All Paints

Our paints are Ultra-low VOC: they contain a maximum of 15 g/L of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), well below 30 g/L. This describes VOC content, not a guarantee of hazard-free use; ventilate during painting and follow the product guidance.

We develop our paints with a professional industrial coatings manufacturer, starting with the raw materials rather than a price-cutting exercise. Each formulation is engineered for its intended surface, compared with market leaders and refined with durability, adhesion and application in mind. High-quality resins at high loadings build the tougher film and smoother feel; specialist formulations mean you are not asked to use one paint for every job.

Walls need even coverage across broad areas; cabinetry needs adhesion and a finish suited to handling and cleaning; radiators need a coating suited to metal and heating cycles; exterior surfaces need a formulation for outdoor exposure. The right resin, film and preparation matter more than using one decorative paint for everything. Better durability also protects the time and money you invest in decorating: a cheaper tin is not a saving if you have to redo the work sooner.

Enhanced rollability helps paint distribute smoothly with less roller drag and less repeated working. Efficient paint transfer means less effort spent reloading and going over the same area. Improved flow helps a brush follow edges and mouldings, while high-quality resins help create a smooth-feeling, durable film.

Coverage is where cheaper paint quietly costs you. Our paints cover up to 14 m² per litre, against the roughly 10 m² per litre typical of cheaper decorative paints — so a tin goes noticeably further. Higher pigment loading also gives stronger opacity: the colour builds quickly and evenly, with far less effort spent applying extra coats to reach a solid, rich finish. Fewer coats, less paint, less time.

Good paint still needs good technique. Prepare the surface, use the recommended brush or roller, apply even coats and maintain a wet edge. Follow the product guide for recoating and curing; do not keep rolling paint once it has begun to dry.

Scrubbable is about how much paint remains after repeated cleaning, not just whether a mark can be wiped away. EN 13300 classifies wet-scrub resistance using the ISO 11998 test, which measures paint-film thickness lost after controlled wet scrubbing. After 200 cycles, Class 1 loses less than 5 micrometres (µm); Class 2 loses 5 to less than 20 µm; Class 3 loses 20 to less than 70 µm. Lower film loss means better resistance to that cleaning test. Our paints are Class 1 scrubbable. These figures are the class limits, not individual measured results for each tin.

“Washable” alone does not guarantee a particular test class. A paint marketed as washable may tolerate light wiping yet have poorer wet-scrub resistance than Class 1 paint. Compare the declared class rather than the wording on the tin: a Class 2 or Class 3 coating allows more film to be lost in the same 200-cycle test. Class 1 is the highest wet-scrub resistance class, but it is not a promise of complete stain removal or immunity to every cleaner. Let the paint fully cure and follow the cleaning guidance.

Dead Matt — 2% nominal sheen. The flattest, lowest-reflection look, ideal for ceilings and walls where you want a quiet finish that draws less attention to surface unevenness. Available in our Wall & Ceiling Paint and colour samples.

Matt — 10% nominal sheen. A restrained, low-sheen finish for everyday walls and ceilings, or for furniture, cabinets and woodwork when you want a quieter look. For kitchen or bathroom walls, use the corresponding specialist wall paint; for cabinets, use cabinet paint rather than wall paint.

Satin — a smooth lustre for cabinets, trim, doors, furniture and our other non-wall specialist paints. Choose it when you prefer more light reflection than Matt. Greater sheen can make surface imperfections more noticeable, so preparation counts. Wall & Ceiling Paint launches in Dead Matt and Matt; Kitchen Wall Paint and Bathroom Wall Paint launch in Matt only; every other specialist paint launches in Matt and Satin.

These percentages are our nominal catalogue sheen labels, not wet-scrub scores. Sheen describes appearance; formulation determines suitability and performance. All our paint types are Class 1 scrubbable. Choose colour, then the specialist paint and an available sheen for that surface. Gloss is not part of the current launch range.

A cabinet is a working surface, not just a colour display. Doors and drawers face hands, grease, splashes and repeated cleaning. We reserve Dead Matt for walls and ceilings and offer our specialist cabinet paints in Matt and Satin, prioritising a durable, smooth-feeling finish for this use rather than the flattest possible appearance.

Very low-sheen coatings can show rubbing or local changes in sheen (burnishing); resistance depends on the particular formulation, not the finish name alone. Passing a wet-scrub test does not establish resistance to every stain, cleaner or handling mark.

We think recommending Dead Matt for demanding cabinetry simply because it looks fashionable is the wrong starting point. If another brand offers it, ask for evidence of cabinet suitability, adhesion, stain resistance and resistance to burnishing — not just a “washable” label. A well-engineered competitor coating may perform well; sheen alone is not proof that another brand is inferior. Our choice is a specialist Matt or Satin cabinet finish, with correct preparation and full curing.