Decorating - Best paint?
Discussion
I'll have a 2 bed place to decorate shortly. Top to bottom.
Needs to be done to a budget but happy to spend extra on the bits to do a decent job.
Ceiling will be Tikkurila AR 2, I've used this before and was very happy with the results.
Walls will be a matt finish. Is Johnstone's Covaplus still the go to?
Woodwork will be a satin finish. I'm new to that so really need recommendations here.
What about rollers? Brushes?
Needs to be done to a budget but happy to spend extra on the bits to do a decent job.
Ceiling will be Tikkurila AR 2, I've used this before and was very happy with the results.
Walls will be a matt finish. Is Johnstone's Covaplus still the go to?
Woodwork will be a satin finish. I'm new to that so really need recommendations here.
What about rollers? Brushes?
Get yourself into your local Dulux Decorator's Centre and buy from them. The paint might seem expensive per litre compared to DIY sheds but it will take fewer coats (which really matters when you're doing a whole property). Have done a couple of houses with it and about to use on a largish project at home.
FWIW, one of our decorators likes the B&Q Valspar Premium paint, although I think it fades. 99% sure that the decorators one we use for quick-turnaround painting of our rentals buys and uses Johnstone Trade and that seems to do the job. Not used it myself but he quotes per job so won't want to be spending time on extra coats.
Harris Trade rollers, a pole, and deep scuttle/tray (all from Screwfix) are well worth the money. I hadn't used poles until a few years ago when our decorator sold me on their merits - am now a convert as they really speed the job up.
A big fan to get some air movement can also speed up drying.
Cheap white "trade" paint from the sheds can be like water. Don't waste your time with it.
FWIW, one of our decorators likes the B&Q Valspar Premium paint, although I think it fades. 99% sure that the decorators one we use for quick-turnaround painting of our rentals buys and uses Johnstone Trade and that seems to do the job. Not used it myself but he quotes per job so won't want to be spending time on extra coats.
Harris Trade rollers, a pole, and deep scuttle/tray (all from Screwfix) are well worth the money. I hadn't used poles until a few years ago when our decorator sold me on their merits - am now a convert as they really speed the job up.
A big fan to get some air movement can also speed up drying.
Cheap white "trade" paint from the sheds can be like water. Don't waste your time with it.
Same as above but prefer the Crown Decorating Centres, will happily mix you any colour you want even if you supply RGB colours/hex/Pantone numbers (although they did say they're not meant to do the last one so may need to ask nicely). Expect to pay about £60 for a 2.5l tin but it'll go miles further than the cheap crap from the DIY sheds. Also they do proper stuff on the shelf like Zinsser for undercoat/mould treatments/etc.
E2a: £60 gets you a tin of the scrubbable stuff which I use everywhere because children. It's brilliant.
E2a: £60 gets you a tin of the scrubbable stuff which I use everywhere because children. It's brilliant.
Edited by mrmistoffelees on Monday 26th May 17:44
If you like AR2 try Brewers AF1 - just as good but a fair bit cheaper now Tikkurila have upped the prices.
I generally use Johnstones Durable acrylic matt on walls - far better than Covaplus and very wipeable once cured.
Can’t stress enough the importance of decent brushes.
I exclusively use Oldfields synthetics now after many years of using Purdy - can only buy them online from MyPaintbrush - far better than anything you’d buy from the big sheds, and their delivery is very quick.
For woodwork, I use Johnstones Aqua Guard - comes in satin, gloss and matt.
Best results come from also using the AG undercoat. All water based.
Drop a bit of Floetrol paint conditioner in the top coat and it goes on a dream.
I generally use Johnstones Durable acrylic matt on walls - far better than Covaplus and very wipeable once cured.
Can’t stress enough the importance of decent brushes.
I exclusively use Oldfields synthetics now after many years of using Purdy - can only buy them online from MyPaintbrush - far better than anything you’d buy from the big sheds, and their delivery is very quick.
For woodwork, I use Johnstones Aqua Guard - comes in satin, gloss and matt.
Best results come from also using the AG undercoat. All water based.
Drop a bit of Floetrol paint conditioner in the top coat and it goes on a dream.
