Has anyone used new (low VOC) Farrow & Ball Paints?

[Pford75]

F&B now have an 'Estate eggshell' which is water-based. This is in addition to their 'Oil eggshell' and their 'water-based eggshell'.

I've tried their 'water-based eggshell' before and was very disappointed with it....the oil eggshell provided much better coverage, depth of colour and has worn well. But i'm slightly intrigued by the new 'estate eggshell'. Does anyone have any experience of using this 'estate eggshell'?

Similarly, any comments/thoughts on their 'Modern emulsion'? They claim that it is "amongst the most environmentally friendly paints available." http://www.farrow-ball.com/categorylist.aspx?cid=PFIM&language=en-GB

This is to paint over lining paper, so I am not concerned about breathability

 

[jocelyn plummer]

I used the F & B water based eggshell in the Holy land kitchen,it was fine, but I have not tried the Estate eggshell, preferring Rose of Jericho products.

As a comparator, go to http://www.rose-of-jericho.demon.co.uk

A phone call will fill in any information not on line. I have used all their paint finishes for over 10 years now and am broke, but very pleased with the results!!

Their distempers are excellent. Watch the p&p charges... need to place a fair sized order to get free delivery.

I've just placed an order with them for the -- ( fingers x'd) -- new house.

 

[Pford75]

Thx.

I've decided to purchase some test pots of the estate eggshell and the oil based eggshell and will report back

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Good thinking, I'll be interested to know what you think.

 

[Moo]

So will I.

 

[Nigel]

I used the Modern Emulsion (Lime White) for a small bathroom ceiling as it is meant to be better for such things. At first blush it looked fine but I then mistakenly used it for a touch up on another ceiling that was Estate Emulsion. Only then did I pick up that the Modern Emulsion is not nearly as attractive as the Estate, lacking the matty chalkiness of the original - shows you how much attention I was paying. I would stick with Estate.

 

[Nemesis]

I agree - painted on top of lining it works fine, and has that chalkiness still which I suspected the modern stuff lacked - thanks for the confirmation.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Seconded!

Another lovely chalky finish for over lining paper is Francesca's Chalky emulsion paints.

 

[Edwardia]

Our whippersnapper of an Edwardian house has both horsehair plaster and more modern stuff, sometimes in the same room. At least some of the ceilings have been re-plastered, too. This presents a problem when choosing paint colours, because the horsehair plaster needs something breatheable. So it's great to find Modern Emulsion in traditional colours, to use alongside Estate Emulsion. An alternative, is to use BS standard paints in colourways available in both breatheable matts and vinyl matt or silk.

Having used water-based eggshell I have to say it runs like crazy and I would never use it again. I like oil-based eggshell because it doesn't run nearly as much,is easier to paint with and I like the finish better. I have found some BS paints in Trade ranges that are low odour oil eggshell and been pleased with the way they flow and the result.

 

[JoceAndChris]

My local stockist informed me today that F&B are discontinuing oil eggshell this year because of its high VOC content; they want us all to switch to "Estate Eggshell", which apparently is somewhere between the water based and the oil based. (I also hate water based eggshells.) Their oil eggshell shows brushtrokes prettily, I'm kind of sad it's going but will be interested to try other products, especially breathable ones.

Is there any point putting limewash/distemper/linseed paint over non breathable paint? Here we have lime plaster everywhere painted with suffocating paint- to what extent does it need stripping off?

I can't face any more stripping this decade!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

There are many good paint companies now. My favourite is http://www.rose-of-jericho.demon.co.uk. They give good clear advice about covering previous paint finishes and have a very comprehensive product description.I have used all their finishes except the limewash (for which I have no requirement) and find them to give a good result. They do flat oil , eggshell (my favourite),limewash, emulsions and distempers. It is worth asking their advice about covering non breathable paint.

F & B seem to have changed somewhat over the years. I stupidly tried their modern estate emulsion because the previous owner told me that is what she had used----- I have ended up stripping it off, relining the walls and using R of J.

Do some research and I'm sure others will come up with some good alternatives.

 

[butterfly]

Yes - in the past used Farrow & BALL, but being chemic ally sensitive, found them not suitable at all., Much prefer Rose of Jericho, or Francesca's chalky emulsions. I only speak as one who cannot tolerate inhaling chemicals. Hope you find one that you like.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Many thanks; I'll certainly contact Rose of Jericho for some product information. Even the name...Rose of Jericho, almost as pretty as Jocelyn!

I stupidly tried their modern estate emulsion because the previous owner told me that is what she had used----- I have ended up stripping it off, relining the walls and using R of J.
/quote]

I don't blame you at all, it's so shiny isn't it?

The best thing about f&b is the ready availability and those card things they have in their stockists' shops. They're invaluable. You can take your fabric swatches in , pull out different cards, pull out all the wallpaper and fabric books, and fritter away 100s of happy hours creating the perfect scheme.

I think my local stockist is going to get increasingly cross with me as I take my own Womersley or R of J cards down, mess up her entire shop pawing her stock, then buy the fabric and wallpaper cheaper on t'Internet. :roll:

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Not only is the modern estate emulsion shiny, it seems to have 'picked up' a strange green tinge from the etched glass panels in the front door, distorting the colour from' white tie' to a pale green and that's despite a richly coloured deep pile carpet--crimson is the nearest description-- which I though would reflect upwards. Anyway, distemper has a nice chalky finish and it now looks ok.

As R 0f J is a long way away and their sample pots are quite pricey I have simply chatted to them over the phone, in every instance the colour they have sent has been perfect, although, I have to say that I did try out most of their colour samples 8 years ago for one of our houses, so I suppose I am fairly familiar with how the colours look and can get away with it.

All good fun!!

 

[ljn]

I think Farrow & BALL are responding to the EU directive that will come into force on January 2010, limiting the emissions of VOCs from decorative paints. The other manufacturers will have to follow and go oil-free.

Grade I listed buildings will be able to continue using oil based paint just as as they are allowed to used lead based ones today:
http://www.spab.org.uk/html/advice/technical-qas/technical-qa-30-lead-paint/

I understand that oil paints pollute the environment and give us cancer, but I can't understand is why they cant make the more echo-friendly paints with a nice chalky mat finish.
If it has a sheen, I might as well be using Leyland eggshell at a quarter of the price.

I am choosing paints. the F& B dead flat oil looks great, but there's not much use in me going for it if from next year it won't be available. Professional decorators have told me that it is better to stick to one paint base, ie not to paint water based paint on top of oil paint or vice versa.

I had a quick look at the http://www.rose-of-jericho.demon.co.uk/ site, I presume the mat dead flat oil will be discontinued like the F&B one. The alternative is the egshell which states VOC EU limit value (2010) and that has a "light sheen" like the F&B -or Leyland

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh b****r. That is very bad news indeed. Does that mean I'm going to have to buy crate loads of non shine oil paint this year along with 30000 chandelier bulbs?

How about this linseed oil paint Biff & Co rave about? Is it shiny?

Professional decorators have told me that it is better to stick to one paint base, ie not to paint water based paint on top of oil paint or vice versa.

Yes yes that's absolutely correct. And even combining water based paint for woodwork in a room scheme with oil based paint sticks out like a sore thumb to me, but then, maybe others are less OCD than me!

 

[Jon Maine]

As I have only a grade 2* house and not grade 1 it is fortunate that we dont have any oil based paint anywhere.

Although the light bulb thing may be more of an issue, but I dont believe it has effected chandelier bulbs yet.