Dulux Diamond Satinwood Review

Unlike the older Dulux Quick Dry formula, Dulux Trade Diamond Satinwood is a fully water-based system, meaning it will never yellow or discolor. There has been a lot of excitement on the Decorators Forum UK about this product, so I thought it was time I gave my own Dulux Trade Diamond Satinwood review.

Available online or Dulux Decorating Centre, Diamond Satinwood is available in Brilliant White, or any tinted colour from Dulux’s vast range. You can apply this paint via brush, roller, or airless sprayer. The recoat time is roughly 6 hours, but it depends heavily on conditions.

The two best websites I’ve found for this product are The Paint Shed (click here to see online prices), and Decorating Centre Online (click here to see online prices).

The Key Benefits of Dulux Diamond Satinwood

As already mentioned, the Dulux Trade Diamond Satinwood is fully water-based. Unlike a lot of other similar products, Diamond satinwood has a bit of body to it, meaning you can actually cut in a straight edge. It feels close to an oil to use, which is a massive plus point.  Diamond Satinwood was self-undercoating when it first came out, but they changed the formula slightly to make the paint tintable. Now you will need an appropriate primer when painting over a previously painted surface. Opacity of this product is great too! Oh, and it sprays really nicely!

The Downside of Diamond Satinwood

The biggest downside of Dulux Diamond Satinwood is the ninja runs! If you’re used to using water-based products, you’ll understand what I mean by that. The opacity of waterbased is never going to be as good as oil, so you compensate by applying generous coats. You then have to return to catch the sags and runs before they dry. Well with this you need to return a couple of times and you still miss the odd one!

The other downside is the recoat time. One of the benefits of using water-based is you can apply more than one coat of the product in a day. Well the recoat time for Dulux Trade Diamond Satinwood is 6 hours, which almost eliminates that benefit. It’s a shame really.

So, Do I Like Dulux Diamond Satinwood?

The answer is yes, I do like the Diamond Satinwood. There are different issues associated with any water-based trim product. I find the overall finish and ease of application of this product to more than make up for it’s two negative points. It just flies on, you can use a normal emulsion brush and painting is a joy.

Summary

Tips for Applying Diamond Satinwood

Water-based satinwood paints take a little bit of getting used to, and Diamond Satinwood is no different. As long as you adjust your application method, you’ll be fine.

First of all, keep your brush wet. Have a pot of water close by and give your brush a spin out every now and again to prevent the paint from drying and misshaping.

Another tip is to wipe your woodwork with a damp cloth just before you paint it. This will help your paint flow and keep a wet edge.

Lastly, paint a surface, then take your tape up before your paint has cured. This will prevent chips

Where to Buy

Dulux Trade diamond satinwood is a popular and widespread product. You can even pick it up in B&Q, so it’s literally everywhere!! A lot of people go directly to Dulux Decorating Centre, but unless you have a trade account, it will almost certainly be cheaper to buy your paint online. The two best websites I’ve found for this product are The Paint Shed (click here to see online prices), and Decorating Centre Online (click here to see online prices).

Dulux Diamond Eggshell Review

I thought I’d include a section on Dulux Diamond Eggshell, as it is a similar sort of product. Diamond eggshell has a slightly lower sheen level than the Diamond Satinwood. You will still need an adhesion primer when applying the product to previously painted surfaces, it is fully water-based, and it is just as easy to use.

Diamond eggshell has a quicker drying time. You can recoat after around 3 hours, which is ideal really. Opacity in white is an issue, so make sure you apply a solid coat of undercoat first. However, opacity in tinted colours is fantastic. You can also use Diamond Eggshell as an emulsion, meaning you could use the same product on your ceiling, walls, and woodwork in a room.

Click here to see online prices.