TT86 said:
Square Leg said:
If the OP is on a budget, BM isn’t for them…
I was really disappointed with Benjamin Moore in our old place. Used the woodwork paint and it yellowed and crazed in places. Sticking with Bedec ultra satin now for trim and it's been excellent
And yes not cheap, I hadn’t seen that.
Cheib said:
TT86 said:
Square Leg said:
If the OP is on a budget, BM isn’t for them…
I was really disappointed with Benjamin Moore in our old place. Used the woodwork paint and it yellowed and crazed in places. Sticking with Bedec ultra satin now for trim and it's been excellent
And yes not cheap, I hadn’t seen that.
Any other views on Satin wood paint?
We've done 2 rooms and a hallway with the Valspar Premium stuff from B n Q, no complaints. Hallway was done 3 years ago and seems to be wearing well, still the lush deep blue when it first went on. We've had a couple of bits need repainted in one of the rooms after it lifted when removing command strips, suspect that's fairly normal however.
Not the cheapest out there, but have been happy with the results. Will be getting more soon to do my man cave as I've found a colour in their range remarkably similar to Laguna Seca Blue (Impressionist Blue)....
Not the cheapest out there, but have been happy with the results. Will be getting more soon to do my man cave as I've found a colour in their range remarkably similar to Laguna Seca Blue (Impressionist Blue)....
Cheib said:
Will see how it goes but so far so good.
And yes not cheap, I hadn’t seen that.
My bad, brand mix up. it's Bedec Aqua Advanced I use for my internal stuff. Used both the satin and eggshell- both are excellent. And yes not cheap, I hadn’t seen that.
I used Tikkurila ultra classic in satin for my front door renovation in the autumn. Lovely paint to work with, applied with "two fussy blokes" shot smooth roller (absolutely brilliant and worth the extra cost)
This was a bare door renovation which included repaircare flex 4 to repair some rot. Came out very nicely.
I used Johnstons decorating centre recently and was impressed by the quality for the price - got the job done without costing mega money
On the other halfs order I was getting a Farrow&B colour mixed there.
As it was mixed there and then I found I didnt even need to stir the paint when I got home, unlike the dulux I got recently at B&Q that finished my wrists off to try and work it into a paintable mess.
On the other halfs order I was getting a Farrow&B colour mixed there.
As it was mixed there and then I found I didnt even need to stir the paint when I got home, unlike the dulux I got recently at B&Q that finished my wrists off to try and work it into a paintable mess.
LooneyTunes said:
Get yourself into your local Dulux Decorator's Centre and buy from them.....
I was going to say the same, but Brewers.For woodwork their own brand 'Albany' undercoat is pretty good, topped off with Little Green intelligent eggshell.
For the walls, Little Green is good here too, or Paint and Paper, Or anything else along that line.
For ceilings Macpherson Eclipse is fine, else my staple is Dulux Trade supermatt.
tux850 said:
These threads always turn into Paint Bingo, and as is inevitably always the case we are just a couple of recommendations away from having a full house with every brand and range getting a mention.
Have we had Tamiya mentioned yet? Their XF 63 Panzer grey is a dead ringer for Anthras
te grey, if you’re that way inclined.tux850 said:
These threads always turn into Paint Bingo, and as is inevitably always the case we are just a couple of recommendations away from having a full house with every brand and range getting a mention.
True, but there is one consistent theme: buy quality paints from a proper paint shop.We paid a fortune for Crown scrubbable, from a trade place
It wasn't and attracted the muck
I've gone back to Farrow and Ball (from B&Q) as historically it appears not to attract the muck and is harder wearing, so I'll tick the F&B bingo square.
(decorated several houses, have kids, wife, dog, reasonably clean, tight Yorkshireman, not that it matters)
It wasn't and attracted the muck
I've gone back to Farrow and Ball (from B&Q) as historically it appears not to attract the muck and is harder wearing, so I'll tick the F&B bingo square.
(decorated several houses, have kids, wife, dog, reasonably clean, tight Yorkshireman, not that it matters)
tux850 said:
These threads always turn into Paint Bingo, and as is inevitably always the case we are just a couple of recommendations away from having a full house with every brand and range getting a mention.
All I can do is pass on my 40 years from making a living as a pro decorator.I’ve used every brand of paint available in the UK, and some that no one on here will have heard of (including paint that is now defunct..) so give recommendations of what I currently use and have had good results from.
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