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Painting & Decorating
Would you as a painter use dulux soft sheen paint on hallway/landing walls and ceilings?
I'm very close to hiring a painter to repaint my house but I'm a little confused about what paint I need to buy due to all the different sheens.
He has recommended I buy:
Dulux satinwood - white 5L (Banister, door frames, skirting boards)
Dulux soft sheen - white 20L (Kitchen walls ceiling, bathroom ceiling)
Dulux undercoat - white 5L
I understand why "soft sheen" may be used in the kitchen and bathroom (high-condensation areas), but I'm concerned it may not look good in the hallway and landing area. I imagine a cheap overly-shiny look that's too reflective.
Whenever I've painted myself, I've used matt paint on the ceilings and walls and some other painters have recommended this too.
Quite confused and not confident enought to move forward until I've figured this out. The Youtube videos I've watched don't help either; a painter stated he uses satin for walls. I'm wondering whether the sheen names in America don't match up with ours here in the UK.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to your answers.
5 Answers from MyBuilder Painters & Decorators
Best Answer
Tonypandy•Member since 24 Jul 2017•31jobs,100%positivefeedback
The best thing you can do is find a good independant decorators merchant and talk to them.
You are correct that sheen level is quite critical in a hallway and landing. Too high and it will show all and every imperfection. There are plenty of durable matt emulsiions to choose from now.
Also im guessing from the list that there is a plan to use oil based paints for the woodwork?
Again, there are plenty of excellent water based paints for woodwork available now with none of the drawbacks of oil based paints. E.g. the smell, the yellowing. In fact in most factors a carefuly selected trim paint at an independant decorators merchant will outperform oil based paints.
Answered 3rd Apr 2021
Cambridge•Member since 26 May 2016•58jobs,95%positivefeedback
I agree with the last response except with the woodwork waterbased gloss and eggshell are not as tough or hard wearing as oil based paint
Answered 3rd Apr 2021
Bedford•Member since 30 Apr 2015•30jobs,100%positivefeedback
Just to add to this. You are the customer so you decide what finish you want. Yes, silk or sheen in a hall and landing will look nasty. Ask for a durable matt for those areas and it will look much better.
It does look like the decorator is suggesting oil based paints too. These days, water based paint is not only far far healthier for you and the painter, if he uses the right brand and applies it correctly it can be every bit as durable and hard wearing as oil based paints and the finish can be just as good. It will also stay white - oil based paint won't.
The fact he has suggested these paints tells me he isn't a forward thinking painter who looks at latest technology to do the job. Oil based paint in your house is a serious risk to your health. My advice, get back to the decorator and tell him you want want durable matt in the hall and stairs, and water based paint on the woodwork. If he won't comply then I would look for a different painter.
Answered 3rd Apr 2021
Hull•Member since 26 Mar 2021•1job,100%positivefeedback
DURABLE /MAT
I love this paint!!!
If I could,I’d paint my hallway and stairs house in it!
Hard wearing,stain resistant, non colouring And it goes up on the walls like a dream.Your house will look amazing for a lot longer!
Answered 4th Apr 2021
Hull•Member since 19 Jan 2016•23jobs,96%positivefeedback
Oil based paint a serious risk to your health one so called decorator put above.Never heard so much rubbish in my life.As for the oil v water based finishes it's a matter of preference. Personally me and my team stay well clear of water based it looks cheap and nasty.Oil based is more robust.As for the yellowing my woodwork at home is oil based Satinwood it's been on for 5 years and hasn't yellowed one tiny bit.The yellowing of oil based paint will occur over the years more than water based but by the time it does is a sign to redecorate.I've repainted houses glossed in oil based that were done 10-15 years ago and it's still reasonably white.It depends on the environment,cooking,smoking, full sun all day etc. As for Soft Sheen,a Dulux product it's not shiny at all it's got a sheen on it not a shine!It's not comparable to vinyl silk as one deccy above insinuated.Customer choice ,we advise let them know every paint available they choose simple.
Answered 15th Apr 2021
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