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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Painting, Decorating & Tiling Questions >> Painting wood with emulsion https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1366531867 Message started by jazzyman on Apr 21^st, 2013, 9:11am

Title: Painting wood with emulsion
Post by jazzyman on Apr 21^st, 2013, 9:11am

Just finished making an airing cupboard in the bathroom, it's a wooden frame with MDF panel and wooden louvre doors.

My wife said that she would like it painted with emulsion (silk matt) would this be ok? and if so should I prime the bare wood before using the emulsion?

Title: Re: Painting wood with emulsion
Post by woodsmith on Apr 21^st, 2013, 11:13am

You can, but the paint is relatively soft and thick and will mark easily, you need to prime if you want a get a completely opaque finish but if you wanted to have a more shabby chic look you could leave off the primer and just paint onto bare wood. I've never tried it with MDF though which may look terrible without primer so I would try a test piece first.

To make this more durable you could give it a coat of decorators varnish but you are still not going to get as good a finish as you would if you used an eggshell paint in the first place.

Title: Re: Painting wood with emulsion
Post by jazzyman on Apr 23^rd, 2013, 7:05pm

Thanks for the information.

Too play it safe, I will use the eggshell paint, please could you recommend a good brand that covers well and doesn't yellow?

I tried a Dulux waterbased white gloss a few months ago and it was awful. :'(

Title: Re: Painting wood with emulsion
Post by TIMBA-WOLF on Apr 23^rd, 2013, 10:26pm

If you do not want a glossy look, why not try a Satin wood ,(semi sheen) by Dulux, you can get it in VOC content, rather than water based gloss (which frankly does not work!!)

or a true eggshell (again by Dulux.. and again can be bought in VOC flavour)

a proper Decorating supplier is best i.e: Brewers...

Title: Re: Painting wood with emulsion
Post by woodsmith on Apr 24^th, 2013, 7:29am

For my last few jobs I've use Farrow and Ball estate eggshell and have been very happy with the finish. I've not tried it in white though, I try to avoid pure white as much as possible.

Title: Re: Painting wood with emulsion
Post by jazzyman on Apr 24^th, 2013, 9:04am

Thanks for the suggestions.

Satinwood does seem the best choice because of the low sheen finish. I was told to avoid white voc paints because of the yellowing effect.

I was also told to avoid the quick drying one coat satinwood paints, because of the poor finish.

This is all getting confusing now :-/

So the next question is there a white voc satinwood paint that is not prone to yellowing?

Title: Re: Painting wood with emulsion
Post by woodsmith on Apr 24^th, 2013, 11:30am

I've used Dulux Satinwood both oil and water based and it has been OK and has not yellowed. However the paint companies are constantly re-formulating their paints to comply with VOC regulations and so past performance is no guarantee of future success but that is the one I would go for.

I avoid Crown paint.

Title: Re: Painting wood with emulsion
Post by Joiner on Apr 25^th, 2013, 11:58am

;D And my painter & decorator son-in-law avoids Dulux like the plague!

And I've had some funny experiences with F&B despite following the instructions on the tin.

Ho hum. Funny old world. ;)

And second Wolfie's recommendation of Brewers. Good company.

Painting the edge of MDF has to be done in stages if you want a reasonably smooth finish. Primer - sand - primer - wire wool - undercoat - wire wool - top coat - wire wool - top coat.