Anyone used the new Valspar paint in B&Q?

[WalkingThePlank]

Went to B&Q to collect some Dulux samples but they now seem to be selling Valspar in its place. I've found various negative reviews about it so looking for some more balanced reviews here. I understand there is a normal and a premium range too but not sure of the difference as there seems to be no literature about it.

TIA

[MrsFlorrick]

No. But all American diyers and upcyclers seem to rave about it. If you read all the furniture up cycling post they all seem to use valspar ahead of any other.

[Grange]

I've used the premium one. It wasn't all it was cracked up to be and it was difficult to get an even finish. I don't like the sheen on it either. It's durable though.

[MonkeySeeMonkeyDooo]

Yes, used it in bedrooms and hallway, all good.

[Graciescotland]

Used the satinwood premium to redo the woodwork, it was fine went on easily.

[FunMitFlags]

I thought the quality was very poor. I painted a bathroom in it then immediately repainted over with Dulux and it looked much better.

[mandy214]

Agree that I thought it was very poor quality and was not at all easy to apply. I was really disappointed with it and definitely won't be using it again.

[Quinandthem]

We bought some at the w/e but haven't painted yet.

It looked very thin in the pot and the mixing person said it was it didn't have emulsifiers that dulux does - what ever they are.

Have bought a strong colour so it's going to show up if it's patchy

[MirandaGoshawk]

Have just used it in a light colour. Not easy to get an even coat but it now looks fine. I was impressed with the choice of colours, that they have samples on little cards that you can take home, and the fact that they have little box with different lighting - daylight, eco etc - that you can put the samples in to show what the effect will be in your room. (Their shop lighting apparently gives a blue tinge.) Their assistant (Jane in Exeter) was very helpful to me with choosing a warm but pale colour not magnolia.

[JoanGalt]

We have used it in all rooms and we love it. We used the one with the primer 'built in' and I covered everything in one coat. We used some pretty bright colours too and it all looks even.

[mandy214]

Quin we were using bright red (Manchester United red) for my DS's room - just one "feature" wall and it was dreadful. I think we needed about 4 coats to get an even finish.

[AmateurSeamstress]

I was worried after 1 coat but it's beautiful after 2 coats of a very bright, unforgiving purple. I bought the premium. The colour was much brighter than I'd anticipated but that's just the effect of going by a small sample square.

Miranda any chance you could pass on Jane's advice on finding a warm but pale colour? It sounds like the holy grail for my small windowed, north-ish facing bedroom.

[amistillsexy]

We Covered a blue chimney breast with a deep red, using the primer first. 2 coats of primer and 2 of red and it looks sumptuous. The rest of the room was done in a rich cream, going over a dull cream. After 3 months, both colours still look fab. It's truly scrubbable, and the colours are lovely. It covers well and DH had no complaints about using it. Lovely people in B & Q very helpful.

[amistillsexy]

DULUX cream, not dull cream!

[MavisGrind]

I've used a dark colour in one of my rooms and it looks great. The decorator who did it was also enthusiastic about it (he recommended it to me).

[WalkingThePlank]

So quite mixed reviews. I wonder why experiences are either very good or very bad.

[youmakemydreams]

I have used it in the bathroom and living room and my friend has used it in the kitchen and bathroom.
I had no problems and the living room in particular was a very unforgiving colour on a white wall opposite a 3.5m wide window.
I have used b&q own paint which was rubbish and dulux in 3 rooms and this stuff. I got even coverage and loved the choice of colours.
Would never buy b&q own again but would definitely buy this stuff.

[FunMitFlags]

Might depend on the competence of the staff mixing it?

[Kieron79]

Have three sample pots on our wall whilst we decide what colour to go for, must say for the small area we used the coverage was great

[BikeRunSki]

I painted my kitchen, playroom and living room in the premium stuff last summer. Lovely to use, still looks fresh. Will use it again.

[MirandaGoshawk]

Fun the can is fixed into a machine that shakes it to mix, so it's hard to imagine how human error could affect the coverage or colour of the paint, unless the tin wasn't fixed into the machine properly, in which case it'd end up all over the floor!

[MirandaGoshawk]

Yes, there might be a difference between ordinary and Premium, which has a built-in primer.

[MirandaGoshawk]

Amateur what kind of colour are you after? I wanted a chalky pink, but not too pink, and a pale cream. Ended up with Rose Satin Slippers (pink) and Woodland Wild Flower (cream/warm ivory). But get the sample cards and stick them on your wall first.

[FunMitFlags]

Ah, thanks for explaining. Just a guess on my part.

I was one of the ones who found it to be poor and used standard not premium.

[TheUnwillingNarcheska]

I have used Dulux mix to order paints for about 15 years and knew that my local B&Q was converting to Velspar.

I have recently painted the boys den in a dark grey and had Velspar premium paint. It went on really easily and the coverage was good and even. I did two coats and it was covering up a light blue dulux colour. I would definitely use it again.

I also used to use Leyland acrylic primer and top coat for skirting and architrave which I used to buy from Screwfix. It is water based gloss and has stayed a spectacular bright white for 2 years. You have to thin the top coat with a bit of water in a paint kettle, and you do need several coats but it dries in couple of hours so you can re-coat several times in one day.

Last year I couldn't get hold of any top coat from Screwfix nor could I order it from anywhere. I bought Valspar Premium Gloss base which they would normally add colour to but I wanted brilliant white. It is a primer and top coat in one, you do have to add a little water to it, again in a paint kettle and start somewhere that will be behind furniture so you can get a feel for it. It is a fantastic product, and I would highly recommend it.

I have used in the past, B&Q's own paint, Wilkinsons, Crown, Dulux, and I would recommend Valspar. If you can't get a good finish you are either using the wrong roller or brush or you aren't putting enough coats on

[AmateurSeamstress]

Re mixed reviews, yes I wonder if it's an ordinary vs premium thing too. Difficult to imagine the mixer making a difference as it's all machines, but maybe if the user doesn't stir thoroughly enough that could affect it a bit?

Miranda thank you. I'm just struggling for ideas really. I gravitate heavily towards blues, I'm really not a warm colour fan at all but I think this room really needs it.