thunderhorse Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 It seems that no matter to whom I speak (or who I speak to [:P] ), French paint gets slagged off as being inferior and expensive.Expensive, I agree, but so is some trade emulsion and other 'trade' paints from some of the big DIY superstores, where cheap means extra coats to cover.I've painted acres of aircraft carrier, and been a professional painter and decorator, and met some dodgy paint in England. But so far with French oil-based paint, it's absolutely fine (Gemo), as is Lasure for wood, and metal primer.So what experiences have others had which gives French paint such bad press? What brands are no-nos? Is it problems with emulsion, or all paints across the board? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beryl Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 If only we could have found a decent range of emulsion without paying an absolute fortune for it. I think that is the problem, they don't seem to use emulsion but a heavier paint which seems to show up any and every imperfection in the walls. It also seems to have a far more of a glossy finish than I would ideally like and its hard to use. Apart from that, its fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 It used to be dire and we found that we always need to plan for three coats and fingers crossed that we would get away with two. The gloss was terrible and always seemed to thin and for me, at least, hard to put on.The very worst vernis I ever bought was made by Valentine, with a very tiny ICI logo on it, so I paid the price. It would not dry and went on patchy. Dreadful stuff and I had a heck of a job getting it off. I have had some good lasure since, but I usually go for Zweihorn Holzlasur, which I think is by ICI Germany. I find that that goes on really well, easy to use, great finish and lasts. I have used Mr Bricolage's non drip neutral vernis too, to very good effect. Emulsions are better than they ever were. I have put one coat ones on and that is all it has taken. The worst one I have had in the recent past was the most expensive of the Dulux range and the finish was awful. It is sturdy though and will wipe down and it would have been really handy when we had young kids. All the other Dulux emulsions apart from this particular one had been very good. I still find paint expensive in France, but the quality is OK these days IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobc Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 "It seems that no matter to whom I speak (or who I speak to Stick outtongue [:P] ), French paint gets slagged off as being inferior andexpensive.Expensive, I agree, but so is some trade emulsion and other 'trade'paints from some of the big DIY superstores, where cheap means extracoats to cover.I've painted acres of aircraft carrier, and been a professional painterand decorator, and met some dodgy paint in England. But so far withFrench oil-based paint, it's absolutely fine (Gemo), as is Lasure forwood, and metal primer.So what experiences have others had which gives French paint such badpress? What brands are no-nos? Is it problems with emulsion, or allpaints across the board?"Generally, good quality paint is far more expensive in France than the UK.To take Dulux, which is part of the same overall company in Europe -the range of colours available in the UK is far wider than in Franceand the price is much higher in France.If you have a colour that you like from a Dulux UK colour chart thenthe UK trade centre will give you a code that you can take to a Duluxmixing centre in France to obtain the same colour.Good French brands - Dulux, Ripolin and AVI at a price.Wherever possible I use Farrow & Ball from the UK - superb paintwhich is in keeping with old French properties. You can order on-linefrom their website with a one-off 30 Euro delivery charge for one tinor however many.For artisans they offer a discount and credit terms - we just fax ourorders to their showroom in Paris and the paint is delivered from theUK within 3 or 4 days.Even allowing for the delivery charge it is more cost effective than French Dulux paint and far better quality.www.farrow-ball.comRegards,Bob Clarkehttp://perso.wanadoo.fr/grindoux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Redman Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Just painted five bedrooms on Astral. vareying shades of : off white, near white, might as well be magnolia, I can't beleive it not white, I wish I could get my knickers this clean. I wish I bought the Dulux stuff which starts pink so you can at least see where you have painted. All off them were single coat which did cover in a single coat. Price checked versus the UK this December and it was not worth bringing paint back from UK. Best posting I ever read on the 'Screwfix' site was simply called 'Twice' with text 'Oh yes it is' Versus Wickens and Brewers with a trade account against Leroy Merlin or Bricodepot I could not make any significant savings. I think a lot of people compare prices in UK 5 or 6 years ago when they last redecorated their house with current prices in France Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 [quoteuser="Anton Redman"]I wish I bought the Dulux stuff which starts pink so you can at least seewhere you have painted.[/quote]I used that stuff in the UK once – but not again again. It went on fine, turned white no problems,etc. However, a damp winter, unheated attic and condensation on the wallscaused pink runs down the walls and pools of pinkish water at the bottom on theskirting. I now use a light and you can see where you've painted from the reflection (at least with matt or satin paint you can).I’ve had condensation on walls before but never with pinkdye in it. