WHAT THE TRADE IS SAYING ABOUT VALSPAR TRADE

Ben Phillips – Grey House Decorating

I first started using Valspar Trade a few years ago, when customers started asking for an alternative brand’s colours but at a more reasonable price and with enhanced durability. I knew from speaking to other decorators that Valspar Trade’s colour matching capabilities were really good and so I went to my local TradePoint to take a look. I’ve always preferred a water-based paint and the Valspar Trade Tough Matt has now become my go-to.

I really like the flow of the paint and it has great opacity – I usually get the required level of coverage in just one coat, but always do two as a standard. My customers love the durability of the Tough Matt, I’ve never had any complaints.

I also use Valspar Trade’s Contract Matt for all my mist coats. While it’s not its intended use, I find it works really well, with great coverage.

Mikey McKinnon – McKinnon Decorators

I recently made the switch to Valspar Trade after being offered vouchers for its Tough Matt by my local Valspar Trade rep – I haven’t looked back! I loved the paint, including how easy it is to get a hold of, being sold at TradePoint.

I previously used an alternative brand of matt but always found the finish to be quite shiny. With Valspar Trade, you get a true matt. It has a really good finish and goes a long way. It’s easy to brush on and delivers a high-quality finish. The cutting in blends nicely and I don’t have to worry about any issues with picture framing.

Richard Berry – Help To Home

I first started using Valspar Trade around six years ago when I first started my business. I visited my local TradePoint to look at the tintable paints and went from there. I often use the Valspar Trade Tough Matt, which is great for darker colours. Being able to purchase it from my local TradePoint is a bonus; otherwise, I’d have to travel potentially over 40 minutes to the closest Decorators Centre – taking valuable time away from my business.

The Tough Matt provides great, reliable coverage and it settles and dries really well, with a lovely finish. It also produces minimal splatter – unlike some alternative paints, where you can easily end up with more paint on yourself than you do the wall.

I’m always promoting Valspar Trade to my fellow painters and decorators, both on social media forums and in TradePoint. It’s durable, scrubbable and easy to apply.

Emma Gilyead – Rooms by Emma

I love Valspar Trade’s Tough Matt! It’s one of my go-to paints - I even prefer it over some of the other higher-end paints I’ve tried.

It’s a top-quality trade paint which goes on really nicely and has good opacity, with a lovely finish. Usually just one coat will cover the wall, but I always do a second coat to ensure the required level of durability. I work on a lot of family homes and so durability and scrubbability are understandably very important for my customers. I’ve used the Tough Matt range throughout my house too and never had an issue.

The Valspar Trade Bare Plaster is another product I will always use, I really like it for my mist coats.

We love to hear why the trade is switching to Valspar Trade, so we’ve dedicated a whole section to your reviews.

Take a look at our latest submissions below – and if you’re interested in contributing your own review, get in touch.

James Hurdwell / Ludlow, Shropshire

Even prior to trialling Valspar Trade, I knew that the trade paint could pull its weight in comparison with other brands. This perception has been further cemented after trying Valspar Trade Tough Walls & Ceilings in Silk on a recent hall, stairs and landing job, matched to the exact shade requested by my customer. The paint was excellent to apply and behaves itself well. The resulting finish, after two coats, is solid and durable, with a good even sheen.

Taking part in this trial has made me realise the quality, strength and prowess of Valspar Trade paint and I would always consider using the brand in the future.

Wayne Armstrong / WGA Decor – Wakefield

Before the trial, I wasn’t really aware that Valspar even had a trade version of its paint. I recently tried the Valspar Trade Matt in ‘Moonshot’ on a staircase and was pleasantly surprised by the quality. It was very easy and smooth to apply, in fact I felt like it spread more evenly and went further than my normal matt paint. When I needed to touch up after a couple of marks, it blended in perfectly.

Overall, the finish was excellent, and I was very impressed. I’ll definitely be using the Valspar Trade range of paint again on high-quality jobs in the future.

Zoe McVaigh - Imagine Wall, Stockport

One of the main reasons Zoe loves Valspar Trade paint is its durability. “I’ve been back to clients where I’ve used Valspar Trade, maybe years later and the rooms that I’ve done still look really crisp and really clean, like they were just done last week.”  For more reasons why Zoe chooses Valspar Trade, watch our video.

Emma Gilyead – Leeds

Before trialling Valspar Trade paint, my perception of the brand was that many professionals didn’t class it as a ‘trade’ paint but more of a DIY product for consumers.

For the trial, I used the Valspar Trade Tough Matt and had it colour matched to the existing hall, landing and stair carpet, which was a lovely stone-grey colour. The paint was really nice to apply, very thick and creamy. It had excellent opacity, to the extent that I would imagine you could get away with just one coat in certain circumstances. I found it very smooth to roller with really good coverage. As a comparison, I used 15 litres last time I painted this same hall, landing and stairs, whereas this time I used 10 litres.

I was really happy with the final result and finish and have already recommended Valspar Trade to my clients. Clients love being able to choose their paints from B&Q, so now I tell them to get Valspar Trade colour matched.

