Dulux Trade Supermatt Review

Dulux Trade Supermatt is a contract matt – in fact it’s probably the best-known (and arguably the best quality) contract matt on the market.

I’m going to take a minute at the start of this blog to explain what a contract matt is; in my time as a professional decorator, I’ve heard customers say things like “I thought it would be good, it says it’s Dulux Trade…”.  It is good, but it’s not designed for what you were using it for!

Contract matt is great in certain situations.  Primarily it’s used for priming bare plaster, because it allows the plaster to breathe and continue fully drying out.  It can also be used as a finish coat on ceilings, because it has a very flat matt finish so doesn’t show blemishes and imperfections as much as a vinyl matt would.

Finally, it’s often used as a finish coat on walls in newbuilds (and sometimes rental properties).  It’s an affordable option for builders; firstly, because the unit price per tub is lower than a vinyl matt, but also because the opacity is usually excellent, meaning fewer coats may be needed, saving time.

The downside of contract matt is that it contains less “polymer binder”, meaning that it isn’t very durable.  If you get a mark on the wall and try to wipe it off with a damp cloth, the chances are you’ll take some of the paint off too if it’s contract matt.

It’s not designed to be a finish coat on walls (ceilings are less of an issue, as they’re less prone to wear and tear) – vinyl matt (or durable matt in high traffic areas) is a much better option.  But in the right situation, contract matt is a really useful product, and Dulux Trade Supermatt is one of the best.

Dulux Trade Supermatt – Key Facts & Figures

• Suitable for interior use only
• Designed to provide “a top quality, economical, high-opacity matt emulsion which gives excellent coverage and application. Suitable for all interior wall and ceiling surfaces, particularly new plaster that is still drying out.”
• Pack sizes: 5L, 10L
• Finishes: Matt
• Colours: White, plus ready-mixed in 2 or 3 popular colours, or tinted many other colours in the Dulux’s tinting system.
• Coverage: up to 18m² per litre
• Recoatable – 2-4 hours
• Can be sprayed, or applied by brush and roller
• Water based – clean tools with water and mild detergent (such as Pretty Boy Brush Cleaner)
• Available from: Dulux Decorator centre, or online by clicking here.

Dulux Trade Supermatt In Use

Although it’s not the cheapest contract matt on the market, Dulux Trade Supermatt does give you good value for money.  The opacity is exceptional (so you may well need fewer coats), and it goes a long, long way – I can’t think of many other emulsions that will give you 18m² per litre.

As well as that, I have to say that the finish is amazing – it’s flawless (no flashing or picture-framing), smooth and a lovely flat matt.  It’s almost like using a more premium ceiling-specific paint (but not as durable).  And you can usually get away with touching it up too.

It’s quite thick straight out the tub, and needs a good stir – adding a drop of water to it never does any harm (especially on new plaster).

What’s the Difference Between Dulux Trade Supermatt, Vinyl Matt and Diamond Matt?

While they all say “Dulux Trade Matt” on the tub, these are three very different paints in terms of where you would use them, their performance, and their price.

• Supermatt is a contract matt – ideal for new builds and fresh plaster, and can also look great on ceilings, but the downside is that it’s not very durable. It will show scuffs, and doesn’t really stand up to being cleaned.
• Vinyl Matt is a good everyday mid-point.  It’s more expensive than Supermatt, but less so than Diamond.  It contains more polymer binder than Supermatt, so it will stand up to being wiped down with a damp cloth.  So, it’s great for walls, but probably not ideal for high traffic areas where there could be a lot of wear and tear.
• Diamond Matt contains even more polymer binder, which again is reflected in the price.  This is your “go to” paint within the Dulux Trade range for high traffic areas – it stands up to bumps and scuffs, and can be repeatedly cleaned without worrying about scrubbing the paint off.

Final Thoughts on Dulux Trade Supermatt

As long as you understand that this is a contract matt, not a vinyl or durable, and use it in appropriate situations, you can’t go wrong with Supermatt. It might be more expensive than many other contract matts on the market, but the quality is superior.

It’s easy to use, the finish is great, the coverage rate is exceptional, and don’t get me started on the opacity; it’s a slightly embarrassing story, but I once accidentally got a small amount of black paint on a wall which had been painted with Dulux Trade Supermatt by the builders, in the colour “Timeless” (which is very pale).

Fortunately, the homeowner still had a tub of the paint which the builder had left behind, and I was able to touch up my mistake (pretty much invisibly) with it.  It covered the black paint in one coat, no problem.  Most of my work is redecorating domestic properties, so I don’t use a lot of contract matt, but when I do, this is the one I choose.

Review Summary