Farrow and Ball is an extremely popular brand of paint in the UK but, it is expensive and there are critics, who say there are better options. So that leaves us with a question. Is there a cheaper alternative to Farrow and Ball paint and would it be as good, if it's cheaper? Let's take a closer look and you can make up your own mind!
So why is Farrow and Ball so popular?
Whereas most paint companies focus on the quality of paint, Farrow and Ball understand that the paint is only a small part of the decision to re-decorate. They sell "the look' of a finished room and get homeowners excited of the colour names and styles of rooms being decorated. You very rarely hear someone discussing other companies names of paint colours however, you regularly hear people talking about F&B Stiffkey Blue or Railings for instance. There are Facebook groups dedicated to paint colour and room ideas, almost like a cult following, this is how F&B keep increasing in popularity.
The negatives of Farrow and Ball paint.
Seeing as the above sounds so great, why does F&B have its critics? The first is the price. 5L of Estate Emulsion will cost you around £100 and 5L of Dead Flat is around £130. That is a lot for "retail paint". Even by trade paint standards that's expensive. Especially when most rooms will take around 5L to paint the walls, plus what is required for the ceiling.
There is also the fact that painters and decorators have a real dislike to using F&B paint. It can be thin to brush with and not blend very well between brush and rollering. It also sometimes requires 3 coats where most quality paints will cover in 2. That being said, once applied the finish on the walls is good.
What alternatives are there to Farrow and Ball Paint?
Well this is where things get interesting. Due to the popularity of F&B, there are now a lot of companies which can colour match their paints. All the major trade paint manufacturers like Dulux, Crown and Johnstone's, can all colour match their paints to any F&B colour you require. You do however need to go to a trade store to do this. Don't be put off though. A trade centre invites every day customers, as well as trade customers.
So what do we recommend? As a professional painting and decorating company ourselves, we use a wide range of paints. A paint we find ourselves using more and more is Dulux Trade Velvet Matt. We're constantly amazed with how easy this paint is to use, especially with the more vibrant colours which other brands seem to struggle with. As a decorator it's important for a paint to cover well when you're cutting in, next to the ceiling. It's also important that the brush strokes from the cutting in blend in with the rollering marks from rollering the walls. This is where F&B runs into criticism however, this is where Dulux Heritage excels. The Velvet Matt covers extremely well and just feels like a quality paint when you're working with it. The other major advantage is it's durable. It can be scrubbed with a wet sponge and it will not affect the paint. It's ideal for busy hallways, living rooms and kitchens. A major advantage.
The last thing is the price. Whereas F&B is around £125 for the Dead Flat paint. Dulux Heritage Velvet Matt is only around £70. That's more than a small difference for what we would see for a superior paint.
Now you could be thinking this is an advert for Dulux and we are sponsored by them. That is not the case. We are an independant decorating company who happen to love the product and like to promote new products to homeowners, which can make their life easier and make painting and decorating more enjoyable.
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