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eslier Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 I too have had excellent results with Astral Monocouche (just how many shades of white do they have ?). I can't say that I found it particularly expensive either - I'm sure I would have paid just as much for something of similar quality in England. I saw last week that Astral now has a pink which turns white too. Not sure I'm brave enough to try it though!!I suspect that the reputation for poor quality comes from Brits being seduced by those big white plastic tubs of unknown brand cheap white paint that always seemto be on special offer in the brico sheds. Unfortunately I guess you get what you pay for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Nothing to do with 'reputation' at all. I always knew the theory of buying paint and one paid more for a decent brand, and it went on better and one needed less coats.I bought the dearer ones in France or with that little dulux logo which was also expensive and it was still lousy. So really nothing at all to do with cheap tubs. In the past I have paid much for c rap. The paint I want next is a lot cheaper in the UK, in fact almost half the price of comparible french paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agenais Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 The 10 ltr tins from Auchan, their own make, is about one of the best white emulsion paints. They do their own white wood paint, great for doors and windows, inside and out, would recommend both. We, like most folks, have tried just about everything. The cheapy ones at 7 euros for 5 litres are like painting with diluted skimmed milk, some of the very expensive ones are not a deal better and need more coats than a nordic skier. L'Eclerc do a nice range of chalk effect paints, but, we are not planning for a bank loan to buy paint at the moment.[:|] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Riff-Raff Element Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 [quote user="Eslier"]I suspect that the reputation for poorquality comes from Brits being seduced by those big white plastic tubsof unknown brand cheap white paint that always seemto be on specialoffer in the brico sheds. Unfortunately I guess you get what you payfor.[/quote]I would tend to agree with you: we have had excellent results from themore expensive paints such as Astral and the Dulux Valantine range. Onthing I would suggest is that French paint maunfacturers rather assumethat surfaces are properly prepared before application - new plasterbeing coated with an appropriate sous couche (Julian - the brand withthe daft looking seal on the front do a fine range of these), etc.British made paint seems to be more forgiving. I have seen someinteresting paint effects arising from failure to read the tin. Mind you, some of the directions can be a bit...restrictive Ever readthe instructions for the 3V exterior gloss that comes with a 10 yeargaurantee? "This guarantee is only valid in the case of applicationsmade to new exterior wood cut from the green heart of the Iceland Oakand carved by hand by Eskimos using walrus tusk tools. Three coats arerequired and each must be applied only at the time of a new moon infebruary by a vestal virgin using a dodo feather brush. Allow 24 hours between coats. This guaranteeis only available in parts of France administered by the 4th republic."It felt like French paint was expensive until I actuallty wrote downsome prices from B&Q, converted them to euros (an important step Ioccasionally omit) and compared them to find that there wasn't much init for the better brands. The other advantage of buying in France isthat one can always get more of the same colour if one is silly enoughto underestimate.The one thing that I have never been able to find a good substitute for- Dulux Trade Quick Drying Primer and Undercoat for wood. I have runout now, and the prospect of a supply from the UK looks unlikely formany moons. Bring lots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeb Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 We have been lucky enough to have most of our paint brought over by folks from the UK. We came out 4 years ago with a couple of 10 litre tubs of B&Q white matt and now have to supply our neighbours and friends when we make a trip back to the UK.For my interior design work (!) copied from Arte & Decoration I've used some Casto emulsion which was excellent - thick and creamy and not too dear. Someone, I think it was Jongleurs, years ago recommended this. We've also used the Cire tinted wax stuff (from Casto) for sponging over emulsion coated rough plasterwork, looks great. Arte & Deco would be proud of us!For the shutters we used French Dulux Valentine pour bois just in case UK paint didn't stand up to the heat. Cost a fortune but is OK.As a sealer, as PVA doesn't seem to be available, we use white sous couche from the brico, usually Astral.Will have to try Farrow and Ball, Bob. It's available in La Rochelle apparently. Everyone I know who has used it, sings its praises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gyn_Paul Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 When I made shutters a few years ago, my wife fell for a particular shade of lavende in the Dulux Valentine range. I filled, sealed, primed, and undercoated (twice) the damn things with the appropriate Valentine paints then applied the (very expensive) Valentine top coat. Within the space of one summer the paint was pealing off. Worst on the West and South windows, but far from acceptable on the north. The top coat was such a sod to put on (streaks, drags, lines, etc.) I kept looking at the tin to check I hadn't accidentally picked up some cheap own-brand; certainly not the quality and 'feel' I would have expected of UK-Dulux.If I'm going to have to strip and repaint every couple of years then it might as well be with something that's a hell of a lot cheaper than Valentine!Whilst what others have said about the price in France may well be true (ex-pats frozen price-point memory syndrome), I feel we tend not to see in the Bricos here the equivalent of the B&Q Bank Holiday loss-leader priced stacks of 5 L Dulux Brilliant White and Magnolia which you regularly fall over in the UK, own brands - yes, but top of the range stuff - no. p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 I've not been able to find an equivalent for timber paint; this is the coloured stuff for painting sheds and fences eg Cuprinol Garden Shades. They just don't seem to do it here. Is it incapable of withstanding a dry summer perhaps? I want to paint a couple of panels of screen fencing and the thought of paying 