Thanks @Nickfromwales

Not sure what to expect never having had it done. I have put some marks around the room using my water level. Is there a standard approach - will they put level markers or sticks taped to the wall to show top ? I assume the whole point of levelling compound is that it will be fluid enough to find its own horizontal.

Any tips or anything to watch for.

Did you solve your paint panic @Spinnywe're having issues with F&B dead flat, 56m2........latest attempt with floetrol added.

 

Really reluctant to try another paint on ceiling as going for "drench" and  walls already painted

Hi @G and J,

So spouse really liked/wanted the F&B all white.

I tried Tikkurila anti reflex 2 but it cannot be mixed to another colour.

The Tikkurila Nova 2 can be colour matched, but I noticed it says it has a distinctly non-white base and may not appear fully white - so crossed it off without trying it.

I got some Johnsons Perfect Matt colour matched to F&B All White and tried it. Man in shop said they can barely get any as there is some major supply problem with the base coats for colour matching. Had to go to a Johnsons shop to get some.

Also got some F&B Dead Flat in all white.

 

Test board photos attached - Tikkurila at one end, Perfect Matt matched to 'All White' at the other end, F&B Modern Emulsion, and F&B Dead Flat in the middle.

Oddly can look different in different light/orientations. But F&B seemed 'whiter' or more pigment heavy.

 

Spouse was insistent F&B was wanted. So we have gone with/stuck with F&B Modern Emulsion in All White in the end.

I am hoping part of the flaws showing in reflected light on the ceiling was because the first coat had been rollered across the light, whereas we have done the second top coat down the light - i.e. rollered away from the bifolds, and of course it is a second coat adding depth of colour. 

It looks absolutely fine in most lights - cloudy, mixed, house lights, subdued light, direct sunlight etc However whether it is better on the ceiling now is too early to tell as the bifolds have plastic sheeting over them and the weather has turned dull.

 

Will let you know when we have seen the full evening light across it.

 

 

 

Thanks for the response, it is the case that the F&B colours are subtlety different.

 

Hope your solution of going other direction works for you. We've got light both ends so didn't help us (we tried). Last resort exploring spray painting the ceiling, but reluctant as floor already down. We may just have to live with it but absolutely fed up, as its our main living area.

 

Hopefully this is one of those areas we are obsessing about now that will recede over time, but.........

@G and J

Yesterday evening we got some reflected evening sun coming through across the ceiling again. So here are the photos. Definitely an improvement over the one coat cross rollered I think.

 

I am surprised you have issues with F&B Dead Flat - is it the paint ''flashing'' or the visibility of flaws in the plastering showing up that is the issue ?

Do you have any photos ?

Here are some youtube videos I came across...

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/CbXHbD7wM8o?si=OL-PgLa60o51VVwB

 

https://youtu.be/u-LBkui6m7Q?si=k_exMHjPOKB7H_AF

 

https://youtu.be/-jT9Iv1axFE?si=v8XDJR6DwHdMqYWB

 

In our utility after the first coat of F&B Modern Emulsion I found I had spots where the paint was rejected/didn't take because there were some splashes of PVA on the wall. So I had to sand these off, then spot prime with Zinser primer, then fill and sand to level with the first coat. After a second coat you could still make out the repaired areas, so had to give a third coat to that wall. Annoying and time consuming.

 

My plasterer recommended Toupret Renovation Skimcoat for remediating uneven areas. It does seem to sand down well and not really sag when covering indentations, so I do like it. Dries off-white though and seems to need two paint coats to cover.

 

Yes we probably get over obsessed with getting finishes just right, and in 2 years time won't be thinking about it anymore. In my family I seem to be the only person that does the preparation work, everyone volunteers to roller paint on, but no-one else wants to fill, sand, fill, sand, prime etc. Shades of 'the little red hen'' https://youtu.be/JTCsL26vob4?si=4Gxs3MWoZgLH1wF4

 

The

2 hours ago, Spinny said:

am surprised you have issues with F&B Dead Flat

So are we!

 

The issue is flashing, such a big room that however hard he tries the edge doesn't stay wet right across the room.

 

Plastering is excellent.....no issues there.....all other ceilings and walls (new build) perfect, same decorator.

 

Last roll of dice, move to estate emulsion/2 people/12 inch rollers.....have invested so much in this ceiling materials and labour wise😱 next step after that a disco ball and/or dark glasses!

OK fingers crossed.

Spouse and I did our ceiling together, half each working from the bifolds back inwards, so were able to keep a wet edge going between us.

On 14/04/2026 at 10:36, Nickfromwales said:

I’ve painted a load of new kitchens, on new plaster, with the (cheap?) trade Matt Leyland stuff, no MVHR in a lot of the older jobs, and zero issues whatsoever. 
 

This really is a great forum.

I'm mist coating walls and ceilings, and finishing ceilings with this paint but then wondered if it was suitable for the kitchen ceiling, thought I'd have a search here and Bob's yer uncle. 👍