F&B Modern Emulsion vs Dulux Endurance.

[DisparityCausesInstability]

Am I right in thinking the special look of F&B is the chalky finish? And when you convert that to Modern Emulsion it no longer looks special and you might as well colour match a F&B colour to a Dulux paint and save a few pennies. Or does the Modern Emulsion have an especially good finish too?

My whole house needs to be painted and with two small children most of the paint surfaces will need to be washable .

[manchurian]

I can't speak for it in comparison to Dulux Endurance, but the modern emulsion is still a very nice finish IMO. But you're right that it isn't quite as matt. I believe it has a 7% sheen level as opposed to the 2% of estate emulsion. Somebody here might be able to tell you the sheen level of Dulux Endurance.

If you go into a F&B shop they will have small boards painted in the different finishes so you can have a look at Modern Emulsion and see what you think.

[manchurian]

Also forgot to say - part of the reason the F&B colours come out so well is their quantity of pigmentation, not just the nice finish of estate emulsion, which you won't necessarily get from colour matching. It's this that makes F&B paints look so different at various times of day in different places.

[PigletJohn]

the biggest advantage of F&B paint is that it is fashionable and very expensive. Is that the most important factor for you?

[DisparityCausesInstability]

If I am getting something special that I will love then I'll pay for it - which seems to be the case with estate emulsion - I'm just not convinced the Modern Emulsion will be anything special and given I'm painting the whole house, am thinking I can save a few ££'s by roughing it with Dulux and not really noticing an obvious difference.

I have used F&B paint once before but only because they had the best range of floor paint colours available- I didn't notice any special qualities about the finish but I liked the colour.

[FrottageCod]

Can I ask a quick question about F&B please? Have stripped pine cupboard of it's wax coating with white spirit, cleaned that off - undercoated with dulux undercoat. Have now tried to put on the F&B paint (eggshell) and it's looking beady but ok after its been worked in. Have I done something wrong? Have only painted a small area now, as don't want to waste the paint if the furniture is going to have to be re-prepared.

[manchurian]

What do you mean by beady? Was it beady with the undercoat before you applied the eggshell?

[FrottageCod]

no the eggshell went on 'beady'.

[PigletJohn]

is it a water-based paint that you are applying over an oil-based undercoat?

(oil-based = you thin it with white spirit)

how long ago did you u/c and did you rub it down at all?

[FrottageCod]

Thanks piglet. Just this week. Reading F & B website it says you should leave for two weeks. hmmm not good for the impatient, and those who are sick of the house being a mess! Yes waterbase onto I suppose oil based u/c.

[PigletJohn]

water does not stick to oil, I think that explains the beading you saw. You can probably get an oil-based Eggshell paint easily. Oil-based flat you may have to order from a proper paint merchant.

I think you would do best, after it has fully hardened, to sand off that unsatisfactory "beaded" coat to a smooth, flat surface. This will also help the topcoat to adhere. The topcoat maker will recommend a compatible undercoat if you need to do it again.

[FrottageCod]

Thanks Pig. I could kick myself!

[microserf]

I have to decide this very issue tomorrow - OP what did you opt for in the end?

Love the F&B estate colour. Hate the lack of washability.

[DisparityCausesInstability]

I think I've decided to paint almost everything white, and let my interesting objects steal the show...so I'm being realistic and going for Dulux Endurance - I've had it before and I've had to Mr Muscle it before and the colour stayed true.

Although I might still put estate emulsion in the Master bedroom, shut the door and admire the beauty of a child-free room.

[microserf]

We are thinking on the same lines... looks like F&B for the master bedroom and washable cream colours throughout the rest of the house.

Can't bear the thought of dropping serious £££ on paint I can't wipe clean.

[jaspercat2002]

Am just considering this myself. We really need a washable paint in the kitchen diner but dh is really anti the 'sheen' of dulux endurance. Does anyone have any experience of little greene paint in ulti matte? Is pricier but worth it if gives a matt finish and stops us having to repaint every year. Can't seem to find many impartial opinions online.

[DisparityCausesInstability]

V interesting Jaspercat, I ordered their tester cards at the weekend but didn't realise they made a mre robust paint - may just get some testers and try it out with Mr Muscle - see if it can take a nuclear blast. It's the hall, kitchen and bathroom that I'm most concerned with - they need to be able to deal with very grubby hands.

[CliffTumble]

F &B is emperor's new clothes. Really expensive and goes on like shit and dries really streaky.

[callow]

I painted Dulux Endurance in my hall 5 years ago and was not happy with the results. I found that it didn't clean well and seem to mark easily.

I have recently redone it in Crown Ultimate

www.crownpaint.co.uk/help-and-advice/product/crown-ultimate.htm

So far it has cleaned easily and I am much happier with it.

[IvorHughJarrs]

Dulux make a scrubbable matt paint now, I have it in "Natural calico" in one of the bedrooms and think it may be called "Diamond Matt" but can't remember for sure.

The decorator had it mixed at the Dulux decorator centre and although it was expensive it is very matt and it is definitely cleanable. Apparently it is dearer as it is used mostly in commercial premises but it is a really flat matt

[teta]

I have just had F&B colours mixed up in Dulux Diamond eggshell for my kitchen cupboards.It is more expensive but it is worth it.You can do the same with the wall colours.

[microserf]

our neighbours have 4 kids and swear by Little Greene. i realised this morning that there is a LG place near us, so I am going to head down this morning.

[jaspercat2002]

I went and got a couple of little greene testers today. They only do the testers in the standard emulsion but they had some painted blocks on display showing the ultri matte finish and it was very very matt.
Think we will take the risk and try it. Dh is a bit horrified at the cost but if it really is washable it will surely be worth it.

[midnightexpress]

I have the modern emulsion in our kitchen and a colour-matched version of the same colour in our hallway, in a low-sheen finish. The F&B has a far better finish - the sheen is much more subtle. I would shell out the extra if you can afford it.

IIRC, the texture does take a bit of getting used to but it certainly didn't dry streaky.

I agree about the quality of the pigmentation. The colours are better, IMO, if that is important to you.

[microserf]

i spent the morning checking out paint... ooh fabulous. i am going FB modern emulsion, after my protestations to the contrary! then Little Greene has a gorgeous colour for the hallway.

[teta]

We have used F&B modern emulsion Strong white today as a mist coat on bare plaster followed by a coat of Dulux Diamond Matt which has been colourmatched.I can see no discernable difference between the two.Unfortunately there is no difference in the price.