As a professional decorator, I use many different brands of paint. With that in mind, I thought I’d put a short comparison blog together of the mainstream vinyl matt emulsion products. This blog is opinion based, but you can take it as a very honest vinyl matt emulsion review and guide, so I hope it helps.
You may notice I only talk about trade paints in this guide. Trade products are better quality than their retail counterparts. Never buy vinyl matt unless it has the word “trade” on the tin.
What is Vinyl Matt Emulsion
I thought it’d start by explaining exactly what vinyl matt is and when you’d use it.
Well, it’s a paint you might use to coat interior walls and ceilings. You can buy it in just about any colour from hundreds of different suppliers in the UK. There are quite a lot of brands nowadays, but the mainstream manufacturers are still Crown, Dulux, Johnstone’s, and perhaps Tikkurila.
Vinyl matt is fine in most rooms of your home, including a bedroom or a lounge, but you might opt for a more durable product for other rooms like a kitchen, bathroom, or a hallway.
Durable Matt Vs Vinyl Matt
I couldn’t write a vinyl matt review and guide without touching on the durable matt Vs vinyl matt debate. There’s a time and place for both.
The obvious difference between the two is that the polymer binder used in vinyl matt is polyvinyl and the polymer in durable matt is acrylic. (I’m speaking in very general terms because there are a lot of copolymers used nowadays).
Acrylic is more durable and waterproof than polyvinyl; however, it is more expensive.
Durable matt emulsion might be used in a kitchen, bathroom, utility room, or high-traffic area. Some people use durable matt emulsion in every room.
Vinyl matt is mostly used in rooms like bedrooms, your lounge, a study etc. Anywhere the paint isn’t going to get marked or come into contact with moisture.
The quality of durable matt emulsion differs vastly. One of the downsides of using acrylic rather than vinyl, is it can show defects like flashing unless you get the balance of the paint perfect. My favourite durable matt emulsion is Crown Clean Extreme, but we do have a full guide, which you can view here.
Reviewing Different Brands of Vinyl Matt Emulsion
Right, I’m going to work my way through some of the different brands of vinyl matt emulsion paint you can buy in the UK. I’ll stick with the mainstream products, and link to an online merchant so you can buy it if you like (however these products are available from loads of other merchants). I’ll give each product a mark out of 5.
Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt
I never used to like Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt. Until recently, it contained a poor-quality polymer which led to problems like flashing and picture framing. This, coupled with the high price tag that Dulux Trade set for their paint, gave it a bad reputation.
However, it’s different now. Their vinyl matt has been reformulated and now performs very well. The opacity in white is poor, but it’s great in colours. The paint flows well and leaves you with a fantastic finish.
This is a product that I use a lot. As a Decorator, I know that most of my customers already know and love Dulux, so it’s an easy sell. In my opinion, it’s much better that Farrow and Ball.
8/10
Johnstone’s Covaplus
Covaplus is Johnstone’s version of vinyl matt. As with the Dulux and Crown alternatives, you can pick this paint up in just about any colour, and any size pot, from tester to 10L bucket.
Johnstone’s are very good at matching colours from other brands, which comes in very handy at times, especially when you want a Farrow and Ball colour at a cheaper price.
The opacity and ease of use of Covaplus is good for a vinyl matt. It leaves a flat, chalky finish which looks lovely. This used to be the best standard vinyl matt paints on the market, but they’ve fiddled with the formula in recent years, and it can, on occasion, flash. It’s still a good vinyl matt emulsion though.
I’d score Covaplus 7/10
Crown Trade Vinyl Matt
This is the cheapest vinyl matt emulsion on this list, and one that I like. The opacity is fantastic, ease of use is ok, however it can drag slightly. The finish is good; very flat and chalky.
The only gripe I have with Crown Trade vinyl matt is it doesn’t contain much polymer binder. This means it marks very easily. Definitely no good for high-traffic areas. You could always paint over your walls afterwards with Polyvine Decorators Varnish to help prolong the life.
I do like using this vinyl matt on a ceiling. The durability isn’t an issue above head hight, and the chalky finish looks great.
Crown Trade Vinyl Matt gets a 5/10
Armstead Trade Vinyl Matt Review
Another one of the cheaper options, Armstead vinyl matt is manufactured by the same company who make Dulux. You used to have the option to get a Dulux colour mixed up into Armstead vinyl matt, but they stopped offering this for some reason, which is a real shame.
I know it’s only personal choice, but I love Armstead vinyl matt. Opacity in pale colours is lacking a little, but that is my only negative. Ease of use is good, as is overall finish. Armstead vinyl matt is an all-round good quality product.
7/10
Final Thoughts
There we have it, my full vinyl matt review and guide. I know it’s nothing ground-breaking, but I’ve been honest. Now you should be able to make a more informed decision when it comes to painting your walls and ceilings.
FAQs
Can you use vinyl matt on a ceiling?
You can have a problem with certain vinyl matt emulsion paints on ceilings. Particularly in open plan rooms, or rooms with lots of natural light. The best advice I can give you is use White rather than ‘Brilliant White’. The slightly duller colour means less light is bounced off the surface, and defects like flashing and picture framing aren’t as apparent.
What is the difference between vinyl matt and eggshell?
The main difference between vinyl matt and eggshell is the sheen level. Matt had a chalky, low-sheen finish (no more than 6%), whereas eggshell is a little shinier (around 20%). Eggshell is also far more durable than vinyl matt, so it’s more suitable for a kitchen or bathroom.
Where do you use vinyl matt paint?
Vinyl matt paint is used on interior walls and ceilings. It isn’t durable enough for use in high traffic areas, but it’s great in a lounge or bedroom.
0 Comments