OH is going to be painting the living room, hall and staircase next month.  I get to choose the paint ;)  Has anyone used 'one coat' paint, does it really only need one coat or is it too good to be true?  House is 4 years old and has builders magnolia paint on the walls at the moment.  Does anyone recommend a make of paint - Dulux, Crown, Homebase or B&Q.  Thanks.

Jax :)

I'm no expert, but OH did an apprentiship as a painter and decorator, he absolutely hates decorating and takes no amount of nagging on my part to get him to do anything (he even paid someone to do our bedroom!), anyhoo I digress...... He says one coat doesn't work, and will only use Crown paints.

I'll use whatever suits my colour scheme, but remember as a child my Mum telling Dad off for buying an "own brand" paint and tipping it into a dulux tin! The smell of the own brand paints used to give us all sore throats and headaches, Dad thought we were putting it on and we'd never notice if he swapped tins!

It is ok if it is a good brand but will only really work if the walls are painted in a very light colour previously then it will normally take two coats. Best to buy some cheap white emulsion for the under coat if the walls are dark. Dulux or Crown are your best bets.

Hi,
I've tried one coat on a few occasions and have always ended up doing two coats to cover properly. think the only way they work is if you prepare the walls first by doing a white undercoat of cheap paint.
If you find one that works let me know.  

I have never found the one coat paints to be of any good, would need 2 coats for sure.
I use Dulux only but saying that after the good comments abotu Farrow and Ball i would possibly try theirs.
Also my friend had a lovely colour from Laura Ashley, it seems to be fairing well, only thing is the price.

We used Dulux one coat but it didnt work and we had to put two on, i used it again recently on a small project and had to do the same again.

we brought some really cheap white paint from asda think it was about £5 my Dad said at that price what is it chalk and water? Anyhows it did the job as an undercoat, i wouldn't waste my money one one coat paint two coats is the way to go, or/and use a cheap white undercoat if its rather bright my bedroom was a orange.......eeewwww!

We used Dulux one coat on our hall, stairs, landing, and it needed two coats - I was painting straight onto newly plastered walls and I think that would have caused some of the 1st coat to soak in.

Jax,

I found that the wood started to show pretty quickly through 'One Coat' and we had to do it all over again (Once the new flooring was down!!)

Learned a lesson that it's better just buying a really good undercoat and topcoat and doing the hard work.

Dulux one coat works really well.... if you paint directly onto lining paper :)

I've used it a couple of times and the only way it works is if you paint over a very similar colour or a white base.  It's best to put some sort of undercoat on first.

Ditto LJS luckily we have a friend who has a painting team so I pay hourly rate and they thrash it out in a day. They use Dulux for colours and crown paint for gloss.
One coat is my OH's solution if he has to do it but only over a light coat or it "grins" through.

no they don't,there are always shady patches that need going over again.it's worth doing the extra coat for a much better finish.i've always done all our decorating and have used all the updated paints and they all need more than one coat.x

I use B&Qs own make of paint ( not the value one which is dreadfully thin and needs lots of coats to cover) and have always found it very good. Two coats gives a very good depth of colour.

I've never tried One coat but if it's anything like the nail polish then it will be patchy.  We're decorating this weekend (oh joy) and it will be the first time in years I've had to do it myself.  Anyway with two furries in the house what does everyone think of quick dry gloss?  Any recommendations?

I've never found that the "one coat" paints do what they say on the tin!!

I like Dulux best, the soft sheen ones (do they still make them?) For value though, I haven't found anything to touch the Wickes trade paints.

We have never found one-coats worked .

We use 'silk' on walls and ceilings as the soft sheen reflects light back into the room .

We've always found Permoglaze to be the best for covering