherwin-Williams Emerald Symmetry Review: Our Experience So Far

Sherwin-Williams recently introduced Emerald® Symmetry™ Interior Acrylic as a premium interior paint with zero-VOC, plant-based technology and claims of exceptional coverage, durability, and finish.

At Brush & Pride Painting, we use and recommend many Sherwin-Williams products. We have a good relationship with the brand, and several Sherwin-Williams coatings are regularly specified on our residential painting projects.

But liking a manufacturer doesn’t mean we’re going to recommend every product it makes.

We’ve now had an opportunity to use Emerald Symmetry on actual painting work, and based on our experience so far, Brush & Pride does not currently recommend Emerald Symmetry.

Our primary concern is coverage.

We want to be equally clear about what we’re not saying. Emerald Symmetry is a relatively new product, and we haven’t used it long enough to give homeowners a meaningful opinion about its long-term durability.

This review is based on what we’ve actually experienced with the product—not what we haven’t.

What Is Sherwin-Williams Emerald Symmetry?

Emerald Symmetry is a premium interior acrylic paint in Sherwin-Williams’ Emerald product family.

Sherwin-Williams promotes the product around several features, including exceptional hide and durability, zero-VOC formulation, GREENGUARD Gold certification, plant-based technology, and a premium finished appearance.

Those are attractive features, particularly for homeowners concerned about indoor air quality and paint odor.

But ultimately, a paint still has to perform well during application.

That’s where our experience has left us disappointed.

Our Biggest Concern: Coverage

Based on the projects where we’ve tested Emerald Symmetry, we have not been satisfied with its coverage.

Coverage—or “hide”—refers to a paint’s ability to conceal the existing color and surface beneath it while producing an even finished appearance.

Coverage can be affected by several variables, including the existing color, new color, base, application method, substrate, spread rate, and surface condition.

That’s why we don’t believe it’s responsible to say that one experience proves a coating will perform identically under every possible condition.

However, professional painters work with those variables every day.

Based on our experience using Emerald Symmetry so far, the coverage has not met our expectations for a product positioned at this level.

For Brush & Pride, that’s significant.

Does That Mean Emerald Symmetry Is a Bad Paint?

We’re not prepared to make that blanket statement.

It means that based on our experience with the product so far, we aren’t satisfied enough with its performance to recommend it to our customers.

Other contractors may have different experiences.

Different colors, substrates, application methods, and project conditions can produce different results. As with most professional products, it’s worth distinguishing between one contractor’s field experience and a universal conclusion about every possible application.

Our responsibility isn’t to decide whether everyone should like Emerald Symmetry.

Our responsibility is to decide whether Brush & Pride is comfortable specifying it on our customers’ projects.

Right now, the answer is no.

What About Emerald Symmetry’s Durability?

We don’t know yet.

And we think that’s important to say.

Durability has to be evaluated over time. We haven’t had Emerald Symmetry in service long enough to make a responsible claim about how well it will withstand washing, normal wear, scuffing, staining, or years of use.

Sherwin-Williams promotes durability as one of the product’s strengths.

But until we have enough first-hand experience to evaluate that ourselves, we’re going to reserve judgment.

If our opinion changes after seeing the product perform over a longer period, we’ll update our assessment accordingly.

What We Do Like About Emerald Symmetry

There are some interesting aspects of the product.

The zero-VOC formulation is notable, particularly for occupied homes where odor and indoor air quality are important considerations.

Sherwin-Williams also incorporates plant-based technology into the product, which differentiates Symmetry from more traditional formulations.

Those features may be particularly attractive to some homeowners.

But for Brush & Pride, those benefits don’t eliminate our concern about the coverage we’ve experienced.

A coating still has to perform well for the application we’re asking it to perform.

We Still Like Sherwin-Williams

This review isn’t an indictment of Sherwin-Williams.

Quite the opposite.

Brush & Pride uses Sherwin-Williams products and has had very good experiences with a number of their coatings.

