Tikkurila Optiva White Review

This week I used the new formula Optiva White paint from Tikkurila. This is a water-based emulsion used on interior walls and ceilings. The advantage of using this product is that there is no need for a primer on previously painted surfaces; however, Optiva Primer is still advised for bare plaster.

Even though the product is called “Optiva White”, you can have it tinted into any of sixteen pastel colours (ok, ok, it isn’t a huge choice). Drying time is roughly an hour, but you should wait slightly longer before recoating.

Tikkurila Optiva White is touch dry after around 1.5 hours and recoats in around four hours. It has a class 1 scrub rating, which means it’s waterproof enough to be used in a kitchen.

You can apply it via brush and roller or an airless sprayer. Just be conscious that the finish achieved between the two methods is completely different.

Tikkurila Optiva White Review

The paint itself is very nice quality. It goes on lovely and dries very flat – very impressive. Would I use it again? Yes, in a colour maybe. In white? Not a chance!! The issue I have found is it isn’t remotely white enough! It has a lilac tint to it. This suits the finish achieved with a sprayer. It looks crisp and sharp. However, it’s much less desirable when you use a brush and roller. It just doesn’t look right. Tikkurila Anti-Reflex is much better.

I’ll carry on using Tikkurila Anti-Reflex on my ceilings, which really is a nice paint; Optiva 3 or 5 on my walls and Intact or Helmi on my woodwork.

For more information on Tikkurila products, click here.

Summary