2.5LTR - JOHNSTONES TRADE AQUA UNDERCOAT BRILLIANT WHITE

Product Information

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. 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.

You expect a masonry paint to feel very elasticy and flexible. Johnstone’s Stormshield masonry paint doesn’t, it is more like a thin emulsion. I don’t like that to be honest. You need a paint to bridge every indentation on stonework for it to look good and this just doesn’t. I don’t know, maybe its down to my personal preference, but I don’t get on with it. Johnstone’s Stormshield Masonry Paint is showerproof in 20 minutes which is a major plus point, it is easy to use and opacity are fine. 5/10 for me. Full review here. 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.

5 Litre Dark Grey

Johnstone's Trade Aqua Undercoat Paint is perfect for use with our other 'topcoat' aqua range, a fantastic water-based undercoat ideal for interior and exterior wood and metal. There is another downside and it is a fairly big issue. Johnstone’s Aqua satin and gloss will start to yellow and discolour over time, especially in low light conditions. More so than other “water-based” products on the market, but a lot less than anything oil-based. I’ll explain why in the next section.

Johnstone’s Trade Satinwood is an oil-based satin that does everything it’s supposed to. It is self-undercoating over primed, or pre-painted surfaces and fine for interior wood or metal. It has plenty of body, good opacity, easy to apply and leaves a nice finish. The only downside (and it’s a big one), is Johnstone’s Trade satinwood seems to turn yellow quite soon after you’ve applied it. Because of the issue with discolouring, I’ll give Johnstone’s Trade Satinwood 6/10. Full review here. 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. Each product gives you the application and feel of a solvent-based product, whilst delivering the benefits of a water-based product. Ultimatly you'll be rewarded with a superior finish you can be proud of, every time.

1 Litre Brilliant White

Purdy Monarch Elite XL is my paintbrush of choice. It holds loads of paint, is soft enough to lay-off, and keeps its shape well enough to cut-in. Available online here. Aqua” means water, and the tin boasts “water-based technology”, but in fact, the Johnstone’s Aqua satin and gloss are both hybrids. This means, although the paint is primarily water-based, it contains an alkyd (or oil) carrier, so it’s a mix of water and oil!! They do this for a few reasons, water-based paints do solve a lot of problems, but they create some new ones. I’ll give you some examples; Aqua Guard is a lot easier to apply than a lot of other water-based satin products. That said, having the correct tools for the job will help you achieve a good finish, so I thought I’d give my recommendations. You don't need to worry about yellowing or ageing. Each product leaves you with a durable finish, ensuring surfaces stay whiter for longer. Johnstone’s Aqua Guard is the evolution of Johnstone’s Aqua (another example of Johnstone’s having variations of the same product). Aqua Guard is a fully water-based satin with a sheen level around 30% and can be tinted into just about any colour. You will need to use Johnstone’s Aqua Undercoat to prime any surfaces, but that is also a great product.

But these glosses have very good flow and are very durable, however, different companies have different levels of oils in their mix so this can be a factor to consider.People are always looking to cut a corner, but you really can’t when using Johnstone’s Aqua. You should always apply a full coat of Aqua undercoat prior to using the Aqua gloss or satin. This is for a few reasons, including adhesion and adding durability to your painted surface. Not just that, but the Aqua satin and gloss always sits nicely on top of the undercoat to give a better finish.

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.

2.5 Litre Dark Grey

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. 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.