Cheaper paint: Homebase or Wickes?

[insidemyknee]

Hi all.

I'm hoping to be re-decorating me and my partner's bedroom this summer. It's the largest bedroom (we live in a council house - hope you can visualize the size.) I want to re-paint the ceiling white and the walls a slate gray, and also go along the skirting boards and windowsill in gloss white.

So, which do you find cheapest for paint, Homebase or Wickes? I will only be buying from these stores as they are easy to get to for me.

Thanks for any help.

[Count-A-Strong]

Have you looked on their websites?

[beejay1124]

would suggest ou dont go for cheapest of the cheap super bargain economy stuff
as you will have to put on extra coats of the stuff for the job to be worthwhile

[insidemyknee]

@beejay1124 : I wouldn't buy economy paint, but the store's own brand usually is okay right?

[beejay1124]

best asking a staff member
some own brands are like water

[ummmm]

In my experience their own brand paint is no where near the quality of Dulux.

[wired]

Go for Dulux or Crown, Homebas and Wickes will cost you more eventually, we got some Wickes earlier in the year and had to do a repaint over it, it just isn't right.

[Robinia]

I prefer Dulux or crown too but I've recently been told that Wickes are now very good...

...and no, it wasn't someone who works there who told me that :o)

[Hawkwalk]

I have used Homebase own brand and found it to be very good. I also use crown and dulux, it just depends on which colour I want. Homebase are normally the cheapest for Dulux but not sure about their own brand. I have not been to Wickes so cant comment.

[SylvesterCat]

I used an own brand paint and gave it two coats then went out and bought a tin of Dulux and had to give it a coat of that on top. It would have cost me less and quicker if i had used Dulux from the start.

[buildersmate]

I can really only endorse what others have said.
Why folks try and save a few bob on a tin of paint when it is unlikely to last as long beat's me.
Have you ever seen a time-served decorator with a pot of 'HomeBase' up his ladder?

[P_Lactophobe]

Get a good brand so it's nice and thick and covers well - Matt or Silk will work, I reckon silk is best for walls, matt for ceilings.
Cover furniture an carpets so you don't get paint speckles on everything from the roller.
Do the edges (and round any lights) carefully with a brush to about 3" out
Do the rest with a roller with a broom stick shoved up the handle - then you can do most of it stood on the floor.
Don't roller too fast or you'll throw off lots of droplets (speckles)
Keep the edge of the paint wet - if you stop half way through for lunch, the edge will dry and will show.
A damp cloth will get paint off the walls, whatever where you touch as long as it's not dried.

Gloss painting.
The undercoat does most of the work killing the old colour - so don't skip it.
I use foam gloss rollers for large areas but it's handy to have a 1 1/2" bush handy for fiddly bits. Lightly load the brush, do the fiddly bits then roller in the big areas. The roller may leave bubbles in the paint, if it does go over with the brush (almost dry) really lightly to pop the bubbles. Be careful not to put too much paint on or it will run.

Ceiling first, Gloss second, walls last

Don't forget your prep, get everything clean, fill in holes with decorators filler.

[tinpotLizzie]

Wickes TRADE emulsion is great value, good quality & has excellent covering properties. The only drawback is the shortage of colour choice.