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Dulux Paints

Dulux Paints review: terrible paint! 39

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Author of the review
12:00 am EST
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This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

I bought some non-drip dulux gloss paint a few months ago. When I opened the tin it was clearly liquid gloss. I couldn't find the receipt to return it, so used it but it all dripped and ran. Terrrible and I had to buy more paint and redo the whole job plus the sanding etc to dry and get rid of the drips and waves.

I wrote to ICI in Slough, saying they had put wrong labels on cans and shld do a product recall.

All I got back was a letter of excuses saying it was because of the hot weather! I live in Scotland and although summer good, not as hot as down south.

I wrote to them again, saying I was not happy with their reply and that I did know the difference between non-drip gloss paint and liquid gloss and had expected them to do something about it rather than make excuses. THEY DID NOT EVEN HAVE THE COURTESY TO REPLY.

Since then, I found the receipt and B&Q took it back BUT I WOULD NEVER EVER BUY DULUX PAINT AGAIN! The goods were not as the description and not fit for the purpose and they have contravened the Sale of Goods Act and were not prepared to do anything about it. If I buy a top brand I expect the paint to be good and to fit the description.

39 comments
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Frank Allan
Apr 13, 2007 9:38 am EDT

I am an ex ICI employee who has been loyal to ICI and its products for many years. In May 2004, I purchased 2 tins of Ronseal 5 year Mahogany Satin woodstain. I used the first tin successfully and some of the second tin. I stored the second tin in my garage next to my other ICI products and yesterday had occasion to do some touch up. I opened the tin and stirred the contents as instructed. I walked to the area I was about to apply the wood stain to and found that I was trailing wood stain behind me. On closer examination I found that the base of the tin had 2 corroded holes - no doubt disturbed by the stirring of the contents. I disposed of the tin. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would place this at a 7.

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RAGHU NATH SINGH
Jul 18, 2008 5:29 am EDT

I HAVE USED 3 IN ONE PASTAL GREEN COLUR FOR MY HOUSE . THE COLOR HAS COME VERY BADLY AND UNEVENLY EVEN AFTER 4 COATS OVER BIRLA PURRTY FINISH. I HAVE COMLAINED THE ISSUE AND SOME PERSON FROM YOUR COMPANY HAS GIVEN A MESSAGE ON MY MOBILE THAT "YOUR COMPLAIN REGARDING DULUX 3 IN 1 DATED 28.06.08 HAS BEEN RESOLVED" FROM MOBILE NO. [protected] WITHOUT EVEN VISITING OUR HOUSE AND SEEING ANYTHING. THE COMPLAIN WAS GIVEN ON 04/05/08 AND IS STILL UNRESOLVED. PLS DO THE NEEDFUL.

LET US SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS

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School District Facilities Director
Buffalo Grove, US
Mar 04, 2009 3:27 pm EST

I've used ICI paints for more than 25 years...
When used, stored, and mixed for their purpose... One onf the best.

Read those other...

old paint, cannot find the reciept, and no follow up to blast a complaint. (can not spell either)

Give me a break... grow up people...

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painter51
Sidmouth, GB
May 21, 2010 11:54 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have been a loyal user of Dulux products for over 30 years, untill recently i have had few complaints, since the introduction of the VOC range, its been nothing but trouble, the paint is thin, lacks coverage has no fill properties, it dosnt dry very quickly so you are unable to flat down the undercoat the following day, the undercoat has a gloss like appearance, totally unacceptable, when i bought this to the attention of my rep, the only response i got was " you will have to bear with us, we are all in the same boat" well ive changed boats to crown, their new generation paints are much better.

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Jeremy F Row
Slough, GB
May 27, 2010 6:46 am EDT

It is the same. I had been using ICI Paints products for the past 24 years since I bought our first home. Especially over the past 2 years, product quality has become very poor. Almost like watered down paint. Color is different to color card and even can to can for the same color. Bought some primer which stank like horses urine and some even had little beads floating suspended. Complained to ICI in Slough but they said I did not know about color and that I did not shake the primer properly. They even blamed me for contaminating the primer that stank! The person I spoke to sounded like a young person. Imagine her telling someone who has used and handled the product consistently for 24 years without any problem being told that it was my fault and the company has no responsibility! It was so shocking that I could not even respond. That terrible experience has turned me away from ICI to use a competitor brand which was so good and friendly to use that I will go back and use it over and over again. After ICI was sold to that dutch miser it is no longer a proud and dedicated English company committed to caring for its products and customers.

