The Futura Aqua range by Teknos includes various finishes and are labelled according to their sheen levels. These finishes include Futura Aqua 5, 20, 40 and 90.
They all seem like amazing products, but I wanted to focus on the Teknos Futura Aqua 90 for this review, as good quality water-based gloss products are few and far between, whereas there are plenty of acceptable water-based satin and eggshell products out there. Click here to see current prices.
Product Information
Futura Aqua 90 is a durable water-based gloss paint which can be used internally or externally. It has very low VOCs and can be used to coat things such as windows, doors, boards, cladding, any internal trim, furniture, and just about anything else you’re ever likely to want to gloss.
Touch dry in an hour, re-coat time is around the 6-hour mark and you can expect this product to be fully durable after 3 days. Teknos Futura 90 can be tinted into various colours which is another bonus.
As with all water-based products of this type, you must use the specified primer as part of the system. In this case it is Teknos Futura primer (funnily enough), which I’ll go into in the next section of the review.
Teknos Futura Aqua Primer
Right, let’s get on with my review, starting with the primer!! Teknos Futura Aqua Primer is a water-based adhesion primer designed to stick well to problem surfaces such as existing oil-based coatings. It is very much up to the task!! Opacity is absolutely bang on, you’ll find it very easy to apply and the finish is perfect for your topcoats. The only slight gripe is it seems to take a while to cure and toughen up (overnight). It is only a slight gripe when you weigh it up against the positives.
Teknos Futura Aqua 90 Review
Let’s start with a negative, the opacity of Futura Aqua is lacking slightly, but in a similar way to how oil-based gloss lacked opacity 20 years ago. I can live with that, as a lot of the time it’s simply impossible to develop a paint product of this type, which looks as good as it possibly can do AND does the job of the undercoat. Therefore, there are two separate products; Use your primer for adhesion and opacity and the Aqua 90 to make it look pretty. Make sure your primer is solid before using the 90, simple!!
Opacity is the only negative thing I can think of about the Teknos Futura Aqua 90. The sheen level is 90% for a start, which is almost unheard of for a water-based!! The finish is nice and even, brush marks are minimal compared to similar products from competing brands, it is lovely to apply, and it is extremely hard wearing. Teknos Futura Aqua 90 could quite possibly be the holy grail when it comes to water-based gloss. It looks brilliant!!
If you prefer water-based over oil, you will absolutely love this gear. Click here to see online prices.
Review Summary
Teknos Futura Aqua 90 Review - Decorator's forum UK
A water-based gloss used to coat woodwork. This paint is available in white and thousands of other colours.
Product Brand: Teknos
4.6
Pros
- The undercoat has great opacity and adhesion.
- The Futura Aqua 90 is durable and has a great sheen level.
- It doesn’t look plasticky and cheap like a lot of other water-based gloss products do.
- Genuinely one of the best water-based gloss paints available.
Cons
- Although predominantly water-based, Teknos Futura 90 will discolour after a prolonged period.
Best Tools to Apply Teknos Futura 90
As with any water-based gloss product, having the correct tools for the job will make all the difference. A good-quality mini roller will help you achieve a good finish on flat surfaces. A brush soft enough to lay-off, but stiff enough to hold its shape will make life easier for the cutting in. To that end, I thought I’d give my recommendations on the best brush and roller to use when applying Teknos Futura 90.
There are several brushes on the market you can use to apply Teknos Futura 90, but my favourite is the Purdy Monarch Elite XL. They have a thick stock, hold loads of paint and they don’t tend to twist up. Available online by clicking here.
There’s only one clear choice for a paint roller. The Two Fussy Blokes is the best by miles! They hold plenty of paint, but lay it down smoothly enough to achieve a good finish. Available online by clicking here. (Thank me later)
FAQs
Is there a high gloss water-based paint?
The issue is that it’s the alkyd oil in oil-based gloss that gives it the high sheen. So, a lot of water-based gloss products are lacking in shine. This is the reason most water-based gloss paints are hybrids (they contain a small amount of alkyd oil). The highest sheen I’ve found on a water-based gloss is Teknos Futura 90, which is very shiny and looks great.
Can you apply water-based gloss with a roller?
Most Professional Decorators apply gloss with a roller and then ‘lay off’ with a soft brush. This gives the best possible finish.
Should you water down water-based gloss?
You can dilute water-based gloss if you’re having trouble applying it, however I’m always cautious about it. If you’re having trouble with flow or brush marks, then adding a little bit of Flow & Bond will help.
Can you paint water-based gloss over emulsion?
Most emulsion paints are quite porous, which will cause problems if you try and paint over them with water-based gloss. You’ll find the gloss drags and dries quite stringy. You might also get a pitted finish from little bubbles. Adhesion might be a problem too. My advice is to apply an appropriate primer of undercoat first.
Great in depth review. I had been using isomat isolac enamel as my go to paint but have recently started using teknos aqua system and it is by far the best water based paint I’ve used and will be my new go to paint. It is quite pricey for a waterborne paint is my only gripe.
My go to for woodwork recently it’s amazing ! Mainly use futura 20 and 40
It’s a waterborne alkyd though isn’t it, similar to Benjamin Moore Advance?
I would love to see a comparison between BM Advance and this?
I will be painting a kitchen in a couple of months and was going to use BM Advance, as I did my own kitchen using that a few years ago, and it gave great results (used Two Fussy Blokes mini rollers) and looks like new 3 years later.
Considering the Teknos as it’s cheaper, and can be matched to other manufacturers colours e.g. F&B colours
Wow what brilliant paint I’m never going back to oil by far the best water based paint out there
This is great stuff – for easier to use and better results than Ben Moore Advance.
The adhesion primer can be tinted too, unlike Stix.
The problem for me is Teknos UK and their dealers don’t sell sample pots. Getting a colour card is difficult too. You would need to buy a litre tin to test the colour which is price prohibitive.