I've got leyland contract matt emulsion on my entire 4 bed house including hall, stairs, kitchen (but not bathroom).

Too many decorators are still using cheap contract matt to prime bare plaster. It’s an old-school approach and you shouldn’t do it in modern decorating. There’s no need. Certainly not a matt emulsion, at the very least an emulsion with vinyl in it is needed - the vinyl makes it wipe able 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. I see it all the time on the Decorators Forum UK. People arguing that, “contract matt allows plaster to breathe”. Well yes, it does, until you coat over the top of it with something that doesn’t. So that argument is null and void. The massive downside of contract matt is it isn’t very durable. durability isn’t an issue on most ceilings, but you may want to look at a more substantial product as a finish coat on your walls.Our trade paint emulsion is available in a selection of neutral colour choices ranging from pure brilliant white to magnolia and classic grey. With tin sizes ranging from 2.5L to 15L, choose the right size for the job in a range of finishes including eggshell, gloss, matte, satin and silk. Using contract matt as a mist coat is a bit “old school”. There was a time when every decorator was taught to use a coat of contract matt, and it can still be effective now. However, a lot of manufacturers will either advise you use a specialist primer, or just heavily dilute the same product as you’re using as a topcoat and apply directly to the plaster. Contract matt is also a great base for additional products, so a homeowner can come in and apply whatever paint finish they like over the top of the “builders finish”.

I think the main problem here has been missed by your original decorator and the decorator who is providing the opinion on the material used. If the walls were nicotine stained then it would matter not the manufacturer or the type of emulsion used. The walls should have been thoroughly washed down with sugar soap and then either an oil based under coat or B.I.N primer should have been applied to all affected walls/ceilings. This would avoid the staining returning through the new coating. Once this has been done then it is entirely down to budget and the decorators personal preference on material used. There is not problem with contract emulsion being used, its designed for use in new build and newly plastered applications but can be used on any suitable substrate and it does indeed offer great obliterating power and is also very good when touched up. I hope this can be of some help to you and will hopefully provide you with the advice you required. Contract matt is normally used to prime bare plaster as it contains little in the way of polymer binders and allows the plaster to breathe. It is also the perfect base coat for other emulsion type products. You can use it as a finish coat on ceilings which is the big test as a lot of emulsions show blemishes when used on light critical ceilings.Contract matt is often used as a “builders finish” on a lot of newbuilds. This is mainly due to price!! But other factors include the breathability of contract matt, meaning it can be applied to bare plaster walls which are not fully cured or dried out.