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exterior-painter
pontypridd, GB
Jun 20, 2010 8:28 am EDT

completly useless paint. I used their exterior paint on my Bee Hive 2 years ago, primed correctly, under coated twice and then 2 coats of exterior gloss. Just 2 years on and approx. 20% of the paint has began to peel.

I used Holkham paint on a previous hive, now over 7 years on and the paint is as good as new. This is because Holkham paint is linseed oil based and probably the best exterior paint available. Admittedly, the Holkham paint is twice the price, but you get what you pay for.

Stay away from Dulux if you have any exterior painting to do.

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P Houlden
portsmouth, GB
Aug 09, 2010 9:34 am EDT

DONT BUY WEATHERSHIELD SATIN!
You have to use the system and by all accounts of three Dulux recommended decorators (that I know) its Not Good and prone to blistering and flaking. You not only have to apply the three stage system of primer/x2 undercoats- what it doesnt tell you on the tin is that it requires two further coats of the Satin. What really stinks is the ICI complaints dept! Good Luck!

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Rosemary Davies
Pontypool, GB
Aug 17, 2010 8:46 am EDT

I've just used Dulux. What a load of rubbish. I've trawled the web looking for an address for them. Apparently there isn't one for consumer complaints! I wanted to cover a neutral colour ( Egyptian cotton) with "Timeless", a cream. NO GO! It was thin, runny, and had no cover power whatsoever. 3 coats later it still showed through. The product is inferior. Time was, you paid for quality, and I've always bought the best paint. This occasion proved me wrong. I believe corners have been cut, and the trash is on sale under guise of "Quality". Disgusting in that a customer is unable to contact them by e.mail. Any one with any info., greatfully recieved...email me at daviesplug@aol.com.

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P J COLLINS
GB
Sep 05, 2010 4:40 am EDT

We have recently used dulux silk to cover a wall, after 3 coats is still rubish, there is definetly somthing wrong with this paint

ie-APRICOT CRUSH!

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JAMES REID
GB
Oct 23, 2010 4:15 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have recently bought a tin of your gloss paint it did say it was BRILLIANT white but after two weeks it was YELLOW. I only noticed this after i had applied your silk emulsion to my walls which was also white and was gutted, since then i have redone my gloss with WICKES own brand with perfect results. VERY disappointed dulux as i have used your product for years. JAMES REID

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James Pearce
Burnley, GB
Oct 31, 2010 12:13 pm EDT

I have used dulux products for many years without having any real complaints. That is until last week when I purchased a 5 litre can of GENTLE FAWN matt emulsion. Terrible stuff - can states dry in 2 to 4 hours. Try 30 minutes and a lack of brush out capability, which leaves both roller impression and brush feather marks, and that is after following the stated instructions. A reasonable recovery has been made by thinning the product by 10%. JIM PEARCE.

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MRS L SAUNDERS
ESSEX, GB
Dec 07, 2010 2:55 pm EST

I dought a tin of you one coat white gloss paint. paint bathroom and bedroom and all my doors in hall about two months ago thay are more yellow then then when i did them . prepared the wood like it said on tin so i am very disappointed with you paint

MRS L SAUNDERS

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William Robinson
March, GB
Feb 12, 2011 6:58 pm EST

Hi
I have been using Dulux mat emulsion for years with great success. I bought some Jasmine white mat recently and the result was rubbish. It is neither mat nor silk. In daylight you can see brush marks and areas of mat and areas of silk. I bought a much cheaper mat finish and it was brilliant. So I'm afaid I won't be using Dulux Mat again. I strongly advise anyone who wants a beautiful smooth mat surface NOT to use Dulux. I originally thought it must be my fault. But believe me, after about 30 years of painting walls and ceilings it is not.

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BRUCE IVEY
Ashford, GB
May 20, 2011 9:16 am EDT

I recently purchased a large tin of Dulux Proffessional Gloss Brilliant White Paint. On opening it there was a purple liquid floating on top, so I stirred it presuming it had settled. However there was no body to it at all it was just a tin of very watery paint. I applied it onto the previously undercoated surface and it was dripping and flicking all over the place making the job very difficult. It actually dried extremely white. However a week later it turned to a yellowy cream colour. I have always used Dulux in the past but I am so dissappointed with the result of this job, that I will be switching to Crown Paints in future in the hope that they have not gone down the same path as Dulux. I will of course be returning the tin to B&Q.

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Winstone
Bristol, GB
Jun 01, 2011 5:02 pm EDT

i HAVE ALSO BEEN A REGULAR USER OF DULUX PAINTS, ESPECIALLY THEIR
EGGSHELL PAINT. I HAVE PAINTED MY WOODEN KITCHEN CABINETS SEVERAL TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF 7 YEARS USING EGGSHELL AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PLEASED WITH THE RESULT. NICE SOFT SHEEN HARDWEARING COVERAGE.

