Valspar vs Farrow & Ball

[Saurus72]

I feel like such a middle class cliche, but oh well. We need to have the house we are completing on very soon painted from top to bottom. We've found our ideal scenario colours from Farrow & Ball, but obviously, the cost will be significant. While this is definitely a consideration, I also fee that I don't necessarily mind spending a bit extra to get what we actually want.

We have thad he F&B colour samples we bought colour matched in Valspar paint in B&Q, and we've painted up some sample sheets of paper. They both look OK, but I have since googled looking for Valspar reviews and they are very very mixed. Does anyone have experience of using them? Is it worth paying extra for F&B?

TIA

[namechangedtoday15]

Do you have children? I wouldn't use F&B if you have children, used it in DD's room and it wasn't hard wearing at all, couldn't get scuff marks out. Also used it in the lounge, it still looks relatively OK in there but I think thats simply because the children don't touch / knock into the wall as often. I certainly wouldn't use it again unless it was just for our bedroom perhaps.

I'm one of the people who has slated Valspar - only used it once to be fair but once is enough. It was awful, awful paint. I'm not a decorator obviously but I wouldn't buy it again, ever.

We have since had F&B colour matched in Johnstones paints which looked very very close to the F&B real paint. I also like Dulux. Little Greene gets very good reviews (similar price range to F&B) which I'm considering for my next project!

[Whitecovers]

We've used valspar in two rooms and had no problems.

[TremoloGreen]

I've used quite a bit of valspar (only the premium which is a similar price to dulux) and it's excellent paint for the price. Great finish.

F&B is overpriced rubbish imo. Little Greene or Mylands would be my choice in that price range but I think you're hoping to save money. I will say that the coverage of those two is a lot greater than valspar so that offsets some of the cost.

Don't go much below £10 per litre for paint, it's a false economy.

[fairycakecentral]

I used Valspar premium in the living room. Excellent to paint with and a lovely Matt finish. It does scuff a bit but does wipe up ok (as long as you're gentle). The finish is as good as f&b (only seen in SILs house, not used it myself). Nice depth of colour too.

[megletthesecond]

Valspar can be peeled off like kids nail varnish if there's a chip. One of my dc's has discovered this .

[Notsoaccidentproneanymore]

I use johnstones trade Matt. Excellent coverage, brilliant colour matching and reasonably priced.

[OTheHugeManatee]

It depends on the age of your kids and how fussy you are about finish.

I've just finished redecorating an entire house and have used several brands including Dulux Endurance and a lot of F&B. Though I wouldn't use F&B Estate Emulsion in a hallway or child's room as it marks easily and it's difficult to get scuff marks off, for rooms that are likely to be treated more gently IMO you can't beat it for depth of colour and beautiful matt finish. It's overpriced but especially for really deep colours there's nothing quite like it.

[dontcallmelen]

Have a look at mylands paints, beautiful colours much more hard wearing than f&b, covers really well & a dream to use goes a very long way.
Very underrated & extremly good quality.

[puffylovett]

I've used both and had the valspar colour matched to farrow and ball colours.

If I had the budget I would absolutely go for the farrow and ball all the way, it's a beautiful paint to paint with and an amazing finish.

However, the valspar premium copies have been excellent in the hall and kitchen. While I can tell it's not f&b, I've still been really happy with it. It mostly gives great coverage with just a single coat, although two coats is better. I'm just about to try and scrub all the fingerprints and projectile vomit off the hall walls, so only time will tell on its scrubability I guess. The f and b estate emulsion in my hAll looked amazing but was ruined in months and wouldn't clean up at all. (I used the estate emulsion on advisement from the local independent stockist, despite really knowing I should have used the modern emulsion for the hall, what a mistake that was! Re did it in valspar copied to pavilion grey, looks fab)

However, friends had a shocking experience with a red valspar premium paint that needed about 8 coats.

[BikeRunSki]

My house is all Valspar. DM's is largely F&B. The textures and intensities are completely different, they are not really comparable.

[ChablisTyrant]

The F&B estate emulsion has a very particular chalky Matt finish. You won't get that if you colour match. I think some F&B colours look cheap if matched into a paint with a slight sheen but others are fine. Depends what look you are trying to achieve.

[Want2bSupermum]

I can tell the difference between the rooms painted with F&B and those painted with Dulux. I'm funny like that though and notice the most minute detail with decoration.

On places I sell I do Dulux primer and undercoat in a matched colour with F&B top coat. It's a great way to save money and still get a good finish. I also never ever put a chalky finish paint into a family home. I don't want my buyers to be disappointed with scruffy walls that can't be properly wiped clean after living there for six months.

[justaweeone]

Have a look at the trade paint Albany
It's sold in Brewers

[Tubbyinthehottub]

Don't know about Valspar, have heard mixed views. But I would never use F&B because of the unhelpful and snooty assistants in our local shop. My house is mainly Little Greene.

[catwithflowers]

Another vote for Johnstone's trade matt mixed to f&b colours. We've used it throughout the house and it's excellent and well priced.

[SavoyCabbage]

I painted most of my house in Valspar and the living room in Dulux and the Valspar is much, much better coverage wise and has far less marks on than the Dulux too. I have only used premium from Valspar though.

[JennyWreny]

MN ran product tests for F&B and Valspar in the last couple of years. Here's a link to the Valspar one in case it's of some use - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_product_tests/2512709-Valspar-Premium-Walls-Ceilings-Paint-Feedback-Thread-300-to-be-won-for-feedback I'll see if I can find the F&B one.

[JennyWreny]

Here you are - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_product_tests/2255386-Farrow-Ball-decorating-feedback-thread-find-out-how-the-MNers-get-on-with-their-paint-and-at-the-colour-talk

[JoJoSM2]

I've only had my fence painted with Valspar so can't comment much. However, F&B is leagues above Dulux. The colour is very consistent from one tin to the next and they are amazingly durable. We even painted the stairs in the last house with F&B and after 3 years they still looked immaculate despite being walked on loads. The colours are just that more premium and look classier too and it is much quicker to paint with them as 1-2 coats will provide excellent coverage with a deep colour.

[dinodiva]

F&B modern emulsion is more hard wearing than the estate emulsion. Have just had our hallway and a reception room done and the colours are just gorgeous.

[littlepinkseals]

On recommendations from mumsnet, I had Farrow and Balls Green Ground made up by Johnstones trade paint and it is excellent. The sales staff had all the F&B codes, apparently F&b took Johnstones to court but the judge told them they could only own a name not a colour and therefore the paint is an exact match. I tested the paint made up against a tester pot of F&B and I couldn't tell the difference.

[NoMudNoLotus]

Benjamin Moore paint is fab & beautiful - better than Valspar & F&B.