Hello

Planning on a wee bit of DIY'ing. Two questions on paint...

1. Is it worth paying extra and buying top brand paint eg Dulux Once, or is the own brand stuff at half the price just as good?
2. Is it necessary to buy the paint specifically designed for kitchens and bathrooms or can I just use normal stuff.

In both cases I'm looking to buy matt emulsion to use on unpapered walls and the ceiling.

Any advice much appreciated. Colin :)

Just finished me bathroom last week.I used B+Q own brand paint and it seems fine.I also used water resistant paint to combat all the condensation from the shower etc,probably best to go that route.
The paint was only £9.In the end it turned out really good:D

I am a paint expert!

Do not try to save money on paint, its a false economy.

The pain range I recommend is the Dulux Trade range, available from Dulux trade centres (look in your yellow pages).

For kitchen and bathrooms use an eggshell paint finish, these come in two types - oil and water based. The oil based is a pig to put on but has very low opacity (covers up stuff well). The water based paint is easier to put on and also very good. Both are very durable.

Be careful about putting this stuff on untreated plaster. Untreated plaster has to be sized first (sealed) and will require a plaster primer paint before you use other paints, and possibly also an oil-based undercoat too.

For the woodwork I recommend Dulux satin finish. if the wood is bare you will need :

wood primer
undercoat
two coats of satin finish.

If already painted sand down, then undercoat, then two coats of satin finish.

Hope this helps,


Simon

Do you work for Dulux?

Advice noted though, thanks.

Like Si James, I am very happy to talk about paint!!
First of all you must agree to agree to the following


"Once" "One coat" "own brand" etc see these words and you must walk away... I dont care who make them they are all Krap.

Its always a Prime,undercoat and topcoat situation ( If starting on a new Surface)

Dulux trade is fine.Their eggshell is very good. Sandersons is top stuff.. If my clients want the best I always use them. Leylands are very good..... But their eggshell is poor ( to shiny) I tend to like their primers/undercoats and emulsioms better.

Plaster must be sealed.... But you can just use watered down emulsion. Undercoat if using eggshell.

Acrylic eggshell is fine and it doesnt smell!!!!

Only use a good brush and the correct type roller... I prefer brush/spray.


And to all you budding decorators.... When your good lady gets pregnant!!!! Decorate the babys room soon. New oil paint /emulsionis NOOOOOOT good for the baby


REMEMBER THE FIRST BIT OF ADVICE....


Luke.. " Brushy to the Stars"!!

Cheers for all the advice.

I think i caused some confusion by the statement 'unpapered walls' I don't mean they are brand new plaster I meant they have been previously painted but not papered. (geddit?) :)

The wood is all varnished and is in pretty good condition so I'm not going to touch it.

Colin :)

Col,

They may be painted, but just make sure the surface is good and
solid before you start painting. It may be wise to glasspaper
down the walls and apply a coat of emulsion (silk vynil) before
you start.

I do not in fact work for ICI (makers of Dulux), but can recommend their paints.

Sandersons are good, especially for more unusual finishes, although there are some specialist companies out there that make "architectural" type paints for period houses, sometimes with exotic ingredients. Very good if you have a castle or period house.

Echo the comments re. the children's bedroom - water based paints only. Remember to have plenty of of ventilation whilst painting too.

The use of polycell type bruch cleaners, although expensive, will save you a lot of time over white spirit...use them.


Si

Oh yes, the "one coat" stuff is crap, really bad.

Crown paint is also pretty crap.

Remember to sand down each coat when doing glosswork (i.e. doors and skirtings) use a good quality 00 grade paper (zero zero).

Remember that good decorating is 90% preparation of the surfaces, and the more time you spend on this the better.

Just splashing on the painf is no frigging good.

Si "The Tosher" James
(yes that's "tosher")

Agree with Si and Luke.

I only use Dulux Trade, and the one coat type paints are garbage.

The emulsion in a tray stuff goes on like Hammerite finish plus needs three coats to cover darker colours, and the once gloss gives no exterior protection from the weather at all - one year and it all falls off again.

The traditional way is best - primer on bare wood, undercoat then gloss; or for emulsion the regular stuff out of a tin.