IMAGINE MY HORROR YESTERDAY ON PAINTING MY CABINETS WITH EGGSHELL TO WAKE UP THIS MORNING TO FIND A TOTAL 'GLOSS' FINISH !
I HAD NOTICED A 'GLOSS' EFFECT LAST NIGHT BUT PRESUMED IT WAS STILL BECAUSE THE PAINT WAS WET ! ON RETURNING TO B & Q TODAY TO QUERY IF THE WRONG PAINT HAD BEEN MIXED I WAS INFORMED THAT DULUX HAD CHANGED THE 'FORMULA' DUE TO THE NEW VOC POLICY...WELL THATS FINE, BUT LET YOUR CUSTOMERS KNOW, HAD I WANTED A 'GLOSS' FINISH I WOULD HAVE USED 'GLOSS' PAINT. B & Q INFORM ME THAT THE SATINWOOD FINISH IS NOW 'MATTER' THAN EGGSHELL SO BUYER BEWARE !
FIVE HOURS PAINTING TOTALLY WASTED AND NOW RUBBING DOWN TO REPAINT !

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l15ag
Bromley, GB
Aug 26, 2011 2:54 pm EDT

I have now tried both Satinwood and Eggshell trying to get a non gloss finish and both times it has been very shiny. Bought Dulux Trade from Brewers who reluctantly replace the Satinwood with Eggshell, now have to go back again and find another colour, but we have used Almond White and already painted the ceiling and coving in Almond White Emulsion. What a total waste of money, and having read these complaints I am not looking forward to contacting ICI!

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JOHN STURT
Ventnor, GB
Sep 29, 2011 9:58 pm EDT

I, too have used Dulux paint for years with no problems and always recommend their Brilliant White Emulsion for coverage. Recently I've had trouble and have had to return a tin of Midnight Blue Weathershield Gloss which streaked with light shades on painting. Had to return it and it was replaced with a tin that used a different base at mixing. Today, I had the worse experience of all... bought a tin of Weathershield Wood Primer which clogged up my Purdy Brush while I was painting... dreadful experience. This V.O.C idea just doesn't seem to be working for any of us decorators.

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k.bolton
Milton Keynes, GB
Oct 10, 2011 3:55 pm EDT

I have just finished painting cupboard doors using Dulux Weathershield exterior undercoat and gloss. I wanted to change the colour to Red (from white) so used a grey undercoat. The tin of red paint does not specify a suitable colour for the undercoat.
The doors have a raised moulding fixed to the fronts and the red paint seems to pull away from the corners, both exterior and interior, as if there is something in the undercoat that is rejecting the paint. Hence there are dark gey lines around the moulding.
B&Q seem to have given up stocking other makes of paint which means I am going to have to give up buying from B&Q in the future.

K Bolton 10/10/2011

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JOHN THOMAS YOUNG
Solihull, GB
Oct 18, 2011 8:40 pm EDT

We have used Dulux paint for the past 30 years without any problems. However we recently purchased your Raspberry Diiva Matt.
to use in the hall and stairs. However if anyone should brush against the walls, ie elbow shoulder etc. the paint comes off in a powdery form, and leaves visible scuff marks, which we have to constantly paint over.

Is there a problem with this product. We have never experienced this with any of your paint before. Could you enlighten us as to how to overcome this persistent problem.

Thanking you.

Mr. Mrs. J Young

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K Clark
Sunderland, GB
Jan 02, 2012 12:51 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

hi,
We have been using Dulux paints gloss and emulsion for over 20 yrs.
And have found that the Dulux high gloss non drip is absolutely rubbish, the 1st attempt was very disappointing as all the paintwork we glossed(Brilliant White), turned yellow after a 2 wk period, (we thought was a bad batch), so have redone the full house again!, and guess what ? the same thing has happened, all the house needs doing again, COME ON DULUX SORT THIS OUT!, we would advise to keep away from Dulux High Gloss. Dulux quick dry gloss seems to stay white, very strange.
Very disappointed customers.

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jitendra shah
IN
Mar 14, 2012 8:06 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

i purchase ici colour in 2006 all co lour down i want to check when we purchase colour it is expire? i want to test in company laboratory.

