Do I need to use f&b undercoat for a dark colour?

[sleepcrisis]

Am thinking of painting my lounge in Down Pipe ( v dark grey). Do I really need to use their undercoat? Wouldn't 3 coats of emulsion do the same job?

Thanks

[turnipsoup]

Have you tried painting a sample on the wall? Farrow and Ball colours are notoriously different to what they look like on the swatch card, even with the right colour undercoat!

Personally we found that the undercoat didn't make any difference at all but we were painting exterior wood with a much lighter colour. I think it was Lamp something or other.

We are painting our bedroom one of the new colour range - Dimpse and won't be using an undercoat.

I seem to remember (becauser we did use their dark undercoat) that it is a very similar colur to Down Pipe anyway.

[BrownSauceSandwich]

No, you don't. It will take a few coats of emulsion to get the full effect... I suggest you colour-match a cheaper matt emulsion (johnstones is my current favourite). It won't matter if it's not identical to your top colour, it just has to provide a bit of density.

If you're painting on new plaster, dilute the first coat with water.

[sleepcrisis]

Thanks. Yes we've done a million and one samples on the wall! Good idea re using a cheap dark mixed paint as an undercoat. Will try that! Although tbh where I live ( not uk) mixed dulux is hardly any cheaper than f&b!!

[WhatWillSantaBring]

We just did a room having misread the instructions - should have used the mid-tones undercoat, but used a light one instead. It took us DH four top coats and a lot of swearing to get the colour even. I wouldn't risk it again, TBH.

[EastwickWitch]

turnip how did Dimpse come out?
I tried a tester & it seemed really pale but all the photos I've such show a proper grey colour.

[missmargot]

Our living room is in Down Pipe and we didn't use any undercoat, just two coats of their modern emulsion