Latest paint advice

Wasn't Dulux Satinwood was it? Used some the other year and it's still got things sinking into it where it was used on windowsills etc.

Bought some Johnstones next and that was much better to use, although not used for any flat surfaces so not sure how much harder it is (currently in wrong building to check!)

I don't know about their satin, but the Johnstones water based gloss (Aqua range) dries (quickly) to a good resilient finish and does a pretty good impression of a 'real' gloss paint, without yellowing.

I'm almost sure you're right, thinking it was decent quality.The water-based paints appear to require three coats ! so perhaps Johnstones is the way to go. Seem amazing though, that such a routine task has become something of a lottery, :-(

IMO water based paints are fine for everything except the topcoat. A reasonably sound gloss or satin can still only be achieved with a solvent based paint

Was round today and had a prod at it (Johnstone's water based Satin in cream) with my nail. Nice and hard. Thinking about it, I must have checked it not longer after it was painted after the ferrago of the Dulux and don't recall it being soft then. Coverage was a lot better than the Dulux too.

Thanks for that. Did it just take one coat do you recall. There are several mentions of water-based paint needing as many as three. Another possibility appears to be Leyland, which is actually a bit cheaper and the reviews seem OK.

Johnstone's and Leyland are both brands of PPG.