Gudkarma Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 A nice and easy question, hopefully.We have a removal booked for a few weeks' hence and I've been told that the namby-pamby socialist French paints aren't up to the standard of our very own brave & hardy British Bulldog varieties. Is this true and if so, am I better advised to buy a job lot now as it will be relatively easy to include a few tins in the removal lorry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 If it's for the house interior I would bring it, lots of it.[;-)]However, our brave and hardy British paint might (just might) not like the scorching sunshine exterior paint has to cope with in parts of France. So, where are you moving to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 I would buy paint in the UK if I could. The quality notwithstanding, it is cheaper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higgy Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Bring over the paints especially a good Undercoat. The French one goes on like a watered down single cream and takes several coats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gudkarma Posted March 6, 2007 Author Share Posted March 6, 2007 Many thanks everyone. We're moving to Brittany. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Definitely UK paint but don't skimp by buying 'No Name' or 'Contractors' paint. It's not worth it. For the time taken to actually paint, and the possibility of having to use an extra coat of the cheap stuff, splash out (no pun) on good quality paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 [quote user="Pierre ZFP"]Definitely UK paint but don't skimp by buying 'No Name' or 'Contractors' paint. It's not worth it. [/quote]Unless it's those big tubs of B and Q Emulsion. I dream about them.[:(]Perhaps the forum members who are familiar with Brittany could give a view on English bought exterior paint. I would have thought you'd be OK with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Please note the reservations about outdoor paint. I'm not at all happy with th exterior paint I brought from the UK. My shutters are beginning to peel and flake. Very disappointing when you've spent a lot of time and when there are other jobs still to do and you don't want to go back and repeat stuff.In a recent photography thread Mark24 posted a photo of some beautifully painted shutters, but didn't say what kind of paint he used. Perhaps he could recommend it here.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Me Clair has been gushing (verbally) about the V33 paint he used for our shutters: thick, one coat, and very very good coverage... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracteurtom Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 [quote user="Clair"]Me Clair has been gushing (verbally) about the V33 paint he used for our shutters: thick, one coat, and very very good coverage...[/quote]2nd that, I've found the v33 stuff very good - it aint cheap though. But, I always get our visiting English to bring tins of Dulux along with the Cheddar Cheese. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geranium Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 I brought out paint for the interior but also linseed oil paint from Holkham. They are distributors for this fantastic paint which is ecological but also withstands extremes of weather. If you go onto www.holkham.co.uk/linseedpaints/why.html. you can read all about it. I think it's probably cheaper than french stuff too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gluestick Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 I used Leyland exterior wood treatment for the new shutters. Far cheaper than (e.g.) Sadolins. And also Leyland masonry paint for the exterior walls.Important that you use one which "Breathes"; most good quality masonry paint is based on Pliolite synthetic resin. This is used, for example, to paint subterranean tunnels and it allows the water to seep through without removing the film. properly applied it's good for up to 15 years.Tip: go to a Leyland branch, clutching your Screwfix catalogue: Screwfix discount Leyland paints and with a bit of hard chat, Leyland will match Screwfix prices (on various additional colours!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 I used Wickes own brand Yacht Varnish on the shutters. Again, not cheap but at least I don't have to do them every other year (6 years now and still fine) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 I actually like French paint and find the price fine. You have to be careful about what you buy and where. As an example, one particular type of paint I have found excellent for larger wood surfaces is available in my local L'eclerc and Super U. In L'eclerc is is 7€ per pot and in Super U 12€ per pot (identical stuff, same manufacturer, etc.).I have found some Leroy Merlin "own brand" acrylic excellent (and really cheap and covers really well). However, I have also purchased some Leroy Merlin paint for wood that just fails to dry (e.g. after 1 week I washed it off with white spirit to start again). Similarly, I have just applied my 3rd coat of "mono-couch" and will probably be applying another coat tomorrow. Had I stuck to the lower priced brand had used before then it would have been cheaper and not needed the number of coats.Before leaving the UK i did what everybody does and re-decorated my house. when arriving in France I then also needed to start decorating (as the French do not seem to prepare houses for sale) and I would say that in France you can pay a lot more and get rubbish paint. In fact you probably will until you establish what paints are best and cheap and then you will be buying better paint at lower cost (compared to UK).In summary (my experience) - greater variability in quality and price and get that right and French stuff is better.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babbles Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Bring it with you, we used Dulux trade paints for the interior and are very pleased with the results, we were looking for "period " colours and have been unable to source them in the SW. If you are using a removal company to bring over paint the tins/buckets will have to be placed in a large tin trunk like thing incase of splillage (not all companys will carry paint). Apart from price of french paint they do seem quite "old fashioned" I brought some eggshell interior woodwork paint with me which was recoatable in 6 hours but all the french paint said 24 hours and the brushes had to be cleaned with white spirt whereas the british paint cleaned with soap and water, so if your trying to complete a job whilst on a break in france you can get quicker results with british. The French make better bread but the british know how to make paint [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 I use crepi for everything. I like being outdoors so the fact that I have to apply seven coats of exterior crepi before the wall changes colour is a plus. It also weighs a lot on the brush thanks to its hefty lead content, so in applying it I'm developing muscles like Fatima Whitbread's. Basically, crepi allows one to combine the benefits of the great outdoors with those of the stuffy gymnasium. AND, it only costs about 37 centimes per 100 litres.Crepi every time. Big fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I used B & Q trade magnolia satin finish, it covered reasonably well but when wiping off wallapaper paste or even a tiny mark with a wet sponge the paint rubs straight off the wall, so a false economy really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 [quote user="Miss Babs"]I brought some eggshell interior woodwork paint with me which was recoatable in 6 hours but all the french paint said 24 hours and the brushes had to be cleaned with white spirt whereas the british paint cleaned with soap and water, so if your trying to complete a job whilst on a break in france you can get quicker results with british.[/quote]I've just finished applying some satin paint. Touch dry in 4 hours, re-coatable in 4 hrs and clean the brushes in water. Purchased in France for less than the same paint costs in B & Q a few years ago - so I'm still happy with French paint (plus I did not have to lug it all the way out from the UK.Another aspect to the paint (above) is that it was a custom colour made up whilst I waited in the shop - so no issues with "could not find the colour".Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I do believe the "French paint" problem has vastly improved over the last 4-5 years.Before selling up in the UK, I repainted most of the rooms using Dulux Once, which was unavailable in France at the time, as I found out when we moved here.Everything used to be geared much more towards the professionals, no matt finish except in white, everything to be washed off with white spirit (evil thing [6])... whereas now, the choice of colours and finishes has never been greater. Have a look at the Dulux Valentine or the Corona/Crown ranges (all parts of ICI)... They might be more expensive than in the UK, but at least the choice is there now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babbles Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I agree that you can get some of the paint now in France, but for me would meaning travelling to Toulouse ( and as I've said on ither threads I oftern end up hurtling towards the Spanish border!) so for me it was easier to bring with me, I suppose its all down to how close you are to decent supplies[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chippiepat Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Thought this might be useful www.whitepaintcompany.com english paint in france, buy on line.Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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