Brewers contract matt review white

You can buy Brewers Contract Matt in white, magnolia, or a tinted colour in a 10L bucket. It’s a fully-water-based emulsion for interior use. Application is via brush, paint roller, or airless sprayer. Recoat time is a couple of hours, but this is reduced when spraying.

We carry out a lot of traditional domestic decorating and also a lot of spraying, and this month, October we have some very large projects going on. Contract Matt is an ideal choice for newly plastered walls and ceilings as it allows the substrate to breathe.

Over the years we have used many different brands of contract matt, and what we have found with some is that they lack opacity and coverage can be poor, which is often why you would opt for a more expensive paint, such as a vinyl or acrylic product.

With fresh plaster, I believe it is important that you essentially seal the surface to limit porosity, but more importantly, for adhesion for your following paint layers. Contract Matt, when thinned, is the common choice.

Being a waterborne product and following the manufacturer’s guidelines, it can be thinned with water to the required viscosity for the task, whether it be spraying or rolling, but normally these are the same, i.e. 40/60 – 50/50, etc. Each decorator is different and has a preference.

My Brewers Contract Matt Review

I found that the Brewers Contract Matt sprayed very well, from mist coat to partially diluted top coats. We sprayed some rather large ceilings; therefore, finish was critical, given the light that was beaming in through the bi-fold doors on this certain project. I did find I added a further coat than I normally would, i.e. one mist and three tops for the ceilings, but it was worth it. Given the speed of spraying, it wasn’t much of a big deal to add another coat, so after the fourth coat had dried, I really quite liked the finish.

Following a mist coat, I did finish the walls on this particular project in another brand, but the Brewers Contract Matt seemed to give a nice base in order for me to work off. It dried tough, but even after thinning, opacity remained decent. It seemed to flow quite nicely too. I was spraying this particular job, but ease of use is great, even when applied via brush and roller.

Brewers Contract Matt is not the best paint in the world, but it’s not designed to be. It’s a cost-effective alternative and has been a pleasure to work with. Durability is hard for me to determine, but again, it is only a contract matt.

If I were to rate the Brewers Contract Matt, I’d give it a steady 3.5/5, and I would buy it again for sure.

Summary

Best Tools to Apply Brewers Contract Matt

My recommendation on the best tools to apply Brewers Contract Matt is the same as for any other contract matt really. When applying to a porous material, or a product to bare plaster, you need a brush and roller which are going to hold plenty of paint. Otherwise, your ease of use and overall finish are compromised.

Paint Roller

You need a long pile-roller to apply contract matt, really. You won’t find better than the Purdy Colossus, which will make light work of something like this. It holds loads of paint and combats dragging. Available online by clicking here.

Paintbrush

As for a paintbrush, I’d go for Purdy again. The Purdy Monarch Elite has a thick stock, is easy to use and holds plenty of paint. It’s probably the brand leader for paintbrushes amongst professional decorators. Available online by clicking here.

FAQs

Can I paint contract matt over vinyl matt?

You won’t have any problems painting contract matt over vinyl matt. However, you can have adhesion issues when painting contract matt over eggshell or silk; the second coat of contract matt seems to take some of the first coat off. You can also have problems with crazing.

Is vinyl matt better than matt?

Matt is often just contract matt. It is made using less polymer binder. This makes the paint cheaper, but you will experience dragging, which can lead to defects in your paint finish. Contract matt also marks very easily. Vinyl matt is much better quality.

Can I use contract matt as a primer?

A lot of decorators do use contract matt as a primer for bare plaster. It isn’t the best practice though. Instead, check the instructions that come with the product you’re using as a topcoat. They’ll tell you how to tackle bare plaster.

Is contract matt washable?

No, quite the opposite. Contract matt will come off the wall if you wipe it with a damp cloth.