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MUZ
Colchester, GB
Apr 17, 2012 3:29 am EDT

We bought a tin of mixed yellow paint from a dDulux shop, but what rubbish quality.It is so watery it flicks and drips everywhere, how ever carefully we aply the paint to the brush we get the paint running down the walls, and after three coats we can still see the old paint underneath. We shall not be using dulux again we might as well painted our walls with yellowed water, horrible messy stuff. Never experienced this problem before

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Richard Roebuck
GB
May 04, 2012 6:39 am EDT

I also am not happy with dulux! I have used their products for almost 30 years, but in the last 3/4 years my customers have conplaints about internal paint discolouring and external paint flaking ! Now I have a very good reputation witch has taken many years to build up. So out of my own courtesy and expense put all work right ! But to get any response or compensation from dulux is a joke ! I am registered company and will do my best not buy any more products from them and being in the trade as long as I have also no a lot of other decoraters feel the same . So if any dulux reps take the time to read this Shame on you !

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Miss Jacqueline White
Newark on Trent, GB
May 13, 2012 4:01 am EDT

Yes i'v also tried to contact Dulux paint, i paid a painter and decorater 1 year ago to paint all my door frames and skirting boards, i was asked to get Dulux one coat which i did, the job was done very well, but i had to replace a door this week and had to touch up the hinges a little with a new tin of Dulux gloss one coat and the difference in colour has made the other woodwork look cream, so i have had to do all 5 door frames upstairs and has taken me all day so i'm not happy as i thought with paying more money the white gloss woul stay brilliant white for a long time, , , well for abou t3 Jacqueline

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Mrs D A Struijs
Oxford, GB
Jun 21, 2012 7:39 am EDT

I have used Dulux paint for 25yrs. Coverage has alway been good and very long lasting. I recently purchased Quick dry satinwood for wood and metal to decorate my hallway, stairs and landing. It says on the tin 30 minutes drying time. I prepared the stair spindles and woodwork by rubbing down and putting 2 undercoats on. I opened the satinwood, which seemed very watery. I also noticed on application that it didn't settle down into a smooth finish. Brush marks were very visible. Anyhow, four coats later I am not happy with the overall look. I did the paint job in May and already where hands have used the banister it's beginning to peel. The D.I.Y. store I bought it from said that it was a good paint. I asked them if they had the paint that I used 5yrs ago (which took 6 hours to dry ) and they didn't really give me an answer. So I went ahead with their recommendation of this very poor quality paint.
Mrs D A Struijs

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Griffin 2
Saltash, GB
Jul 25, 2012 3:23 am EDT

Griffin. 25th July 2012.

I have written two letters to Dulux Customer Care and one to Patrick Houlihan, BSc (Hon), MBA, the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Dulux Group. To date I have not received a reply from any of them. My complaint was about their Weathershield product, which holds water under the surface of the paintwork in large blisters when it rains. After a while the blisters burst and fragment, leaving mould. Obviously this is supposed to happen! Yes! I did scrub down, rinse and left the walls to dry before painting in May this year, when the weather was hot and dry.

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A J Pollard
Yelverton, GB
Aug 19, 2012 6:17 am EDT

Just bought gloss paint 6 hours drying time. You have to be joking!
Still runny after 8 hours and needs another coat to boot. Goodbye to expensive Dulux

Teekam Singh
Teekam Singh
IN
Sep 15, 2012 9:27 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Dear Dulex Team,

This is a request mail from a customer of yours
I purchased Nastalgic Tale 90YR 68/100 Paint for my small house in Pataudi Road Ggn. from M/s Sumit Trading Company Ggn.

At the time of starting the paint I found that the shade of paint is not matching with the shade shown in catalogue.
I registered this issue with dealer but he told that theres always a little difference.

But upon opening the second bucket of same shade I found that even this shade is much more different than other.
I got totally upset & again called dealer & he called Mr. Shishir Gupta who after two days after regular follow ups visited the site & concluded that this is company’s fault but offered no resolution.

Now it’s a matter of harassment for me as work has got held up but unable to proceed so giving this mail directly to you.
Hope I will get a solution from your side soon or I will have to take some harsh action.

Dissatisfied customer of yours
Teekam Singh
[protected]
H.B-143, Sarswati Enclave, Near Sector 10A, Gurgaon

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sanjeev sukheja
IN
May 24, 2013 10:19 pm EDT

Very bad experience with dulux paint not satisfied sanjeev sukheja [protected]

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Mrs Foster
Braintree, GB
Jun 01, 2013 11:25 am EDT

Just used Dulux Weathershield Brilliant White exterior gloss on some internal wood. it appeared normal in the can but the next day it had dried to a noticeable cream colour. Having painted the rest of the room in brilliant white emulsion it looked a if it was old paint which still needed painting. Very unsatisfactory results Dulux technical centre have offered a refund but just stated no other complaints had been made for this product and that it wasn't involved in the reformulation problems a couple of year ago. Won't be using Dulux again.

