Ceiling paints are much more important now than they were some 10-years ago. As a Decorator, I used to use any emulsion on ceilings and know that the results would be great. For some reason, paints have changed. Now, if you use a standard emulsion, you may experience roller marks, flashing, or picture framing. So, over the last few years, there has been a rise in specialist ceiling paints. In this blog, I’m going to give you my honest Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint review. I hope you find it useful.
Product details
This is a reasonably priced water-based emulsion, specially developed for use on interior ceilings. It’s touch dry after an hour, recoat after 4-8 hours (depending on conditions), and can be applied via brush, roller, or airless sprayer.
You need to thoroughly abrade glossy surfaces before applying this paint. Dilute your first coat by 20% if you’re using the paint over bare plaster. Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint is available exclusively at Brewers Decorating Centre. Click here to see product details.
Why the Quality of Your Ceiling Paint is Important
The quality of your ceiling paint is important, particularly if you have large rooms, or rooms with lots of natural light. The wrong paint, or low-quality paint will leave a patchy finish, no matter how good you are at applying it.
You should always opt for a ‘dull’ emulsion for ceilings. Avoid Brilliant White and go for low-sheen products instead. Some of the cheaper ceiling paints are contract matt products, which means they contain little polymer binder. You can achieve a good finish with these paints, but they’ll drag on application, remain porous, and won’t withstand conditions in kitchens etc.
My Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint Review
You can buy Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint for roughly £35 for a 10L bucket, which makes it cheaper than most trade vinyl matt paints, let alone specialist ceiling paint products. I assumed it was just a contract matt before I used it, but it isn’t. Brewers describe AF1 as “wipable”. It isn’t what I’d call durable. If you scrub it with a wet cloth, you’ll remove it, but it will withstand a light wipe over.
Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint performs well in pretty much every other department. The opacity is brilliant, so you can dilute the material by around 10% to help with flow, and it’ll still cover almost any ceiling in two coats.
The overall finish is great too. It contains a matting agent, so it looks deep and contemporary on a ceiling, and shows no defects at all. It also hides some of the imperfections in the plaster work.
The quality of Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint is remarkable considering the price you pay. I’ve used hundreds of different products over the years, but I can wholeheartedly say I’m impressed with this one.
There are a couple of minor drawbacks. It’s quite a heavy paint, which means there’s some spatter from your paint roller, so don’t stand underneath it while you’re painting. The other downside is the drying time, which you should adhere to when you can to avoid dragging. I suggest using this paint in a warm, but well-ventilated room, so you can apply the second coat after 4 hours.
A quick tip for application
Use a long-pile roller like a Purdy Colossus whenever you’re using a low-sheen ceiling paint like this one. You’ll find it a lot easier to apply the paint and spread it around. You’re never going to see any slight texture because of the nature of the paint. Click here to see online prices.
Review Summary
Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint Review - Decorator's forum UK
A low-sheen water-based emulsion specially developed for use on interior ceilings.
Product Brand: Albany
4.5
Pros
- Reasonably priced.
- Great opacity.
- Gorgeous finish.
- Easy to use.
- Quite possibly the best quality ceiling paint on the market in its price bracket.
Cons
- Spits a little bit.
- Up to 8 hours recoat time.
Final thoughts
I’m a bit of a decorating geek, so I do love a good ceiling paint. I haven’t long been using Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint, but I’ve seen loads of hype online, which is why I thought I’d try it. I even got my first tub for free thanks to an offer at the National Painting and Decorating Show (I have bought more since).
It’s a paint I’m going to carry on using. I can’t think of another ceiling paint that performs as well as this one for the same price bracket. So, unless budget isn’t a factor for you at all, I can wholeheartedly recommend Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint.
FAQs
Is Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint suitable for all types of ceilings?
Specialist low-sheen ceiling paints like Albany AF1 are essential when painting large open-plan rooms with lots of natural light, because most other paints show defects. However, you can use Albany AF1 on just about any ceiling, including Artex, box rooms, and kitchens. You should opt for a more durable paint for use in bathrooms.
Does Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint work on textured ceilings?
Absolutely, no problem at all. You may want to dilute the paint slightly to help with cutting in.
Is Albany AF1 available in different colours or only White?
Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint is only available in White.
What tools are best for applying Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint?
A long-pile roller like the Purdy Colossus is ideal when applying Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint. As is a good paint brush with a thick stock.
Can Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint hide imperfections like cracks or stains?
Any low-sheen emulsion, including the Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint will go some way to hiding imperfections on a ceiling. However, you should block stains first.
Can Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint be thinned for use with a sprayer?
I haven’t used Albany AF1 Ceiling Paint with a sprayer yet, but low-sheen paints generally spray very easily. Brewers say you can dilute this paint by 20%.
Thanks for the review Mike, I saw Phil Beckwith did a review and he said that it’s not fully durable. If using this and then papering afterwards, would the paint rub off if you hit it with a damp sponge when removing excess paste? Cheers
I’d say Phil is right TBH. I checked it again after writing this review, and it does wipe off with a cloth if you scrub it…. I didn’t see it when I first tested the paint. It isn’t as bad as a contract matt, but it isn’t as durable as most vinyl matts (if that makes sense).
If I’m applying a water based satin finish to doors and doorframes which are in very good condition and previously painted in white satin .
Do I need to apply an undercoat or can I go straight on with the new satin coat ??