50€ a tin for "microporeuse" or "lasure teinte" makes me cringe. Anyone found an acceptable product?I've not had any problems with the paint so far; lasure seems particularly durable compared to UK stuff. A garden bench has weathered a hot summer without any signs of peeling or cracking. Also, the stuff for painting rusty railings works a treat too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 gyn paul, I have brought some paint back from the UK recently and it has worked out at half the price I would have paid if I had bought in France. I simply could not get the colour I wanted in France hence buying there, so no memory problems about price for me. I bought a five litres tin for the price of a 2.5 litre tin of paint in France. b&q's everywhere and casto's everywhere paint is a lot dearer in France even taking into account the exchange rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 I used to have loads of problems finding the colours Iwanted. Then I took to having thecolours mixed specially. It actuallyworks out no more expensive than the pre-mixed paints except that you canselect the base paint (i.e. cheap or quality).When I first moved to France I was horrified by the cost ofpaint. However, after looking round abit more I have found that you can get perfectly good paints for a veryreasonable price (i.e. reasonable quality paint UK/France price pretty well thesame). The same brand is not alwaysgood “across their range”. For example,some Leroy Merlin wood paint is a disaster whilst their “own brand” emulsion isfine and reasonable price (in my experience). My experience is that if you just “go and buy” then you will pay alot. If you look around and selectcarefully you will pay a lot less and still get decent quality.I don’t know if it’s marketing but France seems to have alot more “micro porous” wood paints than the UK (unless UK just don’t marketpaints on that basis).As others have commented, I find the Astral range pretty goodquality and price for emulsions.I have always avoided getting paint from the UK as I’m sureI would run-out and need a little more. Also, don’t know how true it is but I’ve been told that parts of Francehave much wider temperature ranges than the UK and thus the paints are designedto withstand the wider ranges (where UK paints are not so designed) – no ideahow true this is, just repeating what I have been told.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepsimax Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 We have also had problems with finding paint that will cover turquoise paint and have had to paint three or four layers on. We have the added problem in the next bit of painting as the electrcians plastering has left pathways of new plaster on the walls. A friend has suggested a sealer of some kind which will then allow us to paint over these tracks and the paint will not then soak into the walls. has anyone done this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renaud Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Van Gogh had trouble with French paints too, if you see his museum in Amsterdam lemon yellow and prussian blue dominate the paintings as the other colours have faded badly. Admittedly he bought cheaply. So go for the expensive paints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gyn_Paul Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 [quote user="Renaud"]Van Gogh had trouble with French paints too, if you see his museum in Amsterdam lemon yellow and prussian blue dominate the paintings as the other colours have faded badly. Admittedly he bought cheaply. So go for the expensive paints. [/quote]That's because the summer before he bought the paint was cold and there were relatively few cochineal beetles around, so the paintmakers had to make do with grinding up a few of the death-watch !p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmzz Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 ive wasted many euros on many diferent types of french paint, which now languishes in my shed. I like a lot of things about france but definately not their paint. Its to thin, or to thick, or doesnt cover. It could be me of coarse but i dont have any problem with paint i bring over from uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 [quote user="mmzz"] ... Its to thin, or to thick,or doesnt cover. It could be me of coarse but i dont have any problem withpaint i bring over from uk[/quote] I’ve actually had similar problems with some paint in theUK. Doing-up my house in the UK beforeselling/moving I purchased this expensive “one-coat” Dulux paint that was theconsistency of butter. Paint it on abit, then the next strip and it “tore-up” the area I’d painted a few momentsago. So bad I binned it and purchasedsome ordinary emulsion (cheaper, etc.)and it worked. Similarly, painted the windows with exterior water based “reputablebrand” UK paint and 4 weeks later itwas splitting and peeling !!! Never yet had the same problems with French paintdespite hotter summers and colder winters – its not perfect but neither is theUK stuff.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Riff-Raff Element Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 [quote user="Pepsimax"]We have also had problems with finding paintthat will cover turquoise paint and have had to paint three or fourlayers on. We have the added problem in the next bit of painting as theelectrcians plastering has left pathways of new plaster on the walls. Afriend has suggested a sealer of some kind which will then allow us topaint over these tracks and the paint will not then soak into thewalls. has anyone done this?[/quote]Try the "Julian" stuff I mentioned - sous couche No 4 I think, but check the tins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 [quote user="jond"]Try the "Julian" stuff I mentioned - sous couche No 4 I think, butcheck the tins.[/quote]I find the Julian Primers excellent. Cannot remember the two"numbers" I use but the standard primer (containing insecticide, etc.)and the primer for very resin’y wood (i.e. including knotting effect) both seemexcellent – and quite reasonable price. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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