Oil-based gloss is a big talking point in the decorating industry nowadays. At one point it was the “must have” finish in most homes, but now a lot of homeowners tend to sway towards alternatives like satinwood. I put this down to the issue of “yellowing” which is caused by the colour of the oil bleeding through your paint finish. It never used to be a problem, but manufacturers are now heavily restricted on which chemicals they are allowed to use in paint and yellowing is more prolific.
Do not let this put you off though. Proud, brilliant white, or coloured glossy skirting boards and doorways can look amazing in your home. I personally think gloss is still a viable option and it is just a case of choosing your products carefully. A good gloss finish will look amazing for years to come, but which is the best oil-based gloss paint to buy? I’m going to take you through some of the products I have used over the years and give you my recommendations. I’ll stick to “trade” paint as it is far better quality than its retail counterpart. I know you will spend a few extra quid, but it’s well worth it.
Please note that you should always use the recommended undercoat for each of the products listed below. It is often cheaper to buy paint online, so I have linked in the best (cheapest) comprehensive trade paint website I know of under each review.
Dulux Trade Oil-Based Gloss Review
Dulux do a proper “in your face” Pure Brilliant White gloss, as well as being able to tint it to just about any colour you could possibly wish for. Touch dry in 4 or 5 hours but as with any gloss on this list, it’ll take a couple of weeks to cure and go rock solid. The opacity of Dulux Trade gloss is good. It does drag a little bit as you apply the paint, which means it is a pain to use and takes a little bit of extra time. It creeps as well, say you cut a nice straight edge down the side of a doorframe, by the time it is dry, the gloss has seeped into your newly emulsioned walls in places and looks a mess. Not the end of the world, but you must go around and touch your emulsion up again afterwards.
Now for the yellowing and longevity of the product…. And it’s a difficult one to explain with Dulux Trade oil-based gloss. If your gloss gets a good amount of natural light as it cures, then it will stay white for years. If it doesn’t get any light in the first couple of weeks, then the change will be fast and dramatic!
I went back to a bedroom a year after I’d painted it and the back of the door (which remained open during the day and got no light) was a completely different colour to the front. More like magnolia! The rest of the woodwork in the room still looked brand new. It is the same for skirting board behind furniture and stuff like that. If you’re going to use Dulux Trade, then leave all your furniture in the middle of the room for a few days and the curtains open. Do that and your woodwork will look mint for a long time.
You can buy Dulux Trade products direct from Dulux Decorating Centre, but unless you’re entitled to a trade discount, it will almost certainly be cheaper to buy it online. Click here to see online prices.
7/10 for Dulux Trade. It would be a lot lower, but longevity is good when you get everything right.
Armstead Oil-Based Gloss Review
Armstead is made by the same company as Dulux and it’s often sold side by side as a cheaper option. The flow is a little bit better than Dulux. Opacity isn’t quite as good, but you do get a good finish. I have never been back to a job after using Armstead oil-based gloss, so I can’t comment on the most important thing which is longevity. I will say this; if you’re going to use oil-based gloss then I wouldn’t scrimp on materials. Armstead is still a trade quality brand and will outperform retail paint without even breaking a sweat, but its still a budget trade brand. Buy something that is going to last.
I can’t grade Armstead because I don’t know about longevity, really sorry
Crown Next Generation Oil-Based Gloss Review
Time to break out the big guns!! Crown Next Generation gloss is by far the best product on this list! If you are going to use oil-based gloss then this is the one you should buy. Ease of use, opacity and overall finish are sublime!! You will find this gloss a joy to use. It doesn’t come in “Brilliant White”, but that’s a small price to pay, because the overall finish is awesome.
The best thing about this product is the longevity. Of course, it will yellow eventually, but you’ll get a good few years out of it before it does!! By that time, you’ll be ready to redecorate anyway so yellowing isn’t really an issue. You can buy this paint online by clicking here, any Crown Decorating Centre, or several other merchants. It isn’t as widely available as Dulux which is a real shame.
10/10 for me. This is the only oil-based gloss I tend to use now.
Crown Trade Oil-Based Gloss Review
Crown Trade oil-based gloss has a party trick!! It goes on with a green tinge so you can spot any misses, then it dries brilliant white!! It looks patchy as it dries but don’t panic, have faith because it will look absolutely stunning a few hours later. Crown Trade gloss dries quick as well, which is very handy. Ease of use and opacity are bang on. You’ll find it a pleasure to use.
