When we moved into our rental, the house and garage were painted an unexpected shade of pink. It was a shock at first, but over time we learned to accept it—small compromises come with renting. While we’ve been able to change many things about the property, repainting the entire exterior wasn’t an option.
There was, however, one area that needed attention: the back wall of the garage. Before we moved in, that section had been patched but never painted, leaving a mix of pink and exposed white plaster. An old, broken telephone-line surge protector hung awkwardly on the wall as well. It made the whole area look neglected, so when the opportunity arose to work with Ace Hardware, we decided to tackle just that wall and give it a fresh coat of paint.
We chose Clark + Kensington premium paint from Ace Hardware because it combines primer and paint in one product, which was perfect for covering the contrasting pink and white patches. We selected a satin finish in ultra-white and bought a single gallon—enough for this modest wall. Using a paint-with-primer formula helped ensure we wouldn’t be left with a faint pink tint showing through the topcoat.
The first coat went on quickly with a roller. As the roller-applied coat began to dry, we cut in around the edges for a neat finish. One of the paint’s advantages is its fast drying time—within an hour or two it was ready for a second coat, which kept the job moving efficiently.
After cutting in, we rolled a second coat across the entire wall. That additional layer proved more than sufficient to completely conceal the old pink. The surface is a rough stucco, but the paint adhered well and applied evenly without runs or drips, giving a clean, consistent finish.
One feature that stands out with the Clark + Kensington line is the low odor and low VOC formulation. That made painting more pleasant and gave us peace of mind when working around family. For exterior applications, the paint’s mold and algae resistance is another benefit—especially useful in our humid Southern California climate where such issues can arise.
Overall, using a primer-plus-paint product simplified the job, reduced the number of coats needed, and left the garage wall looking refreshed and much neater. The small improvement made a noticeable difference in curb appeal and turned an eyesore into a clean, bright surface.
Disclosure: Ace Hardware provided the garden cart for review. They did not direct the content of this post. Ace Hardware’s policies align with industry ethics and disclosure guidelines.