We’ve previously discussed products such as Emerald Rain Refresh, and there are Sherwin-Williams products we are comfortable recommending when they’re appropriate for the application.

But professional product recommendations shouldn’t be based solely on brand loyalty.

Every coating needs to earn its place in our specifications.

If we like a product, we’ll say so.

If we don’t, we’ll say that too.

More Expensive Doesn’t Automatically Mean Better

Emerald Symmetry also reinforces something we regularly tell homeowners:

The most expensive paint isn’t automatically the best paint for every project.

Paint manufacturers produce different coatings because different applications have different requirements.

Some coatings offer performance characteristics that are necessary for particular environments or substrates. Others may provide features that aren’t necessary for a particular project.

Price can be one indicator of where a manufacturer positions a product, but price alone doesn’t tell us whether it’s the right coating for a particular application.

At Brush & Pride, we don’t generally use a “Good, Better, Best” model when specifying paint.

We prefer to ask:

What does this surface require, and which product is appropriate for that application?

Then we recommend accordingly.

Would Brush & Pride Recommend Emerald Symmetry Right Now?

At this time, no.

Based on our first-hand experience using Emerald Symmetry, we haven’t been satisfied with its coverage, and we don’t currently see a reason to specify it over other interior coating options we’re more confident using.

That opinion could change.

Sherwin-Williams may modify the product. We may encounter applications where it performs differently. And over time, we’ll learn more about its durability and long-term performance.

If our experience changes, we’ll update our position.

But we’re not going to recommend a product to our customers simply because it’s new, carries the Emerald name, or sits near the top of a manufacturer’s product lineup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sherwin-Williams Emerald Symmetry good paint?

Sherwin-Williams positions Emerald Symmetry as a premium interior coating. Based on Brush & Pride’s experience so far, however, we haven’t been satisfied with its coverage and don’t currently recommend it. Other painters may have different experiences depending on the application.

Does Emerald Symmetry cover well?

Sherwin-Williams promotes exceptional hide as one of Emerald Symmetry’s features. In the applications where Brush & Pride has used the product, our experience has been different. We haven’t been satisfied with its coverage.

Is Emerald Symmetry durable?

It’s too early for us to say. We haven’t had the product in service long enough to responsibly evaluate long-term durability, washability, or wear. We’ll reserve judgment until we have sufficient experience.

Is Emerald Symmetry zero VOC?

Sherwin-Williams identifies Emerald Symmetry as a zero-VOC interior paint and says it is GREENGUARD Gold certified for low chemical emissions.

Does Brush & Pride recommend Sherwin-Williams paint?

Yes. Brush & Pride uses and recommends a number of Sherwin-Williams products. Our recommendations are made product-by-product and application-by-application rather than simply recommending everything from one manufacturer.

Will Brush & Pride reconsider Emerald Symmetry?

Absolutely. Our product recommendations aren’t permanent opinions. They’re based on our professional experience. If additional use, product changes, or long-term performance gives us reason to change our position, we’ll update our recommendation.

Our Bottom Line on Emerald Symmetry

We like Sherwin-Williams.

We just don’t currently recommend Emerald Symmetry.

The product has some interesting characteristics, particularly its zero-VOC formulation and plant-based technology. But based on our experience using it, the coverage hasn’t met the standard we expect from a coating we would confidently specify for our customers.

We can’t yet speak responsibly about its long-term durability, so we won’t.

For now, Brush & Pride will continue recommending interior coatings based on the specific application and our first-hand experience with how those products perform.

That’s ultimately how we believe paint should be selected:

Not because it’s the newest product. Not because it’s the most expensive product. And not simply because of the name on the can.

The right paint is the paint that performs properly for the application.

Brush & Pride Painting Company
Professional Residential Painting • Interior Painting • Exterior Painting • Cabinet Refinishing • Restoration
Little Rock & Central Arkansas