Warning! Stay clear of......

B&Q value under coat. (Red and yellow metal tin.)

Its absolutely shoking stuff. I was told by a trusted friend who has been a painter for 40 years that to seal nicotene stained walls after washing I should use "any old" undercoat. Unfortunately my friend has never had the misfortune to buy this rubbish!

Its like painting with treacle and as far as I can tell provides absolutely no coverage at all! Costs about 7 quid a 2.5 litre tin. After ruining two brushes wish this stuuf I went to Wickes, paid the same price for a 5 litlre tin that goes on and covers infinately better.

I would say "you get what you pay for" but in this case teh cheaper stuff was better! Anyway....

Avoid it at all costs!

I was told by a trusted friend who has been a painter for 40 years that to seal nicotene stained walls after washing I should use "any old" undercoat.

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Stop trusting him. Is he perhaps angling to get the job from you? Anyone knows that any tar based stains leach straight through ANY emulsion (old or otherwise). Even PVA struggles with Heavy nicotene stains. Your best bet is to clean it up, best that you can with sugar soap, and then apply PVA. Instead of watering down the PVA, you can add it to the emulsion and use that as your first coat.

I couldn't agree more

I only wish I had seen your warning before buying this rubbish. I thought it was my poor technique at first, but eventually (half a door frame later) decided to bin it and start again.

My second choice was not cheap but absolutely lovely to work with!

as i see it, it is you that we should be careful of, you brought a cheap product expecting an expensive finish (otherwise why did you buy it)

you can not complain about something the way you have because it was cheap, if it was faulty, then yes, as you found out quality costs

I consider your response harsh and antagonistic!

I thought this forum was for DIYers' keen to learn from those who know and to share their woes and joys.

I am a DIYer on a budget (especially since being conned by a cowboy builder - despite obtaining necessary references etc). In my defense, you should appreciate that I want to do the job properly and not bodge it!

Are you aware that some reputable companies produce home products for these stores? I did enquire what the difference was, and they said none. Just that it's their own label!

I'm not in the trade so I have to either trust what I'm told or learn through experience.

It's probably too late now, but your friend the decorator was quite right.

Wash the nicotine off with sugar soap and rinse with clean water. Let it dry.

You can use a proper oil based sealer, or failing that an oil based undercoat. When completely dry, apply your emulsion, even better, finish with an oil based paint.

PVA is water based so is no good at all. Do not mix it with your emulsion as it will break down the structure of the paint.

Hope this helps