Smith & Rodger Rocktop Clearcoat Review

Much like the paint marketplace, varnishes have seen huge changes in recent years.  A drive towards more environmentally friendly, low-VOC solutions has seen a huge growth in water-based products.

Meanwhile consumer preferences for lower sheen options have seen the varnish market shift dramatically away from the “old-fashioned” high gloss look, which for years was what everyone pictured when they thought of varnish.

Additionally, varnishes are being used on multiple surfaces now, not just wood; for example, to protect wallpaper in a bathroom.  With so much change happening so rapidly, it’s not always easy for professional decorators such as myself to keep up to date with the latest products and developments.

Smith & Rodger launched their Rocktop varnishes in 2020, developed for the modern marketplace.  Initially available in Gloss, Satin and Matt (a new Ultra Matt finish was added in 2025), the formulations are all water-based, fast-drying and durable.  I recently completed a large project using Rocktop, so thought this was the ideal opportunity to write a quick review of the product.

Smith & Rodger Rocktop – Key Facts & Figures

• Suitable for Interior Use Only.
• Formulated for use on multiple surfaces, including high traffic wooden floors, kitchen worktops, furniture, doors, brick, stone, vinyl floors, painted walls, cork tiles and wallpaper.
• Pack sizes: 1L, 2.5L 5L.
• Finishes: Ultra Matt, Matt, Satin and Gloss.
• Colours: Clear.
• Coverage: up to 10m² per litre.
• Recoatable – 2 hours.
• Application by brush and roller.
• Water based – clean tools with water and mild detergent (such as Pretty Boy Brush Cleaner).
• Available from: Several trade decorating centres. Click here to see online prices.

Smith & Rodger Rocktop Clearcoat in Use

Varnish technology has clearly moved forward a lot in recent years.  For a water-based product to be this easy-to-use and hard-wearing would probably have been just a lab technician’s dream twenty years ago.

I’ve used this on everything from a scout hut floor to upcycled furniture, and it’s such a pleasure to use compared to the old-fashioned solvent-based varnishes. Here are some of the things I love about Rocktop:

• Durable – suitable for use in high-traffic areas, kitchen worktops, etc.
• Water-based formulation means it’s…
• Fast drying – touch dry in 30 minutes, can be recoated in 90 minutes, walked on after 24 hours (full cure time is five days).
• Non-yellowing – it dries clear, meaning you can use it over wallpaper without affecting the colours, or on pale-coloured upcycled furniture without fear of your off-white dresser ending up yellow.
• Low VOC.
• Low odour.
• Easy to clean tools after use.
• Suitable for use on multiple surfaces.

On large areas such as floors you can apply by roller (I use a lint-free medium-pile roller), and it flows out incredibly well for a water-based product – no visible “orange peel” or roller marks at all, and no need to lay off with a brush.  I was using the matt finish – it may be that the gloss is less forgiving, I’m not sure.  But believe me, when you’re applying four coats to a scout hut floor, this ease-of-use is a huge help!

In summary, Rocktop Clearcoat is a winner with me, because it combines superb durability with amazing ease-of-use, and has solved so many of the negatives associated with “old fashioned” varnishes.  It makes the decorator’s job easier, so it gets a huge thumbs up from this one! Nothing bad to say at all.

A Recent Project

This is the Scout floor I finished recently using Smith & Rodger Rocktop Clearcoat. I used the Ultra-Matt finish, so it’s not a big, glossy, “shouty” finish like you’d get with gloss.

Varnishing very large areas like this is normally hard going, mostly because it’s difficult to keep a wet edge with other products on the market. Many of them also need to be laid off with a brush in the direction of the grain to achieve a uniform finish.

Using Rocktop made things a lot easier. I was able to cut in around the edges with a brush and roll the middle. It dried evenly, and once cured, the finish was very durable.

Review Summary

FAQs

How many coats of Rocktop should I apply?

Smith & Rodger recommend two coats for painted walls and wallpaper, three for doors, skirting, etc, and four for wooden floors.  Given that you only need to wait two hours between coats, this means you can complete a job quickly without having to wait around too much for the varnish to dry.

Can Rocktop be used on bare (untreated) wood?

Absolutely! Make sure the wood is clean, sand lightly to provide an even surface, and then make sure you remove all dust before applying the product.  After the first coat on bare wood, it’s recommended that you “de-nib” the surface before applying a second coat; on previously coated surfaces this isn’t usually necessary.

Will Rocktop change the natural appearance of wood?

Yes, and no! It won’t change the natural colour, unlike old-fashioned solvent-based varnishes, which always seem to add a yellow-orange tone to the wood.  Rocktop really is a “clearcoat” – once it’s dried you will only see the natural colour of the wood.  It will, however, change the sheen – it’s up to you to choose whether you want to achieve a gloss, satin, matt or ultra-matt finish.