B&Q Paint:(

newjersey · 15 November 2015 at 7:21PM

Hi

I don't know where, if anywhere, I stand here. I had a painter booked to do my flat this weekend he told me to get 5ls of Dulux paint so I went to B&Q to get it but as I wanted a particular colour in mid sheen it had to be made up, like I've had done in the past. I was then told they only mix a paint called Valspar now, I said I wasn't sure as my painter had said Dulux but the shop assistant reassured me that this was Premium paint & was even better than Dulux so I went ahead & bought it for £43.
Painter came yesterday, wasn't very pleased but went ahead. It's just awful, a pale colour (that I chose) but it's so runny & streaky, looks terrible. I'm going tomorrow to buy different paint but do I have any comeback on the awful Valspar paint. I've used over half of it before the painter gave up. I'm a student so £43 wasted is a lot for me. Will I just have to put this down to an expensive lesson ? Wished I had never listened to the shop assistant.

neilmcl · 15 November 2015 at 7:55PM

It sounds like you're just paying for labour and supplying the materials yourself, in which case your painter will just have to use whatever paint you choose, he may recommend and prefer to use Dulux but you're the one supplying it so he'll have to make the best use of what you give him. How many coats has he done?

Is he charging by the job, day, hour?

newjersey · 15 November 2015 at 8:09PM

He's charging for the job. He's a friend so not charging much and he personally doesn't care what paint I use but recommends Dulux. He's more than happy to leave it or put more layers on (have put 3 on) but it looks awful really patchy and streaky. He's done plenty of jobs for me friends and family before without any problems, it's not him it's the quality of the paint, or lack of it. Think I'll just have to go and buy the paint all over again, but a different brand.

agrinnall · 15 November 2015 at 9:38PM

I'm presuming that neil has got hold of the wrong end of the (paint stirring) stick and that it's B&Q that you feel are responsible rather than the painter. You could try complaining to them, you might get your money back or you might get a reduction on buying the Dulux paint, although if you do buy it there it won't be your ideal colour (I believe Homebase offer the Dulux Mixlab service, which is perhaps where you should have gone in the first place).

neilmcl · 15 November 2015 at 9:52PM

I understood what the issue was but it sounded more like a bad workman blaming his tools. Just googling it shows that Valspar paint is indeed a different kettle of fish than say Dulux but for all the complaints there seems to be lot of positives too. It's just down to the way you apply it I guess.

Having said that, if there does indeed seem to be quality issue with your particular batch then you should take whatever you have left back to B&Q so they can see for themselves, and hopefully give you a refund.

Owain_Moneysaver · 15 November 2015 at 10:51PM

Take it back to B&Q and complain emphasising that a professional decorator has said it's poor quality.

The first step is probably to get another batch mixed in case there was a problem mixing the first batch, but make it clear that in accepting a replacement you are not waiving any right to claim for a subsequent full refund and the costs of your decorator's extra labour.

Keep_pedalling · 15 November 2015 at 11:28PM

The reason your painter stated Dulux is because it is high quality, covers well and is easily available to the public. Go to Homebase, they mix Dulux paint, then take the rubbish B&Q sold you back for a refund.

dacouch · 16 November 2015 at 12:14AM

I would take it back and smack seven patchy shades of !!!!! out of them

Hoof_Hearted · 16 November 2015 at 10:06AM

I have tried other brands in the past but what you may save in cost (not in this case) you waste by having to paint more coats. I stick to Dulux and Crown now. Dulux Weathershield is superb for outside.

Vampgirl · 16 November 2015 at 12:50PM

We used quite a bit of Valspar last year (chose it because we couldn't get the exact colours we wanted in either Crown or Dulux) and whilst I don't claim to be an experienced decorator, I found it fine to work with and the finish is really lovely. It did take 3 coats - but I was expecting that because they are all very strong colours over walls which were white orignally. It was the standard Walls & Ceilings Matt that we used, I've not tried their silk - maybe you got a duff batch in which case I'd take it back and complain. Or maybe their silk isn't as good as their matt?

newjersey · 16 November 2015 at 5:12PM

Thanks for the replies everyone. I called into B&Q they said the paint was fine etc etc. I just don't have the time to go any further with this, not that I'd get anywhere anyway so I went and bought another 5l of Dulux. I got it in a local hardware store for exactly half the price of Valspar. I'm new to this buying paint game so I'll know in the future where to go, or not ! Thanks.