I bought this Zinsser Allcoat because of recommendations on the Decorators Forum UK. I needed a paint that would adhere to a previously glossed surfaces which had then been coated with Sandtex disaster.
Zinsser Allcoat is a water-based satinwood, suitable for interior or exterior use. This paint comes in white, black, and a variety of tinted colours. You can buy this paint from a wide number of trade paint stockists around the UK, but unless you have a trade account, you may be better buying it online. Click here to see online prices.
Allcoat is a fully water-based product, not a hybrid. This means it will never discolour over time. You can get a solvent version too, which you can use to paint anything, from timber gates, to old tractors!! It’s also resistant to UV rays, meaning it doesn’t lose it’s colour as time goes on.
Using Zinsser AllCoat
This was my first time using this paint. After my prep, I started using the Allcoat. I was expecting it to drag given its water-based, but to my amazement it flowed fantastically. Even better, it dried in the early morning, 15 degrees heat, in less than an hour. Coverage was better than any paint I’ve ever used!! It looks like an emulsion in the tin, went on like a rock.
Zinsser All coat had great adhesion, so using it over multiple surfaces without additional primers isn’t an issue. The only caveat it that it won’t stop stains from coming through. So, tannins, rust, mould, and anything else will need to be blocked first. Luckily on this occasion it wasn’t needed.
This can also be used on almost all surfaces, indoor and outdoor. The matt finish was appealing to customer and watchers. Great paint, I will be using for most jobs from now on. It comes in 9000 colours!!
Below are photos of the job I used the Zinsser Allcoat on. As you can see, there are multiple substrates to cover, from metal, timber, and masonry. If I was using a different system, I may have needed to use a different product on each of those surfaces.
Because I was using Allcoat, I just completed my prep and applied two coats of paint. It turned out brilliantly. Click here for more info, or to see online prices.
Summary
Water based Zinsser Allcoat Review - Decorator's forum UK
Zinsser AllCoat is a muti-surface paint used inside or out. It can be used on wood, metal, uPVC, masonry, and more.
Product Brand: Zinsser AllCoat
4.4
Pros
- Good opacity.
- Great flow.
- Can be used on multiple surfaces.
- Good adhesion.
- Fantastic finish.
Cons
- Doesn’t block stains.
- Doesn’t contain rust inhibitors.
I bought the satin fininish paint on the 17th/2/2026, from local paint store. I sanded the frame of my belle mixer, due to cold and wet weather I decided to paint the frame in my shed, with a small heater on. Was advised by the paint shop that the first coat would look awful, which it did, 5 coats later it is still ghosting, 2 days after the last coat was applied, I took it outside and put the frame on its stand, next day paint work was still intact, following day after rain it blistered and especially around where rust had been sanded down, was all blistering, This paint is not suitable for metal, ie without a primer, nearly £60 out of pocket and now have to start again with a better proven product.
Im using Zinnser all coat (water based) on a veneered door that I’ve sanded. Currently on coat number SIX and its still possible to see a brown sheen. Not a good stain blocker. I’ve another ten to paint so I’m going to use a priming coat of Benjamin Moore Fresh Start high hiding primer and hope it performs better over this. Not cheap either. Wished I’d stuck to Benjamin Moore which performed brilliantly on kitchen cupboard doord.