Best Trade Satinwood on the Market

Mike Gregory

Satinwood seems to be the most popular choice for internal woodwork amongst homeowners, including myself. The sheen level is somewhere close to a matt finish (around 30%), which can leave your woodwork looking luxurious and contemporary. Not just that, but oil-based satinwood will not yellow anywhere near as fast as a gloss finish. In this article, I’m going to take you through the best trade satinwood products on the market, as well as the best place to buy satinwood.

First off, there’s a massive difference between paint which has been made for the trade, and that of retail. Just because a tin has the name “Dulux” or “Crown” on it, don’t assume it is good quality. Always look for the word “trade” when buying paint.

Dulux Trade Satinwood

Dulux Trade do a brilliant satinwood, but it’s probably the most expensive out of the three big trade manufacturers. Dulux satinwood is self-undercoating on pre-painted surfaces and can be tinted into any colour from Dulux’s vast colour range. You need to add a bit of white spirit to combat brush marks, which can lead to poor opacity. However, the finish is fantastic! The satinwood carries on dulling down for about 6 weeks after it has been applied, leaving you with a nice flat matt finish.

One massive downside for me is Dulux Trade satinwood seems to separate or skin over in the tin when you’re not using it. I’m a decorator so I carry things like satinwood in stock all the time. If I have a part tin of Dulux satinwood that has been sat for a couple of weeks, I generally end up having to mix it up, then stain the paint before using it on another job. Straining paint can be messy and time consuming.

Even with this frustration, Dulux Trade Satinwood is a good product and I have no apprehensions when using it is someone’s home.

7/10 for me

Crown Trade Satinwood

Believe it or not, Crown Trade Satinwood does not come in a “brilliant white”, but to be honest I don’t mind that. Satinwood is supposed to be dull anyway and having a ‘sharp white’ seems a bit contradictory really. Opacity of this product is amazing, even if you dilute it with whit spirit. Ease of use is good, and you’ll find that it flies on with little effort. Crown Trade satinwood is self-undercoating over previously painted surfaces and can be mixed into a lot of different colours.

Crown Trade is my favourite satinwood now, and I use it on most of my jobs. In fact, it’s the satin I used when decorating my own flat. The only time I tend to go with Dulux Trade over Crown is when decorating a brand new house. I think the finish of Dulux Trade satinwood is slightly more contemporary. Other than that, it’s Crown all the way. I believe this to be the best trade satinwood on the market.

Crown Trade satinwood gets 9/10

Johnstone’s Trade Satinwood

Johnstone’s Trade Satinwood has a lot of body to it and opacity is tip top. It’s a proper brilliant white too, which looks great in the right place. It is self-undercoating over previously painted surfaces, can be tinted into any of Johnstone’s colour and if you go directly to Johnstone’s decorating centre, they can even match a Farrow and Ball colour for you.

Now, remember when I said yellowing isn’t really an issue with satinwood, well you do notice discolouration with Johnstone’s Trade. It’s a shame really because other than that it’s a great product. I’m talking a matter of months before you start to notice it.

For that reason, Johnstone’s Trade satinwood is the lowest scoring product on this blog with 5/10. One to avoid I’m afraid.

Waterbased Alternatives

Ok, so we know oil-based satinwood discolours over time. One solution is to use a waterbased Satinwood instead. Crown Trade have Fastflow, Dulux Trade have Diamond, Johnstone’s Trade have the Aqua. There are also plenty of other brands on the market. The best advice I can give you is don’t cut corners on your prep, use the recommended undercoat or primer and keep your brush nice and wet. As a general rule, (not always), using a waterbased system compromises quality of finish and durability for environmentally friendly and shelf life of the finished product.

Best Place to buy Satinwood

I have reviewed products from the big three paint manufacturers on this blog. Believe it to not, you can go directly to them to buy your paint. Dulux, Johnstone’s and Crown decorating centres are nationwide. Going directly means you’ll be able to access advice from well trained staff who know each product intimately well.

There is an issue with going direct. Unless you have a trade account at any of those outlets, it will most probably be cheaper to buy online. Trade paint is more expensive than retail anyway, but we all need value for money. The best trade website I have found is the Paintshed where you can buy pretty much everything you’re ever going to need. CLICK HERE to visit the Paintshed.

The best trade satinwood on the market and the best place to buy satinwood – By Mike Gregory