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simon 27
Bridgend, GB
May 06, 2014 2:56 pm EDT

being a decorator of 30years i used all paints.last week i took advantage of dulux 3for 2 offer as a customer wanted a soft sheen throughout.i purchased 9 5l tins of dulux softsheen.big big mistake.just by stiring it i could tell it was water thin.i tried 1 tin and after 4 coats of white over a grubby white wall it did not cover and look solid.i purchased crown mid sheen from my trade shop and it covered beautifully in 2.i took the remaining 8 dulux tin back to b+q for a full refund and recomended they took the rest off the shelves as in 30 years never used such a poor quality product.never never again will i use or recomend any dulux product.well over priced for such a substandard product.they are trading on a past name, well past by these results. all decoraters beware of this product

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Joe Seaborne
Calgary, CA
May 22, 2014 9:15 pm EDT

I would have to disagree with the statement that Dulux paint is a terrible paint. I work for a painting company and we mostly use Dulux diamond latex paint. I can agree that Dulux is having trouble with oil based paints, but all paint manufacturers are having trouble reformulating oil paints after the new low VOC restrictions happened. In my opinion oil based paints in general will not be able to perform they way they used to because of the new VOC restrictions. As for as latex paint goes, I love Dulux diamond and it works great for trim and doors because of its hard surface.

http://www.calgarypropainting.com

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Joe Seaborne
Calgary, CA
May 22, 2014 9:25 pm EDT

I work for a painting company and we use Dulux paint all the time. I do know that Dulux oil paint is going out because it doesn't perform well under the new low VOC restrictions. Dulux brilliant white seems to yellow prematurely, but in saying that I think it is important to also take into consideration that every oil based paint is suffering from the new low VOC restrictions that were imposed on the painting industry. In time latex paint will completely replace oil based paint. As far as my experience goes, Dulux latex paints are still great and I havn`t had any problems.

http:ééwww.calgarypropainting.com

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Bishwajit Dutta
US
Jun 21, 2014 6:57 am EDT

I am a dealer of ICI Dulux since 3-4 years . That time I have installed a manual colour making machine which company have provided, there the machine scale count was 64 . But few days back I came to know that the counting should be of 48 . From long time I was using 64 counts scale & suffered a huge loss . Now I want a compensation from the company & they are not listening to me.

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Maggie11
Enfield, GB
Jul 27, 2014 4:24 am EDT

We have always used Dulux emulsion and gloss paint. Firstly there non-yellowing gloss started to yellow. Now this weekend my husband has started decorating our hall and stairs. With Dulux Matt Emulsion, OMG it is disgusting, the paint just runs off the brush like water and as for brilliant white, it looks exactly the same as before. I made him stop to look to see that there was no difference in colour.
We are certainly never using deluxe again, whatever they've done to their paint, they've ruined it!

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Mum460
pool, GB
Aug 12, 2014 7:49 am EDT

Attempted to paint walls with Dulux Matt emulsion. It was suppose to be white chiffon I might as well have been putting water from the tap on. Sorry Dulux your gloss yellows within weeks and your emulsion is like water. Another customer lost and my money so to speak down the drain.

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preciousmoments
SG
Dec 14, 2014 11:17 pm EST

I painted the whole house with ICI dulux paint and my only complain to this paint is that the paint wall can be easily stain with water marks which makes it look ugly and dirty. I never have this problem with Nippon paint. And ICI paint is hard to remove dirt and stain from the wall as compare to Nippon paint. Definitely this will be a one night affair relationship with ICI as I will never going to use it anymore. Overall the quality is not as good as Nippon paint.

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Isaac Hem
US
Mar 24, 2016 12:01 am EDT

dear all everyone pls be aware of dulux paints it is the nasiest paint company in the world who never ever even think to respond to a customer who
have paid for the paints and getting a ### experience from their dealers. there is no way to contact the company . nobody knows who is the ceo of the company and to whom the customers may contact in case of complaints. Dulux company do you think all the people are fool here. if once i get a chance to get in touch with these idiots then will show what is the value of money.

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Lionel Cartier
CA
Oct 13, 2016 6:11 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Three coats later and can still see through . Garbage, garbage. Will never buy again. Bought $800.00 dollars worth during 2 for one sale for a new house we we're painting. Never again. Better to pay more for a good brand than pay for labor to re-coat because of this crap paint. The sales people knew what I was doing but never suggested a different grade of paint. I purchased the ULTRA . When I told them it was garbage they said I should have used X-PERT . What a scam. I won't get scammed again by them. Stay away.

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