F&B and what the decorators have said.....

[Pancakeflipper]

I have several new rooms to paint later this Summer if extension is done.

I have sat with my F&B colour charts and selected.

Whilst out was talking paint and one of the people there a decorator ( whom I know well and rate) said not to use F&B as it chips like crazy but go for a better quality like Johnstones and colour match the shades I want.

Ummmmmm..... What do you reckon?

[Pancakeflipper]

Forgot to say the Johnstones isn't cheap but abit cheaper than F&B.

[SherlockMoans]

DH is a decorator and has used F & B, its not his favourite for application but he says the finish is really nice.

Have you used F & B before or did you just want a "designer" name - we often chose the colour we like from one of the higher priced ranges then just get Dulux to mix it for us, but we dont like the current trend for matt paints - sharing our home with sticky fingered small boys we need it to be wipe clean

Sorry dont know Johnstones - im sure hes mentioned them but I was probably thinking about shoes/dinner/homework at the time!!

[brandnewme]

dad is a decorator - say F&B is overpriced rubbish, that doesn;t go on well. Totally recomends colour matching at Dulux or Crown etc and get their trade versions too.

[SherlockMoans]

Was the decorator you were discussing it with also doing your work - it may be he gets a good discount for Johnstones - obviously you will pay more if he is getting materials for you (takes him time and fuel) but it would make his profit margin on it a bit better. Im not saying anything wrong with this but that added onto the fact that F & B is comparatively a bitch to paint with it may explain it!

[SherlockMoans]

confirm what brand new says DH's brand of choice is Dulux, he says Crown has "improved" but does (grudgingly) admit F&B "gives a nice finish" - but is overpriced

[Tanyaaah]

My friend has a paint shop and they colour match F&B, which they say is rubbish, with Little Greene, which is better and cheaper.

[noddyholder]

I think it takes a bit more effort. Johnstones is not teh same the colours are not identical and the depth and chalky effect is lost. You are paying so you call the shots.I have renovated endless houses with F and B in the first ones and they looked great. All teh decorators just did it because I was paying them. Stick to your guns or have a look at Craig and Rose paint as it is lovely too and goes on brilliantly

[brandnewme]

Dulux - actually their trade 'Glidden' everytime for my old man! You can get lots of different finishes.

My dad has done 3 of our houses and obviously isn't making money out of me and he just laughs whenever i mention F&B and others.....

[Pancakeflipper]

No I am doing my own painting. He's not supplying it either. He's no motive to diss it.

I have used F&B before in 2 small rooms in a previous home but I didn't paint the walls and we moved out within months so don't know how it endured...

[SherlockMoans]

Im a big kid I LOVE watching them mix it - they put the tints in and I go "no that will never work, are you sure youve got the right colour?" and it works....just like magic (I know I need to get out more)

[SherlockMoans]

Well if hes not doing it for you, then thats obviously his honest opinion

I think on what DH has said and my one frustrating attempt at painting with a premium (Laura Ashley) paint which was apalling - if I were doing it myself id go for ease of application over "name"...but it's down to how much patience/money to burn you have ultimately isnt it.

[Pancakeflipper]

Strikes off Laura Ashley paint.... I will lose my temper if I have hard work paint.

I like painting but I have too much to do to have hard work paint.

Will look at some of the other brands mentioned...

[Pancakeflipper]

Paint mixers are magic.

[SherlockMoans]

Actually I think as noddy said the difference with the F & B is the soft chalky effect at the end which you dont get with the easier to apply paints...no go for us though as the dirty handprints just dont come off!

[GrendelsMum]

I've been very happy with the F & B paint I've used in my house, and my decorator was perfectly happy to work with it. He had a slight preference for Little Green, but not much to signify.

The Dulux colour-matching service is very good for getting the right colour (I've used it a few times to match paint and distemper), but the finish isn't quite the same.

The only paint I've been actively unhappy with was one from Crown's heritage range, which we used in a kitchen, and it just wasn't suitable for the amount of wear and tear. I ended up colour-matching with Dulux, having it done in Kitchen and Bathroom paint, and got the same look but wipe-clean.

[GrendelsMum]

Oh, I've never found F & B hard to apply, either. Is there an issue with prep of surfaces?

[Pancakeflipper]

Ahhhh Sherlock.... Dirty handprints not shifting? Strike F&B off the list with the grubby soil digging kids I have. Oh I have visions of me swanning around one of the new rooms "ah yes, it's F&B of course darling... But only above the picture rail, just that 50cm near the ceiling, where the kids can't get to it..."

[biffandchip]

I get all F&B paint colours matched to Johnstones paint and they always look good and attract lots of compliments, nice matt finish too (plus the hefty discount from the family friend who works there is a bonus)

[Pancakeflipper]

Interesting Biffandchip and does your kindly discounting family friend need another friend? I am quite nice.

[bacon]

I agree the chalky finish is brilliant. I used fired earth but on my walls it does look too shiny. For my few rooms I'm used a mineral (pure silicate paint) by German Beecks. I was rec not to use limewash as it rubs too easy and needs regualar re-coating.

Most P&D recommend Johnstones but not suitable for my lime plaster walls.

Any natural paint is going to have a completely different application and professional P&D cant really call it rubbish. P&D want smooth quick applications which you get from a artifical manufactured paint. I am sure that a specialist P&D who is used to working on a period/old property may disagree.

[teta]

I have just had 3 colours matched to Dulux Diamond??? from F&B.I wanted a really tough eggshell finish.The paint merchant just typed in the farrow and ball number and code and mixed up some acurate looking colours for me.But i am still sticking to genuine F&B on the walls in modern emulsion.I hope it looks ok as i really love the matte chalkiness of the estate emulsion.I will see how they differ next week.

[GrendelsMum]

Bacon - I've got a casein distemper on my lime plaster, and I'm very pleased with it. No issues with rubbing or fading.

[Tanyaaah]

Laura Ashley and Fired Earth, when bought from B&Q are rubbish. Fired Earth from Fired Earth shop is much better, apparentely it's made differently.

[Pancakeflipper]

Really Tanyaaah? Blimey that's well out of order...