Best affordable white paint?

[Grockle]

I need to paint my entire house (woodwork, walls, ceilings but not kitchen and bathroom) and am therefore on a bugdet. I don't want to spend loads but guess that the B&Q etc Value paint is a false economy. What is the best white paint to use to make the place look presentable?

Just wanted to agree that the B&Q / Focus own brand cheap paint is awful - really watery and provides little coverage. I think we've got with Dulux for plain white paint.

Wickes is good stuff - our builder recommended it and he was right.

Yes,i think Wickes is good,but so far have only used the Wickes matte washable[needs diluting as is very thick].I like the look of the Victorian chalky matte white but i havn't used it yet.Use the online discount specified much earlier on mumsnet.I have had really spectacular bargains from Wickes this year with discounts so keep an eye out for sales!.

Wickes sounds great, thanks. Typical as it's miles away and b&q & homebase are just down the road!

dulux trade available from travis perkins and any builders merchants, or online from screwfix i think.

I'd recommend Dulux too - the thing is, if you are needing to cover vile colours on the walls, you NEED the thickness. You also don't want to be endlessly rollering the walls.

I'd go one further too (because I am a lazy cow!) and say to go for the vinyl matt coz you can use it on everything (ceilings, woodwork, walls, doors) and it's wipeable so when DC draw on it or spill on it, you just wipe it off. However, you should also get an oil based white paint too for outside woodwork and for covering any damp patches or old stains on the walls.

Thank you - I got the Crown Trade matt emulsion and it's shit. I am trying to cover vile purple and, after 4 coats of white, it is STILL patchy

More tomorrow (and a pot of Dulux)

Ah Grockle for dark colours you should cover with a lighter shade - maybe light blue which will knock it back. And then paint over the lighter shade with white... Otherwise you'll be painting it about 15 times and STILL be able to see the vile purple!

As others have said the Wickes Trade paint is by far the best of the cheap brands.

We've just bought a new house (completes today) and have got 1 huge tub of white and 2 gardenia. Our new house is filthy, cheap paint will do to cover the dirt and we'll do each room properly when we can afford it!

Thanks everyone. Congrats on new house buttontheif. I just need to make everything look brighter and cleaner then will decorate properly. Crown paint is actually ok - has done ok job now (4-5 coats ) but I shall invest in Wickes paint tomorrow.

I would recommend interior paints from California Paints. Check their collection. They are reasonably priced and house some of the best paint products. I had a friend of mine recommend them. They have a wide range of interior paints. They are known for their collection.