The longevity of the product is pants! Crown Trade gloss will start to yellow after 6-month or so and after a year will look completely different. It is such a shame really because it’s an amazing product to use.
You can buy this product directly from Crown Decorating Centre, but it is also available online at the Paintshed 6/10
Johnstone’s Trade Oil-Based Gloss Review
Johnstone’s Trade performs how any traditional gloss should when applying it. Opacity and ease of use are fine, finish is great etc. Unfortunately, this product will yellow faster than any other product on this list. For that reason, I think you should avoid it. 3/10 – avoid
What are the Best Tools to Apply Oil-Based Gloss?
Oil-based gloss can be a little tricky to apply, but having the correct tools will make a huge difference in terms of application and overall finish.
You need a pure bristle brush when applying oil-based gloss, otherwise the material will clog the brush and it will be rendered useless. The best brush for oil-based gloss is Hamilton Perfection. You’ll find it holds plenty of paint and manipulates the material easily. Click here to see online prices.
A sponge roller will help with the larger flat areas. By applying the gloss with a roller, then laying off with a brush, you’ll achieve a much nicer finish. Any sponge roller will do if I’m honest, but the best is the Rota Concave, just because it doesn’t leave tram marks. Click here to see online prices.
Alternatives to Oil-Based Gloss
Going water-based will avoid the issue of yellowing altogether in most cases (some hybrid products are labeled as “water-based” but still yellow over time). The problem you have is, although water-based technology has come a long way, it is still difficult to find a good water-based gloss. Durability, brush marks, overall finish, sheen level, ease of use and opacity can all be an issue. There are a few products worth looking at.
Teknos Futura Aqua 90 is probably the best water-based gloss I have used. You will need to apply the appropriate primer before the gloss, but you’ll find it easy to use, looks great and dries very durable. I would highly recommend. Click here to see online prices.
Caparol PU gloss is good too. You need to use a “haftprimer” basecoat but the finish you get is bang on. You can get both products from the Paintshack.
Final Thoughts
I like the finish of oil-based gloss. I genuinely think you need to be a little careful about which product you use and understand the limitations of each. You don’t need to be a Master Decorator; just understand the paint and you’ll achieve a good finish that lasts for years.
I’ll leave you with one more tip before I give you the opinions of other decorators. Oil-based gloss will discolour faster in areas with low natural light. Hallways can be problematic for this reason, whereas most lounges, bedrooms and other rooms are fine.
What do Other Decorators Think?
Crown Next Generation is the best oil-based gloss from what I’ve used. It’s the only one I’ve tried that doesn’t start to turn yellow within weeks. That said, hardly anyone uses oil-based gloss now. Gloss isn’t in fashion anymore, but even when someone does choose it, I just go for Teknos Futura 90, which is a hybrid.
A hybrid is better than water-based and oil-based in my opinion. You still get the glossy sheen, it’s still durable, the finish is still good, but it keeps its colour for years.
I think all oil-based gloss products are naff nowadays. There are some good water-based versions out there though. It might be worth checking out Hanford & Green or Benjamin Moore. If you insist on using oil-based, then go with satinwood or eggshell. Much nicer finish and they don’t yellow as badly as gloss does.
Crown Next Generation gloss is fantastic stuff. Easy to use, nice finish and stays white for ages! It’s not often I get asked to use gloss inside nowadays, but any time I do, I go with Crown.
The other trade products are cr*p. I used Dulux Trade a few weeks ago and it dragged like crazy. It was an absolute nightmare to use. Johnston’s starts to yellow before you’ve even packed your brush away!! It’s amazing these products are still sold because they’re not fit for purpose.
Am I the only decorator who still loves Dulux Trade oil-based gloss? Any oil-based gloss is sticky to apply, but Dulux looks amazing! Just keep the lights on in a room for a few days after you’ve painted, and it’ll look great for years.
There’s nothing wrong with Dulux Trade gloss!! I know it can drag a bit, but the finish looks great and it lasts for yonks. Why bother looking around for the best gloss when you have an old faithful.
