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I tried it with undercoat first, then without undercoat over keyed old oil-based gloss doors and skirts. It adhered just the same on both. Not just that, but the finish looked pretty much the same too. Albeit the 2 x satin compared to 1 x u/c & 1 x satin maybe had a slightly better sheen? It wasn’t really that noticeable though. Another interesting point about Pliolite is that despite being solvent-based, it’s VOC compliant, making it a safer choice for your health and the environment. Johnstone’s Aqua was recently voted the best water-based gloss and satin on the market by professionals from the Decorators Forum UK (research carried out in 2020). With this in mind, we decided to ask a number of decorators what they thought about the system.
A water-based paint is not as durable, opacity isn’t as good meaning extra coats are needed, it is harder to control when applying and you normally encounter brush marks. We also deliver to the majority of non mainland UK locations including The scottish Highlands & islands, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly and Northern Ireland. Please see full delivery terms for the extra charges associated with these locations Is very easy to spread across the surface which gives you a great chance of creating a consistent finish The prep work for Selemix involves keying the surface with 320-grit sandpaper and cleaning it down with a panel wipe. It’s straightforward and sets you up for success. I’ve used Selemix Pro for years and recently gave HMG PVC Pro a shot. But, honestly, it wasn’t up to the mark. I had a tough time achieving a decent spray pattern with my Devilbiss Prolite 1.3mm at 30 PSI. Worse still, the scratch test left me disappointed – I could scratch off the paint with my fingernail 24 hours after spraying.
Featuring an innovative surface protection technology, Johnstone's Trade Aqua Guard Satin has been designed to protect interior surfaces against scratches, wear & tear and finger marks. A durable water based paint, this brilliant white also features advanced application qualities, extending overall working time, covering powering and long lasting whiteness.
Dries to a beautiful high-sheen finish that almost mimics oil-based gloss (but without the yellowing)
Aqua” means water, and the tin boasts “water-based technology”, but in fact, the Johnstone’s Aqua satin and gloss are both hybrids. This means, although the paint is primarily water-based, it contains an alkyd (or oil) carrier, so it’s a mix of water and oil!! They do this for a few reasons, water-based paints do solve a lot of problems, but they create some new ones. I’ll give you some examples; There is another downside and it is a fairly big issue. Johnstone’s Aqua satin and gloss will start to yellow and discolour over time, especially in low light conditions. More so than other “water-based” products on the market, but a lot less than anything oil-based. I’ll explain why in the next section. Many professionals in the industry use Crown Fast Flow for various projects. Indeed, we enjoy using this paint so much that we recently used it to paint all the MDF skirting boards at an entire student accommodation building.
On the other hand, if you have MDF wall panelling, which is becoming increasingly popular, a durable matt emulsion would be the ideal choice. The matt emulsion will provide an aesthetically pleasing look which is the most important attribute when looking for paint for wall panelling. What to Look for When Buying Paint for MDF Surfaces This is pointless and by adding water to the product you speed up the drying process, which makes it difficult to apply. What you can do is skim over your woodwork with a damp sponge just before you apply the paint. The paint then flies on and is a joy to use! The Two Fussy Blokes is widely regarded as the best roller to apply water-based paint. Use the 5mm nap mini roller to paint any flat areas and you’ll get close to a spray finish. This is the perfect partnership for Aqua Guard. Available online.
In terms of usage, any MDF is fair game. including skirting boards, furniture and kitchen cupboards. This paint is an evolution of the old Johnstone’s Aqua Satinwood which is still available to buy. At one point, the Aqua satinwood was the brand leader in “water-based satin” amongst professional decorators at one point. However, it is a hybrid and comes with a few issues. The Aqua Guard is much better. Besides which, the Johnstone’s Aqua undercoat is brilliant!! Easy to apply, dries flat and has great opacity. It is one of the best “nearly water-based” undercoats on the market. An added bonus – it’s showerproof in just 20 minutes. Furthermore, it can dry in sub-zero temperatures, making it an excellent option if you’re looking to paint during the winter.
Finally, for the perfect gloss finish on your window sills, I can’t recommend Zinsser Allcoat Exterior enough. This oil-based paint is one of the most dependable options available. A hybrid is a compromise on just about every issue I have just mentioned. The paint will yellow, but it’ll stay white a lot longer than an oil-based. It is more durable than water-based, but not as durable as oil. It is easier to control than water, but not as easy as oil. The list goes on!! Firstly, the Pliolite is self-stabilising so if the root of the problem has been solved then you will be fine with just the Pliolite after your prep work is done. It’s best applied with a mohair or foam roller for optimal results, and I always recommend giving it a good 24 hours between coats.With that in mind, with the mix of durability, clean aesthetics, nice flow out of the tin, super coverage and a price that isn’t going to break the bank, Johnstone’s Aqua Guard gets my vote. A lot of decorators who try Johnstone’s Aqua for the first time do not get on with it. This isn’t down to the paint being poor quality, but more to do with the decorator not knowing how to apply the product correctly. Despite its good adhesion, I still advise using the undercoat with Aqua Guard. This may not necessarily improve the initial application, but it significantly extends the life of the finish. Some decorators find that the flow isn’t top-notch so apply it with a damp brush to make it easier to apply.
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