As for the paintbrush, I use the Purdy Elite Monarch XL. It holds loads of paint, is soft enough to lay-off, and will keep its shape well. Available online.

The normal procedure would be one coat of undercoat followed by two topcoats, whether going over previously painted or pre-primed. Three coat systems over previously painted surfaces are the norm for most water-based paints. There are a few products out there which only need two. All surfaces to be painted should be clean, dry and free from loose and flaking material. Prime bare wood surfaces with Johnstones Aqua Undercoat. Prime all other bare surfaces with the appropriate primer. If you like, Aqua Guard is an evolution of Johnstone’s Aqua. They have developed something that out-performs its predecessor. OK, we’ve talked about the prep and the undercoat, let’s have a look at the main product. The Aqua Guard is easy to use, has great opacity and will not ruin your brushes. One of the issues you experience when using most water-based satinwood products is visible brush and roller marks. Not with Aqua Guard!! Anyone can achieve a great finish with this paint!! Brush marks just seem to melt away.Johnstone's Trade Aqua Undercoat Paint is a water based undercoat designed to be used under Aqua Water Based Gloss and other water-based paints. PPG (Johnstone’s) constantly redevelop their paint, releasing 4 new, or vastly improved products every year. Where I think they fall short is their marketing. People simply do not know about their paint. This may explain why Johnstone’s are a favourite amongst decorators, but not so much with homeowners. The key products in Johnstone Trade’s arsenal for me are the Aqua Guard, which really is way ahead of anything Dulux and Crown have to offer, and Johnstone’s StainAway, which is like nothing else on the market. No drips to mention, which is different to oil-based where I usually keep an eye on what I did 5 minutes ago to correct any sagging.

This is pointless and by adding water to the product you speed up the drying process, which makes it difficult to apply. What you can do is skim over your woodwork with a damp sponge just before you apply the paint. The paint then flies on and is a joy to use! The clean-up was a doddle. Warm water. No more faffing with white spirit!!! I felt like a caveman lighting a fire for the first time!As for the roller. I like the Hamilton ‘For the Trade’ mini-roller. They hold loads of paint, will stand up well to use in Johnstone’s Aqua, and are reasonably priced. Available online here. A hybrid is a compromise on just about every issue I have just mentioned. The paint will yellow, but it’ll stay white a lot longer than an oil-based. It is more durable than water-based, but not as durable as oil. It is easier to control than water, but not as easy as oil. The list goes on!! Besides which, the Johnstone’s Aqua undercoat is brilliant!! Easy to apply, dries flat and has great opacity. It is one of the best “nearly water-based” undercoats on the market.