Leyland Trade Ceiling Paint Review

The last couple of years have seen the launch of ceiling-specific paints from most of the big manufacturers. They boast low sheen formulations for the flawless flat matt modern finish which is so popular at the moment.

I’ve tried – and reviewed – most of them, and have to say, I’ve generally been very impressed.  Some are better than others, and some are easier to work with, but overall, the finish you can achieve with them is great.

These paints are designed to make getting a great finish easier – because they’re very low sheen, the light doesn’t reflect off them so much, meaning that any imperfections are less noticeable. They also tend not to flash, and to be easy to touch-up pretty much invisibly if needed.

So they’re great paints, and a very welcome addition to my arsenal of tools and materials which I use in my day-to-day role as a professional decorator.  (If you want hints and tips on how to paint a ceiling, read my separate blog on the subject).

The latest ceiling paint I’ve been trying is from PPG’s Leyland Trade brand.  In keeping with the brand’s “no nonsense” approach, it’s simply called “Ceiling Paint”, so unsurprisingly I tried it out on a couple of ceilings, and am now putting pen to paper to let you know my honest thoughts on the product.

Leyland Trade Ceiling Paint – Key Facts & Figures

• Suitable for Interior Use Only
• “A low reflecting emulsion designed for interior walls & ceilings. The matt finish hides imperfections, and the quick & easy spot repair is ideal for areas of critical lighting”.
• Pack sizes: 10L
• Finishes: Flat matt
• Colours: Brilliant white only
• Coverage: up to 13m² 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: Johnstone’s Decorating Centre, or online by clicking here.

Leyland Trade Ceiling Paint In Use

To sum this product up in a Leyland Trade “no nonsense” style, it does what it says, is nice to use, and doesn’t come with a designer price tag. I mean, that’s it, that’s the essence of the review!

It’s a nice crisp white paint for ceilings, which gives a smooth flat matt finish.  Unlike some of the slightly more expensive brands, it doesn’t make any specific claims about durability. I would probably be a bit cautious about using it in high traffic areas, and definitely in kitchens – if something got splashed on it, I’m not sure how well it would stand up to cleaning. But for a light-critical bedroom or living room ceiling, it does a really good job.

I also found it really nice to use – some of these ceiling paints are very thick; they don’t splatter everywhere, but you can feel your brush dragging and have to watch for brush marks (or better still, add a drop of water to them).

Others are a bit thin, and then you get splattered with paint.  This one sits right in the middle.  I found the consistency great to use straight from the tub, it goes on nice and easily without splattering or dripping.  I know we’re all different, others may find it doesn’t suit them, but I enjoyed using it.

And it’s not a cheap paint, but compared to some of the other trade ceiling paints, it is a few pounds cheaper, and like anything, it pays to shop around.  Its coverage of “up to 13m²/L” is also more than many other ceiling paints (which are often around 10m²), so it goes further too.

In terms of finish, the first room I used the product in was a large living room with a big window at one end, and sliding glass doors at the other.  There were also both wall and ceiling lights, so whatever time of day, light was going to be reflecting off it from various angles.  It worked really well, but the ceiling was textured, so it’s a bit “forgiving”.

The second room I tried Leyland Trade Ceiling Paint in was a bedroom in an older property, which again had windows on two walls, as well as wall and ceiling lights.  And again, the finish I achieved was perfect. I was genuinely impressed with how it looked.

Final Thoughts

To sum this up, it’s a decent quality paint – it gave a good finish and was nice to use.  It has the added bonus of being cheaper than many of its competitors, although it’s not as cheap as you might expect from the Leyland brand.

I’m not sure about the durability (no specific claims about it on pack), but if you’re looking for a paint for ceilings which aren’t likely to be subjected to wear and tear (or humidity and condensation), you could do a lot worse than using this.

Review Summary