I haven’t used oil-based gloss for over a year now. I know people are still using it because it’s on the shelves in all the paint counters, but I don’t know why. It’s an old-fashioned finish that just looks dated.
All of my customers go for satinwood now. I can get a great finish with WRX satin, which is fully water-based and doesn’t discolour at all. I don’t see the point in using oil-based gloss.
Surprised Johnsones don’t buck up their ideas here, as useally pretty consistent across range.
3/10 is a very poor show for premium brand Johnsones.
Leyland ?
MacPherson ?
I’m a big fan of Johnstone’s paint but there oil based gloss and satin do seem to yellow really quickly. Because of this I’ve recently switched to Crown’s next generation gloss and their satin. They are both much better products in terms of application and finish.
The Dulux trade High Gloss is our go to oil gloss. Always went on smoothly and covered well. Every time we used it the customers were impressed with how bright it was.
Since the switchover oil-based paints have been useless. Not just gloss by the way. Dulux white/bw eggshell are among the worst for yellowing within weeks. After 46 yrs I still take pride in my work and there’s nothing more soul destroying than yellowing gloss and eggshell.
By miles the best gloss used to be Macphersons. Shine like glass and no colour fading for years. Now it’s one of the worst with its green application shade, then white, then cream. All within two weeks!
I’ve been advising off white shades in eggshell for internal woodwork to clients and most are happy to do so. Have yet to discover a water based gloss paint worthy of the title “gloss”. As for prepping water based after some cowboy has slapped it on without sanding the substrate or removing runs etc. 🤬
Oh well, 4 yrs to retirement. Not only oil based gloss looking yellow and wrinkly by then me thinks.
PS If your gloss drags ease it with turps. The gloss won’t dull with a few drops.
Like many decorators, I’ve mostly gone down the water based route since voc2010.
Most customers want satin/eggshell these days but when I’ve been asked for gloss, I’ve been quite experimental with my choices.
Started with Johnstones Aqua, and have since used Bedec Aqua, Dulux Waterbased, Tikkurila Helmi 80, Isomat and even Wickes own brand!
Most waterbased glosses have an acceptable sheen level and will stay white – pure acrylics more so than hybrids. Downside for me is the one undercoat and two top coats, and that’s why I’ve gone back to oil where gloss is required.
Crown Next Generation + is the best one in my experience. It behaves like gloss used to do. Goes on green, dries brilliant white (if a tad grey), and dries quite quickly for oil.
Bedec all the way.
I intend to blend opaque gloss one colour into another with brushwork e.g. Gradating from Red to orange to Yellow. The problem – some brands get sticky after 20 minutes and therefore more difficult to mix on the surface.
Could you recommend one which will stay fluid longer?
I need it to be opaque and touch dry the following day.
I’m not in the trade but a DIYer and haven’t used such a vast array of pain manufacturers. I used to us Dulux brilliant white but I found it was alright if you had a narrow wet edge like skirting it wasn’t too bad but anything wider was a disaster. The area you first started with would go tacky within minutes so by the time you’d gone across the board and returned it was hard to blend the new area with the not so new as it just dragged and ruined the finish.
I then started to use Johnstone’s and my biggest problem with that was rubbing down between coats. It doesn’t adhere to the surface and just forms a skin over the top so that when you lightly go over it with sandpaper it just peels off the surface. Johnstone’s doesn’t seem to cover very well either, primer and two top coats and sometimes I can see shadowing due to the old darker paint beneath.
I much preferred the old paint that ran but stuck to the surface like glue.
all alkyd based paints go yellow – Lakeland Paints gloss, satin, matt etc – stays white basically forever – yellowing is caused by phthalate in the paint binder
and Lakeland does not use this phthalate – and so it never goes yellow.
ian west
I honestly love Johnstone’s paint however there oil based gleam and silk truly do appear to yellow actually rapidly yet The Dulux exchange High Gloss is our go to oil shine. Continuously went on without a hitch and covered well.
Crown next gen all the way
crown next gen gloss goes yellow in about a year inside cupboards etc and on rads.
I can’t understand the love for crown next gen gloss it hasn’t got much flow especially if your brushing say a flush door will be choir goes tacky after a couple brush outs isn’t much better when thinned slightly either its not as good as dulux trade gloss though the flow on that isn’t to great either