If you have ever looked into decorating, you’ll have noticed just how many brands of paint are out there. It can make choosing between them all quite difficult but if you’re going to get a professional finish then you’ll likely want to use the same as the pros.
Farrow and Ball is, by its own admission, a fine quality paint. But it’s easy to blow your own trumpet and if you speak to a professional painter, you might hear them saying a few choice words about this brand. But what have they got against it and why do painters hate Farrow and Ball?
One of the main reasons that painters hate Farrow and Ball is that it’s something of a ball ache! To get the best finish, you have to follow the brand’s three step system which eats up far more time not to mention the additional prep work. Moreover, Farrow and Ball paint isn’t the most durable which is surprising for what is sold as a high end product.
But the criticism of this brand doesn’t stop there. If you speak to any painter worth his or her salt then you’ll quickly notice that they aren’t huge fans of Farrow and Ball and we’re keen to find out more. So, in this quick guide, we’ll be taking a closer look at the downsides of this paint but to keep it fair, we’ll also point out the advantages.
What Is Farrow And Ball Paint?
Farrow and Ball is considered a rather high end paint and why wouldn’t it be when the likes of ex PM David Cameron is sprucing up their space with it? But questionable politicians aside, this is a brand that has been catapulted to heights of decorative delight thanks to the finest ingredients and highly pigmented paints.
The paints are marketed as being water based and low odour which is a plus for many people and the choice of 132 colours is certainly attractive. But of course, it’s all in the marketing, isn’t it. And while Farrow and Ball are busy telling the public and trade that their paints are superior, those that have used them aren’t quite as enamoured.
What’s So Bad About Farrow And Ball?
Speak to your painter and tell him or her that you want Farrow and Ball paint splashed across every surface in your home. You’ll surely see them roll their eyes and breathe a resigned sigh. Hey, the customer is always right and if you want your guy to use Farrow and Ball, then Farrow and Ball you shall have. But don’t be surprised if you’re charged extra for the pleasure. Below, you’ll find out why.
Farrow and Ball Is Expensive
Paying for quality isn’t something that most people mind doing but Farrow and Ball paint cost so much more than other well known paint brands.
For example, five litres of Farrow and Ball’s Hague Blue paint comes in at a whopping £116! However, if you choose to shop with Dulux, you can pick up five litres of their similarly coloured Chic Shadow for a fifth of that price! Yes, you read that right; a fifth!
Farrow and Ball Is Not Durable
For such a pricey paint, you would expect Farrow and Ball to withstand a nuclear blast, wouldn’t you? But no, that isn’t the case. So many people have reported problems with the durability and longevity of the paint, finding that it begins peeling or flaking long before it should.
Moreover, if you consider that Farrow and Ball markets itself as an eco-friendly company then these problems with longevity seem to drastically contradict this. If you’re having to decorate more regularly then this isn’t good for the planet so what does that tell you?
Farrow and Ball Is A Nightmare To Apply
A painter wants his or her job to be as easy as possible while still producing excellent results. However, Farrow and Ball is known for its rather difficult to apply nature. You see, the problem is that the brand uses a 3 coat system which is painful on its own. Couple this with the almost perfect prep you’ll need to do and you’ve got something that’s much more difficult than it needs to be.
This is one of the main reasons that a painter will charge more for time and labour when using Farrow and Ball. If the painter does not apply the paint to a near perfect surface then the problems with chipping and flaking will only occur sooner.
Surely There’s Got To Be A Plus Side, Right?
Ok, so we’ve given Farrow and Ball a pretty hard time up until this point and it would be unfair of us to leave out the good side of this paint.
One of the best things about Farrow and Ball is that you have a LOT of options when it comes to colour and coverage. You’ll notice that the company gives its paint some rather creative names like Sulking room pink and Elephant’s Breath or perhaps you’d like a splash of Slipper satin on your walls.
Moreover, the brand offers a choice of four different finishes which is great when you’re trying to create a room with texture, or not, as the case may be. Again, you’ll need to think creatively as your choices are:
- Estate emulsion
- Modern Emulsion
- Estate eggshell
- Full Gloss
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Conclusion
When you think of good quality paint, your mind might instantly wander to Farrow and Ball. But while this is sold as a luxury brand, all isn’t as it seems. Yes, there are some good points about it and many people experience little to no problem when using it. However, it would appear that there are more issues than are worth it which puts professional painters off.
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