STIR THOROUGHLY BEFORE USE. On very absorbent surfaces apply a sealing coat of thinned Armstead Trade Vinyl Matt (up to 1 part clean water to 5 parts paint). The normal finishing process is 1 or 2 full coats of Armstead Trade Vinyl Matt. Coverage up to 14m²/l on smooth surfaces of average porosity. Touch Dry: 1-2hours. Recoat: 2-4 hours. Drying times dependent upon temperature and humidity.

I love the vinyl matt too. For something that’s so cheap, it covers bare plaster in two coats and looks brilliant. It has a low sheen level meaning you don’t see picture framing or roller marks. I just wish you could still get any Dulux colour matched into Armstead, like you could a couple of years ago. You can save a fortune by switching over to Armstead. Armstead vinyl matt leaves a true matt finish, and you encounter very few problems such as picture framing and roller marks. Drying time is roughly 2 – 4 hours depending on conditions, and you can have this product tinted into any colour from Armstead’s extensive range. You should dilute your first coat if you intend to use it on bare plaster. STIR THOROUGHLY BEFORE USE. On very absorbent surfaces apply a sealing coat of thinned Armstead Trade Contract Matt (up to 1 part clean water to 5 parts paint). The normal finishing process is 1 or 2 full coats of Armstead Trade Contract Matt. Coverage up to 15m²/l on smooth surfaces of average porosity. Touch Dry: 1-2hours. Recoat: 2-4 hours. Drying time dependent upon temperature and humidity. Armstead is owned and manufactured by AkzoNobel, who also make Dulux, often in the same factory. You’ll find both brands sold side by side at any Dulux Decorating Centre and a lot of other independant trade merchants.Opacity used to be an issue in pale colours, but Armstead seem to have sorted this problem out over the last couple of years. You can now cover bare plaster in two coats, which is ideal. Armstead has been one of my favourite paint brands for a long time now. Not only are they a cheaper alternative to Dulux Trade, but the brand stands on its own for quality, price and performance. It’s a brand I can rely on to achieve professional results for my clients. You can get a good finish if you use a foam roller, but it does take a bit of faffing. It sprays well though. Another redeeming feature of Armstead QD gloss is the price. It is much cheaper than a lot of comparable trade products, so you are getting value for money. It isn’t my preferred system though. In this review, I’m going to focus on Armstead paint products and talk about each one in turn. As a professional decorator, I have been using Armstead regularly for some time, and know the brand inside and out. I find the overall quality good. I’d even go as far as to say it is one of the best trade brands available, especially if you consider value for money. I love Armstead durable matt!! It is very cheap compared to other durable matt emulsions on the market and you can achieve a true matt finish. In fact, the finish is lovely!! No flashing or roller marks at all really. Opacity in pale colours can be more of an issue, so expect to have to apply a third coat on occasion. This is the only thing you need to look out for.

Armstead smooth masonry paint does everything a premium masonry paint will do. The ease of application is bang on, opacity is ok but nothing special. The overall finish is fantastic, and you’re left with a dead flat matt. It seems to last forever too. The colour doesn’t fade in the sunlight, so it looks fresh for years.