why do profesional

t_r

Painters and Decorators water down paint.
I was talking to a friend (i do have one) who wanted to touch up some paintwork but couldn't because his decorator had watered down the paint when he applied it. my friend had supplied the paint so it wasn't just to make it go further.
Apparently all painters water down their paint!!!!!

adaze

I would have said to save costs.....

Can't be all paint, you wouldn't water down oil based paint!

Maybe if its "runnier" you get less obvious paint strokes? To be honest I have no idea

t_r

Ok emulsion then lol
They wouldn't save on materials if the customer supplies the paint though

misgrace

I always water down my emulsion, even if its just slightly, its not for cheapness, as what ever paint my client gets, or I get for them, they keep whats left anyway.

I only use Dulux, and at a push Crown, unless client chooses a different brand, but thats another story.

Give it a test, open a tin of dulux emulsion, paint one wall straight from the can, paint the other wall, with approx 10% water, and see if you can see the better quality wall.:D

t_r

So thats a top tip then lol cheers

burnsguitarman

It's probably to make it easier to roll, and less likely to leave brush/roller marks.
At the speed a professional works, they can do it much faster than diy'ers, and so 2 coats.
Also I hate non-drip gloss, this in my opinion is for complete novices who 'think' it's best, when in fact it is much more difficult to get a good finish.
My ex oh is a high quality painter and decorator, and I did learn some of his skills by watching. (just as well my oh of 23yrs hasn't got a clue about decorating and I have a very critical eye). Lol!

misgrace

burnsguitarman wrote: »

It's probably to make it easier to roll, and less likely to leave brush/roller marks.
!

Got it in one.:D

ukwoody

t_r wrote: »

Painters and Decorators water down paint.
I was talking to a friend (i do have one) who wanted to touch up some paintwork but couldn't because his decorator had watered down the paint when he applied it. my friend had supplied the paint so it wasn't just to make it go further.
Apparently all painters water down their paint!!!!!

Sorry, but some of that is absolute Tosh!
NOT all painters water down paint, and often when they do there is good reason too, and there is more than one reason beleive me. To say otherwise tarnishes some excellent tradesmen. I ran a small team of painters for about 1 year, and even as a chippie with 20+ years of experience they taught me a hell of a lot.
To say he couldn't touch it up because the original had been watered down is also absolute rubbish. You would need to water it down an awful lot to note any real difference and it would have been like ruddy dishwater - and would look like it. If you bother to read on the back of the tins, you will often see you are recommended to water it down for rollering - from memory about 1in20 but I may be a bit out on that quanity. More likely, it is a different batch (yes paint is batched and can vary considerably), a different brand, had been painted on a new wall, smokers had been in the house etc etc.

I makes me mad when poeple just jump in and take any opportunity to slag of decent tradesmen without even bothering to look at the facts or ask questions. Your post clearly implies that all painters try to rip off customers by keeping back paint. WHY? Most painters leave the paint with the customer. A quick look at the coverage rates would give an indication of the amount of paint needed. Most painters dont want 200 cans of out of date opened tins of paint in their garage. Furthermore a decent painter will make the paint go twice as far as you or I ever will (undiluted) and still get a better finish out of it.

God, and you wonder why good tradesmen often dont stay on this forum for long. They get peed off with having their advice ignored or worst slated or, accused of being rippoff merchants.

Woody

nickj_2

dulux trade paint is designed to be watered down where as the stuff you get from homebase isn't ....................... unless you're sealing new plaster of course .
also it increases the drying time so if you're doing a big ceiling or wall , you can cut in and roll and if you're quick then you won't get drying lines around the cutting in

Canucklehead

ukwoody wrote: »

God, and you wonder why good tradesmen often dont stay on this forum for long. They get peed off with having their advice ignored or worst slated or, accused of being rippoff merchants.

Woody

Good afternoon: Good tradespersons must be gluttons for punishment;) My OH and I remember the goodens and ignore the rest. Don't let the barstewards get you down, Ukwoody and keep contributing:beer:

HTH

Canucklehead

t_r

ukwoody wrote: »

Sorry, but some of that is absolute Tosh!
NOT all painters water down paint, and often when they do there is good reason too, and there is more than one reason beleive me. To say otherwise tarnishes some excellent tradesmen. I ran a small team of painters for about 1 year, and even as a chippie with 20+ years of experience they taught me a hell of a lot.
To say he couldn't touch it up because the original had been watered down is also absolute rubbish. You would need to water it down an awful lot to note any real difference and it would have been like ruddy dishwater - and would look like it. If you bother to read on the back of the tins, you will often see you are recommended to water it down for rollering - from memory about 1in20 but I may be a bit out on that quanity. More likely, it is a different batch (yes paint is batched and can vary considerably), a different brand, had been painted on a new wall, smokers had been in the house etc etc.

I makes me mad when poeple just jump in and take any opportunity to slag of decent tradesmen without even bothering to look at the facts or ask questions. Your post clearly implies that all painters try to rip off customers by keeping back paint. WHY? Most painters leave the paint with the customer. A quick look at the coverage rates would give an indication of the amount of paint needed. Most painters dont want 200 cans of out of date opened tins of paint in their garage. Furthermore a decent painter will make the paint go twice as far as you or I ever will (undiluted) and still get a better finish out of it.

God, and you wonder why good tradesmen often dont stay on this forum for long. They get peed off with having their advice ignored or worst slated or, accused of being rippoff merchants.

Woody

Slow down there Woody
I asked a question to which I got a very good couple of replies in fact if you read the replies properly you will see that I acknowledged them as well. In the OP I stated 'that my mate had supplied his own paint so it wasn't to make it go further' or perhaps I should phrased it different so for you 'my mate supplied his own paint so its not for cheapness' hope that is clear enough for you.

Today I learnt something from a professional about paint which I posted as Todays top tip. I also learnt something about touchy chippies. Ah well.

Thanks again to those who took the post in the way it was intended.