Johnstones Trade Aqua Guard Water Based Satin Paint 2.5l Brilliant White J-435197

Product Information

MDF wall panels are all the rage at the moment and that rules out using satinwood or gloss (unless you want a shiny-looking wall which isn’t generally recommended). Whilst you could go for an eggshell, I would personally recommend going for a durable emulsion and more specifically, Crown Clean Extreme. The Clean Extreme emulsion absorbs light and thus makes the MDF panel look much more aesthetically pleasing. MDF isn’t the easiest surface to paint as it’s so smooth. This can expose you to the risk of painting errors being more pronounced. If you’re a professional decorator then ease of application isn’t going to matter but for DIYers, a paint that’s easy to work with (and preferably self-levelling) will minimise the chances of leaving brushmarks, orange peel effects and paint drips.

When it comes to painting wooden window sills, Sadolin Superdec is my top recommendation. This product is often underrated, but in my experience, nothing can match its longevity and flexibility. After some bad experiences with water-based paints, I have moved over to them in recent years after discovering Floetrol. Using this, I have found I can get a decent finish with Dulux eggshell and satin (certainly much better than the expensive professional painter achieved in my hall/staircase/landing a few years ago). When it comes to window sills, you can’t beat Sandtex High Cover Smooth Masonry Paint. The smooth, even finish it delivers is top-notch. Its staying power is exceptional, even in challenging locations like properties right by the sea, where salt, wind, and rain are daily affairs. First of all, Aqua Guard has immense coverage. I’ve found that even without an undercoat, it provides a quality finish. This puts it leagues ahead of its competitor, Dulux’s Diamond Satinwood, which I’ve found struggles to cover even after three coats.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. 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. Perhaps my favourite feature of this paint is how it levels beautifully during application. This is key when it comes to painting MDF as MDF is typically so smooth that brush marks are easy to leave. Fortunately, the Aqua Guard gives a finish that’s comparable to spray painting even when using a paintbrush. I’ve tried other primers such as Zinsser 123 and Zinsser BIN but neither comes close to Haftprimer.

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. Johnstone's Trade Aqua Guard is our most durable water based satin paint for interior wood and metal. Innovative Surface Protection technology provides the ultimate defence against scratches, wear & tear and greasy finger marks for a long-lasting finish. Johnstone's Trade Aqua Guard also has advanced application qualities, excellent hiding power and long-lasting whiteness. Apply one full coat of Johnstone's Trade Aqua Water Based Undercoat to all correctly prepared and primed surfaces before applying two full coats of Aqua Guard Satin Whilst it’s labelled as a semi-matt, I would say it’s somewhere in the eggshell to satinwood range. This means it’s got a lovely sheen whilst being easy to keep clean.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. 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. Another quality of the Aqua Guard is you can apply generous coats and not experience much in the way of sagging or runs. Again, this is normally an issue when using water-based. 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!!