Is contract emulsion only good for base coat?

usman330

Went into dulux decorator centre today to get some magnolia emulsion that will be going over old paint which is in good condition and has been sanded to give a key and make the surface nice and flat.

I asked the assistant about the armstead contract emulsion which was good value at £16.80 for 10l.

Assistant said contract emulsion is only good as a base coat and not a finish coat, and it should used for new plaster or just as a pre coat before the finish coat.... He said this applies to all the contact emulsions out there such as Leyland trade etc...

He was saying that contract emulsion doesn't have any wear characteristics in it so would look crap and not wear well. He said decorators who were using contract trade emulsion as a finish coat were cowboys!

However I was speaking to a decorator last week who reckoned armstead contract emulsion was great to paint walls, didn't mention anything about it being a Base coat only.

So he directed me to another armstead trade emulsion which was something like £45.10 per 10l so big difference in price, he reckoned this was the stuff that should be used as the finishing coat.


Is it true that contact emulsion should only be used as a base coat? First I have heard of this, I always thought emulsion was emulsion.

usman330

This is the stuff which he reckoned was only good for base coat, £16.80 10l :




And this is what he reckoned was the proper finish coat, £45.10 10l:

casper_g

You can leave contract emulsion as a finish coat if you want. It can have an advantage in some situations because it's breathable unlike a vinyl-type paint. This is why it's used on new plaster as I understand it.

The main reason vinyl matt is usually preferred is that it is more hard wearing. The contract emulsion marks easily and can't be wiped clean - it would just come off on the cloth and even transfers onto your clothes if they are wet and you brush against it.

I have used it as a top coat, but only on my ceilings and above the picture rail where wear is not an issue.

Mr.Generous

He was spot on - the vinyl (yes I know its a synthetic equivalent now) which makes it tough and hard wearing also makes it hard for salts in new plaster to bloom, so a non vinyl paint is ideal. If you finish with contract type non-vinyl and say wipe a mark with a cloth the paint comes off.

usman330

So would it be ok to use contract Matt as first coat and then vinyl matt as top coat?

I have an area of new plaster too, would this combination be ok there too?

If your not supposed to put vinyl matt over new plaster are you meant to finish it with contract Matt and just accept it isn't going to be hard wearing? Which non vinyl finish coat is ok for new plaster?

Silver-Surfer_2

usman330 wrote: »

So would it be ok to use contract Matt as first coat and then vinyl matt as top coat?

I have an area of new plaster too, would this combination be ok there too?

If your not supposed to put vinyl matt over new plaster are you meant to finish it with contract Matt and just accept it isn't going to be hard wearing? Which non vinyl finish coat is ok for new plaster?

Use the cheap stuff for a mist and base coat. Then the vinyl for a top coat and you'll be fine.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Contract stuff is absolutely fine as a top coat on ceiling, very matt so hides imperfections and doesn't matter if it's not hard wearing - it's a ceiling!

Wouldn't use it on walls though unless you never want to wipe them down. It won't last.

pledgeX

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

Contract stuff is absolutely fine as a top coat on ceiling, very matt so hides imperfections and doesn't matter if it's not hard wearing - it's a ceiling!

Wouldn't use it on walls though unless you never want to wipe them down. It won't last.

I've got some Leyland Contract stuff that I've just covered the ceilings and wall with as a mist coat over new plaster, but to be honest we're thinking of using it for the final coat on the ceiling as it looks pretty reasonable. I wouldn't use it on the walls due to the durability factor, but I think the chances of spilling something on the ceiling are slim, so am hoping I can getaway with it.

System

this is an interesting thread, only wish it had shown up a few weeks ago before I painted the house top to bottom in emulsion! might get some vinyl for the hall and bathroom now...

Dan-Dan

never use anything other than contract matt as a base and top coat on freshly skimmed ceilings , never as a top coat on walls though for the reasons given