Johnstone’s Aqua was recently voted the best water-based gloss and satin on the market by professionals from the Decorators Forum UK (research carried out in 2020). With this in mind, we decided to ask a number of decorators what they thought about the system.

When it comes to the best MDF paint overall, I don’t think I could look past Johnstone’s Aqua Guard Satinwood. I know a lot of people clamour for oil-based paints on MDF but as long as you use Caparol Haftprimer (as I would suggest with all paints for MDF) it really doesn’t matter if you’re using oil-based or water-based paint. The downside of being a hybrid is that it can ruin your brushes if you’re using the paint for a prolonged period. To combat this, you should keep your brushes wet by swilling them out every hour or so. Running a damp cloth over a surface before you paint it will also help with flow. You must use the correct system, so bare timber should be primed using an acrylic primer. Then you should use the Johnstone’s Aqua undercoat, followed by at least one coat of Aqua Guard. Previously painted surfaces take a coat of Aqua undercoat, followed by the satinwood.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. One of the best attributes of Superdec is its durability. I’ve seen it remain unblemished even after a few years, and that’s no small feat. The finish it offers is always spot-on, providing a clean, polished look for your wooden sills.

Free sachet delivery is available on all Rust-Oleum sachets. These are shipped direct from the manufacturer using Whistl. Can take 5-10 working days. Johnstone’s Trade Aqua Guard Satin is a fully water-based satinwood designed for internal woodwork. The benefits of this over the Aqua Satinwood are; this is more durable and will not yellow at all. Not that the Aqua is a bad system, but it does come with its problems.Of course, opacity and finish don’t just apply to painting MDF but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless as it’s a criterion I will be using to score the paints I’ve recommended below. 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 Featuring an innovative surface protection technology, Johnstone's Trade Aqua Guard Satin has been designed to protect interior surfaces against scratches, wear & tear and finger marks. A durable water based paint, this brilliant white also features advanced application qualities, extending overall working time, covering powering and long lasting whiteness.

Before jumping into my recommendations, I want to briefly touch upon what you should be looking for in a paint to use on MDF surfaces. This includes… On the other hand, if you have MDF wall panelling, which is becoming increasingly popular, a durable matt emulsion would be the ideal choice. The matt emulsion will provide an aesthetically pleasing look which is the most important attribute when looking for paint for wall panelling. What to Look for When Buying Paint for MDF Surfaces

Johnstone's Trade Aqua Guard Satin - Brilliant White is available in 3 sizes including, 1L, 2.5L and 5L and delivers long-lasting durability with a touch dry time of 1-2 hours and is recoatable after 4 hours.

The alternative, Sandtex 365 Masonry Paint, although a decent choice for some applications, can be hard on the roller. If you prefer an easy application and cleaning process, especially on detailed window sill work, I’d lean toward the High Cover Smooth Masonry Paint. Last, but certainly not least, the Aqua Guard is a lot more durable than most water-based products. You need to give it a good week to cure, but after that it’ll be as hard and scuff resistant as an oil-based!! 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. We also deliver to the majority of non mainland UK locations including The scottish Highlands & islands, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly and Northern Ireland. Please see full delivery terms for the extra charges associated with these locationsJohnstone'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. Whilst the Dulux equivalent (Diamond Matt) is probably a bit better in terms of durability, Clean Extreme more than makes up for that when it comes to its superiority in overall finish and opacity. 2 coats are almost always enough. Besides, MDF panelling is usually used as a decorative effect so durability doesn’t necessarily have to be your number one priority.