1001 E. Harmony Rd, Unit B, Fort Collins, CO

The Paint Studio

The Paint Studio

Ace Hardware of Fort Collins is your destination spot for great paint, great colors and great customer service!

Benjamin Moore

Magnolia Home

clark-kensington-paint

Clark+Kensington

In the Benjamin Moore line we carry five brands, Ben, Ultra Spec, Regal Select, Aura and Natura. Ben, Ultra Spec, Regal Select and Aura are all low VOC and low odor. Natura is the zero VOC’s and no odor. Furthermore, the Ben Moore line has a cabinet door and trim paint that can be colored just like all their other lines. Benjamin Moore’s website is very user friendly and available to assist you with matching colors to specific rooms with their Personal Color Veiwer, check it out.

Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines® Paint is made to transform your vision into a reality. Crafted by Joanna Gaines, the colors have been chosen from Joanna’s own projects and are sure to inspire yours. Breathe new life into an old surface or add a bit more charm and character to any project. Backed by the makers of KILZ Paints and Primers, a trusted name for over 40 years, you can be sure that whether you’re remodeling, renovating or even touching up, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines Paint can help give you the one-of-a-kind look you’ve been dreaming of.

Clark+Kensington (CK) is Ace Hardware’s new paint and primer in one. Offering over 1,300 stunning colors, Clark+Kensington is the #1 rated paint choice by a leading consumer magazine. Find your soul-mate with Clark & Kensington for your indoor or outdoor painting needs. CK is a latex paint that comes in flat, satin, eggshell, semi-gloss and high gloss. It too is low VOC and low odor. Exclusively available at Ace Hardware.

With these three lines of paint we are able to mix thousands of colors and do custom matches off of many materials swatches, fabrics and other paint brands. Bring us a color in a 1″x1″ sample and we can match that color with the paint you want.

Visit The Paint Studio at Ace
Tips, tools, inspiration, & so much more.

Learn More

Is it stain you need?

Is your deck, log home or outdoor furniture in need of some TLC?

Come on in and let our customer service experts show you the wide variety of exterior stains such as Sikkens, Penofin (Red, Blue and Verde), Superdeck, Cabot, Messmer’s, BM’s Arborcoat, Preserva-Wood, TWP, and of course Ace Wood Royal. There are many different varieties to choose from because they have different characteristics and benefits, including tinting to a variety of colors. Come in and let us help you pick the correct one for your application.

We also carry a large selection of indoor stains including Minwax and Zar.

Concrete stains: quite often you will find concrete in colors other than gray. We carry Mason’s Select, a duckback product, which offers a few pre-tinted colors but also allows us to tint to a variety of colors. Staining concrete is similar to staining a deck, you need to clean and etch the concrete prior to applying the stain, followed by a sealant.

Paint Supplies

As far as paint supplies go we have anything from rollers and brushes to thinners and drop clothes to make your painting or staining project complete!

Stop in and let our paint experts help you with your paint needs.

Often Asked Paint Questions

What is the difference in the quality of brushes?
A quality brush has a high percentage of bristles with flagged (split) ends, which is important for holding and spreading paint. The better the flagging, the more paint a brush will hold and the fewer brush marks left on the painted surface. A quality brush also has filaments that vary in length for smooth flow and application of paint. Bristles on brushes used for precision painting, such as sash brushes, should be “tipped.” They have pointed ends, allowing more precise control of the paint. Inexpensive brushes contain little filament and are made from the poorest-quality hog bristle or from level (not tapered) synthetics. Level synthetics flag poorly, if at all. The end product is a poor painting tool.
What is the difference between the type of bristles?
China hog bristle is the best natural filament to use with oil paints. China hog bristle can be used only with oil-based paints, because it absorbs water and becomes loose and floppy. It does not have the long wearability of polyester and nylon brushes.
Other natural hog-bristle brushes are recommended for use with varnish and lacquer in addition to oil-based paint. Ox, camel, squirrel, badger and sable are used for artists’ and other specialty brushes.
Nylon bristles should be used with latex paints, and tapered polyester for all paints, including oil, latex, varnish, lacquers, shellac and marine finishes.
Nylon and polyester (the best synthetics) are tipped, flagged, and tapered individually during manufacturing. Quality brushes are made with multiple sizes of tapered filaments similar to pure bristle brushes. The flag is maintained during long use. Generally, the longer and thicker the brush made of tapered nylon or tapered polyester, the quicker the job will be done.
Synthetic hog bristle can be used with all paints. Like other quality synthetic brushes, the bristles are individually tipped, flagged and tapered.
How do I choose the right roller cover?
Roller covers vary in pile or nap length, and it’s essential to choose the right pile length for the surface texture you’re painting. A general guideline is:

-Smooth (3/16″ or 1/4″ nap): for walls, floors, and fine finishing.
-Medium (3/8″ or 1/2″ nap): for sand-textured walls.
-Rough (3/4″ or 1″ nap): for light stucco walls and masonry floors.
-Extra Rough (1 1/4″ nap): for brick, block, masonry and stucco.

Should I use a natural bristle brush with a latex paint?
No. Just remember that humid weather can make someone’s hair turn frizzy. Water-based paints do the same thing to natural-bristle brushes, so you will want to use a synthetic brush with latex paint.
What are the advantages of latex paint?
Latex paints are able to be thinned out with water and also have these features: Less odor, Water cleanup, Non-flammable, Faster drying, Ease of touch up, Ease of application, Better gloss, Less fading on exteriors, No yellowing on interiors AND less likely to crack or peel.
What is the difference between solid-color and semi-transparent stains?
Semi-transparent stains provide a color to the wood, but still allow the texture and natural grain to show through. Solid-color stains allow the texture to show, but not the grain.
When should I prime?
DO: All unfinished materials should be primed before you paint. This includes metal, wood, and drywall, among others. Inexperienced homeowners often forget about priming during their pre-remodeling prep work and find that their paint jobs do not last very long. Preparing the surface prior to painting reduces the peeling, cracking, and streaking problems that are common with do-it-yourself home improvements. This will also save you money on the paint itself by improving its ability to conceal blemishes and stains. This allows you to use less coats of paint to hide the unsightly marks. Tinted primer blends with the paint to enhance its color without adding an extra layer of thickness to the surface.

DON’T: However, there are times when you do not need to. If you are painting a surface that has previously been painted, you can usually just clean the surface thoroughly. This only applies to paint that is in good condition. You may have to sand down any scratches or dings in the existing paint. If this is the case, be sure to prime the newly sanded areas so the new paint will adhere properly. It may also be a good idea if you are switching from one kind of paint to something different.

What is back brushing?
When you spray or roll on stain, you will go back over with a brush (back brushing) to ensure that you have no puddles and optimal penetration of your product.

Congratulations to the nationwide Color of the Year contest winner and runner-ups! #AceYourColor