Someone posted on Decorators Forum UK a while ago about Dulux Once Satinwood, so I thought I’d give an insight. This is my Dulux Once satinwood review.
Dulux Once is an oil-based satinwood designed to cover interior woodwork in one coat, saving on labour and materials. The paint itself is thick and gloopy, so you can get a lot of product on in one go. Dulux Once is touch dry after about 6-hours but takes a lot longer than that to cure and go hard. I wouldn’t use it in my own house, simply because one-coat systems have a bad reputation for starting to yellow soon after you’ve painted. That said, I have never noticed the issue myself.
Using Dulux Once Satinwood on a job
Ok, I’m going to tell you about a specific situation. I have used Dulux Once Satinwood on a job, but my preference is trade satinwood which, as you know, is a two coat system.
However, the customer on this job specified “just one coat” and wated me to use Dulux Once. I was going over old gloss which had discoloured quite badly, but other than that it was sound. I just a light key with some 120, dusted and wiped with a turpsy rag.
The Dulux Once Satinwood wasn’t too bad to apply. Don’t get me wrong, you must take your time to make sure every bit of woodwork is going to cover in one coat, but it’s easily done. I don’t care what you say, you wouldn’t get the same level of coverage from trade Satinwood in one coat! The woodwork looked absolutely mint!! I couldn’t believe it.
That said and done I still prefer a 2 coat system, but this stuff isn’t as horrendous for a one coat jobby as people say… if you use it right. Just look at the pictures below and decide for yourself. 👍
Another advantage of using Dulux Once Gloss is it’s readily available online from Amazon.
Summary
Dulux Once Satinwood Review - Decorator's forum UK
Dulux Once Satinwood is a one-coat paint system used on interior woodwork and other trim. This is an oil-based paint.
Product Brand: Dulux
3.5
Pros
- One coat cuts down on labour.
- Leaves a nice finish.
- Reasonably priced.
Cons
- Has a bad reputation for ‘yellowing’ over time (I problem I have never noticed).
- It’s thick, so takes a while to apply.
- If your woodwork is severely discoloured to begin with, then you’ll need two coats anyway.
Best Tools to Use to Apply Dulux Once Gloss
As you probably already know, gloss is a sticky product, and unless you have the correct tools for the job, can be tricky to apply. You should use a foam roller on the larger flat areas, or you won’t achieve an even finish. Microfibre is useless when working with gloss. Your brush should be made from natural bristles, or it will twist and go stiff.
Any foam roller and tray will do the job. Just apply the paint with the roller, then lay-off with the brush. I can’t stress how much easier this will make the painting. Click here to see online prices.
As for the brush, there’s only really one you can go for. The Hamilton Perfection Pure Bristle is the best brush for any sort of oil-based gloss. The natural fibre (hog hair) bristles are ideal. They keep their shape well and are soft enough to lay off. Available online here.
FAQs
Does Dulux Once Satinwood go yellow?
Dulux Once Satinwood has a reputation for turning yellow after a short period. It’s the biggest negative about the paint.
Does Dulux Once Satinwood need primer?
Bare surfaces will need to be primed before you can apply Does Dulux Once Satinwood. However, you can apply it directly to previously painted surfaces without a primer.
Which Dulux Satinwood is best?
Dulux Trade Satinwood is the best oil-based satin that Dulux manufactures. Dulux Trade Diamond Satinwood is a great water-based version. Using either of these products will result in a good finish.
Is Dulux Satinwood good for skirting boards?
Dulux Satinwood is brilliant for skirting boards. It leaves a good finish, it’s durable, and it will last. Dulux Once Satinwood will yellow over time, but either of the trade products will last for years.
What do Other Decorators Think?
Dulux once satinwood is great for quick tidy-up jobs. The finish is bang on, I can’t fault it at all. There is a big issue with yellowing in the weeks after you’ve finished painting. I’ve done work for the same landlord for almost 15 years and every time a tenant moves out, the spec for me is “one coat on everything”. The walls and ceilings get a good thick coat of MacPhersons Eclipse and the woodwork gets a coat of Dulux once. The woodwork always goes yellow afer a year or 2
This works surprisingly well if you use good old-fashioned oil based undercoat then Dulux Once Satinwood. I find that if you put it on water-based primer undercoat, it goes yellow faster than lightning 🌩 and peels off like a good ‘un though!
We use a lot of this stuff on estate agent jobs and council houses because the money just isn’t there.
That said, I always say, aside needing UV to stay white, it is what real oil-based gloss used to be.
Top tip, keep it away from the radiator. It smells awful when heated! Especially if you paint said radiator in a one-er!
Indoors it will turn yellow in 6 months. it’s a job and knock paint, (rentals). Looks good for a while, but that’s it
Nice gear but can take forever to go off. Yellows quickly too
Rentals only because goes yellow quick.
Great for rental bashing, but no way would I use it in my own house
There’s nothing wrong with Dulux Once Gloss. If you’re only looking for a freshen up, then it’s perfect. I use it from time to time in peoples’ homes and it’s never let me down.
Blog written by Rob Martin – Professional Painter and Decorator
Def will yellow quick Dulux Trade Brilliant White satinwood will stay white 2-3 years but hard to cover even with dulux trade brilliant white undercoat solution I found is mixing some McPherson white with dulux seams to give a good base and satinwood sticks rather than sliding of . Crown trade satinwood isn’t available in brilliant white oil based it’s more off white ie like dulux trade after 18 month .Johnstones or Leyland oil based paints avoid yellowing in months but zinser 123 as undercoat and Johnstones aqua water based is a good system but zinser is costly and sand old gloss for good key 37 years experience
Iv applied two coats of this on now and it’s still not covering. Iv had this paint before and it was always thick. This new one is like water. Not good at all. Won’t be purchasing again.
I also found this paint very thin and watery and it dripped everywhere even though its supposed to be thick and gloopy. I emailed Dulux to complain and they agreed. They said it could be something to do with the way the retailers were storing it. Anyway they are investigating this and gave me a refund even though i’d used the paint. It took the whole tin as It needed 3 coats just to cover my skirtings. I wont be buying it again just in case.