I tried the new Valspar Trade Tough Matt recently, so I thought I’d put pen to paper and write a quick review. This is a new durable matt emulsion, available in white or just about any colour from you local B&Q.
Touch-dry in 2 hours, with a recoat time of around 4 hours, you can use this paint on interior walls and ceilings. Being a durable matt emulsion, Valspar Trade Tough Matt can be used in bathrooms or kitchens. It is also ideal if you have pets or are painting high-traffic areas.
My Valspar Trade Tough Matt Review
The first thing to say about Valspar Trade is that you can always rely on its colour-matching capabilities. Its in-store colour-scanning technology is widely regarded as some of the best in the industry, and it boasts an arsenal of over 2 million possible colours to match. I took a sample of wallpaper in, and it matched it perfectly. I came away with a 5L tin of Tough Matt mixed in a gorgeous yellow cream.
I’ve used most of the durable matt paint products available in the UK, so trying Valspar Trade Tough Matt really piqued my interest.
Tough Matt has a slight ammonia smell to it, and it feels quite thin. Do not panic, though; the opacity of this paint is still fantastic. You are looking at two coats of Tough Matt for most colour changes. Because the paint is so thin, you will find it a joy to use. It just flies on, and it is easy to avoid brush and roller marks.
A lot of other durable matt emulsions dry with a slight ‘grittiness’ to the touch, but not Valspar Trade Tough Matt. It settles nicely, leaving a completely smooth surface.
The other thing to mention is the sheen level once dry. Again, one complaint with some durable matt emulsions is that the sheen level is too high for a true matt finish. That is not the case with Valspar Trade Tough Matt, which has a very contemporary flat matt finish. Ideal for modern homes or rooms with poor plasterwork.
One last benefit of using Valspar Trade Tough Matt over its competitors is that you can touch up this paint and everything blends in. I am not sure whether that has something to do with the sheen level or simply the way this paint settles, but it is a real bonus. I cannot think of any other durable matt emulsion in the same price bracket that touches up as well.
Valspar Trade Tough Matt in Brilliant White
I thought I would talk about Brilliant White in a separate section, simply because of the issues associated with other brands of durable matt emulsion in white. It is very difficult to find a product like this in white that has good opacity and leaves a nice finish. Some products can look plasticky, and you may see imperfections such as picture framing and flashing.
Valspar Trade Tough Matt is different. The colour is bright, the opacity is good, and colour changes are no problem. You do not experience defects such as flashing. Tough Matt may well be the best durable matt emulsion I have used in Brilliant White.
Review Summary
Valspar Trade Tough Matt Review - Decorator's forum UK
A durable matt emulsion used to paint interior walls and ceilings. This product is best suited for kitchens, bathrooms, and high-traffic areas.
Product Brand: Valspar Trade
4.6
Pros
- Thousands of colours to choose from.
- Good opacity.
- Flies on / easy to use.
- Very low sheen level (chalky finish).
- Shows no defects like flashing or picture framing.
- Readily available.
Cons
- Slight smell to it.
- It isn’t as durable as a couple of the other trade durable matt emulsion paints.
FAQs
What paint is better than Valspar?
It is not that easy to answer. Like all paint brands, Valspar has some very good products and some weaker ones. Valspar Trade is Valspar’s premium range. I have always had a good experience using Valspar Trade emulsion paints.
What is the most durable Valspar paint?
Valspar Trade Tough Matt takes some beating. It has a low-sheen finish, but it is resistant to scuffs, stains, and marks.
What paint do most professionals use?
Professional decorators use a multitude of brands, but generally stick to trade paints.
Can you wash durable matt paint?
Yes, that is the point of it. Provided you choose a good-quality durable matt paint, you will be able to wipe it down with a damp cloth once it has fully cured. However, you should avoid using harsh household cleaning agents.
Final Thoughts
Will I use Valspar Trade Tough Matt moving forward? The quality of this paint is fantastic, but it also comes down to price. As a decorator, I am entitled to a trade discount on most trade brands. Valspar Trade Tough Matt is currently £40 for 2.5L in a tinted colour, which is very expensive and not really viable for most jobs. However, 10L is only £85, which is rather reasonable. So, yes, I will use it moving forward. After all, it would be a shame not to take advantage of Valspar’s colour-scanning service. Not only that, but Valspar Trade Tough Matt is a quality product.
What do Other Decorators Think About Valspar Trade Tough Matt?
I used Valspar Trade Tough Matt on the walls on my last project and it was absolutely fantastic! And ridiculously hard wearing.
I was painting the room in the evenings, and I had 1 roller mark on the walls, which I had to sand off! The paint was that tough, I had to use a bladed scraper to get it off!
Valspar Trade Tough Matt was an absolute pleasure to use! Very rarely do you get a paint that can cover each other when you are doing a feature wall. The grey covered the lilac and the lilac covered the grey easy!
It goes on so smooth. Picture Johnstone’s durable matt watered down so it does not drag, and it goes for miles! This means you fly through your painting and when it dries its bloody bomb proof.
Well impressed 10/10
Johnstone perfect matt is durable dead Flatt durable finish.
All the durable Matt’s really too high sheen level. I think the MacPherson durable Matt good fairly reasonable pricefor most jobs.
Touches up fairly well.
l think this scrub rating on Johnstone crown etc is really over the top for 99% jobs it’s won’t make a blind bit of difference for Mrs Smith that wants to wipe down her hall walls once a month..
I’ve just repainted our living room with Valspar Trade Tough Matt paint, matched perfectly to the Dulux trade vinyl matt that I had previously painted it. We chose to repaint because of caulk marks and scuffs, even though it had been painted only a few months before. It went on nicely, but has dried much more shiny than the dulux. I’m wondering whether I’ve been given a silk by accident. The badly plastered wall is much more apparent now, and because I left the picture hooks on, and therefore some of the dulux paint, I can see side by side the sheen levels. Should Valspar be more matt as I had hoped?
As standard, vinyl matts do have a lower sheen than a more durable equivalent such as the tough matt, but saying that, I’ve used the valspar tough matt on some horrible patched up plastered walls and it has performed leaps and bounds over other durable paints when it came to hiding these flaws. Have you tried their new V&Co dead flat matt? Used it for a job where the client provided the paint and it is FLAWLESS!!! Doesn’t stretch as far as their trade, but my God, it’s by far the best “designer” Paint I’ve ever used.