Nick Torrano-Harling, NTH Decorating, Leeds

Nick has been using Valspar Trade for a number of years and is particularly impressed by the ‘no splatter’.  “With Valspar Trade you don’t even really need to sheet up, you get no splatter at all.  I like the ease of use, it applies really well and I think it actually speeds up my work too.”  For more on what Nick has to say about Valspar Trade, watch our video.

Robin Gofton - Wokingham Decorating Services

“Valspar Trade Knot Block is like nothing I’ve ever used. To perform as well as it does, and still be so quick and easy to use is a masterpiece in my honest opinion. I can’t wait to start seeing the feedback from other decorators.”  Read more of Robin’s review here: https://www.thedecoratorsforum.com/valspar-trade-knot-block-review/

Ian Crampsie

“One benefit of using Valspar Trade Tough Matt over its competitors is you can touch this paint up and everything blends! I’m not sure whether that has something to do with the sheen level, or just the way this paint sits on itself, but it’s a real bonus. I can’t think of any other durable matt in the same price bracket which touches up.”  Ian’ full review here: https://www.thedecoratorsforum.com/valspar-trade-tough-matt-review/

“I would say that Valspar Trade Vinyl Matt is a decent product – neither the best nor the worst that I’ve used. And in a way that’s what surprised me; because my first impression was that it looked different to what I was expecting, I was expecting it to perform differently too, either in a positive or negative way, and in the end, it was neither, just a good vinyl matt.”  More on Ian’s review here: https://www.thedecoratorsforum.com/valspar-trade-vinyl-matt-review/

Jacksonheim Property Group

For its portfolio or ultra-luxurious serviced apartments in Manchester City Centre JacksonHeim Property Group uses Valspar Trade, for the “durability, longevity and quality of the products”.  They tell us more in this video.

Mike Gregory

This is a breath of fresh air, especially when painting large open-plan ceilings. You can’t see the defects you’d normally associate with cheap emulsion. [With Valspar Trade Contract Matt] you’re left with a lovely finish.  Find out more here: https://www.thedecoratorsforum.com/valspar-trade-contract-matt-review/

“To say Valspar Trade Exterior Direct to Wood and Metal in white has better opacity than its competition would be an understatement!”  Thanks Mike for another great review here: https://www.thedecoratorsforum.com/valspar-trade-exterior-direct-to-wood-and-metal-review/

GARETH ALLEN / GJA PAINTING & DECORATING – FLINTSHIRE

I recently trialed Valspar Trade’s Matt Emulsion in Cornwall Blue in my bathroom at home. 

In terms of application, it was really easy and with no overspray. I was particularly impressed with the level of coverage achieved and the fact that it only takes one hour to dry is an added bonus. 

The trial has definitely changed my perception of Valspar Trade and I’ll be looking to use their products again in the future.

WAYNE CLARKSON / FIELD VIEW JOINERY – NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Before the free trial, I didn’t have a great perception of Valspar Trade, primarily due to having had negative results in the past. 

The paint I chose to trial was Valspar Trade Matt White and Matt Magnolia (the standard colours on our jobs), as well as the Primer & Undercoat in White, with a finish coat in Eggshell White for all gloss work. On application of the paint, I really was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The finished results were fantastic – even better than the other trade paints I’ve used. 

Since taking part in the free trial, we’ve finished a second refurbishment job and have another booked in and all the paint has been Valspar Trade. It’s a shame that it took a free trial for me to realise that it’s as good, or even better, than the trade paints I normally use – I’d have been using it long ago if I’d have known. It was honestly an eye-opener. 

I now buy Valspar Trade; the coverage is truly exceptional and it’s even saving me money. I look forward to continuing to use the paint products within my company going forwards.

JASON WHITEHEAD / JASON WHITEHEAD PAINTER & DECORATOR – SOMERSET

DANIEL REYNOLDS / DAN’S DECORATING SERVICE – DERBYSHIRE

GAVIN BAKER / GAVIN BAKER SERVICES - LITTLEHAMPTON

Valspar Trade is my go-to for all projects, unless the customer supplies a different product for me to use.

I’m especially a fan of the Valspar Trade Tough Matt, which I use all the time for everything from walls to ceilings. It’s a dream to use as it flows nicely off the brush, provides great coverage, and goes a mile! Additionally, when it dries it has a lovely matt finish and is very hard wearing, which my customers really appreciate.

I also use the Masonry Smooth and Direct to Wood and Metal paints from Valspar Trade’s exterior range, which I’ve found to perform similarly as Tough Matt.

The Primer and Undercoat with knot blocking is another product I’ve used a few times, and which performs well. I think it’s perfect to use on bare wood, but I use it as an adhesion primer on top of old gloss woodwork, before applying the topcoat.

Overall, I’ve used a variety of Valspar Trade’s products and they’ve always provided positive results for me, as well as being good value for the money. The local reps are also great, providing help and advice on solutions. They’re great people to have on speed dial! It is for these reasons that I go back to Valspar Trade time and time again.