Johnstone's Trade Avis 

Wish I had read the reviews earlier, bought 3 tins of soft sheen brilliant white from B&M to cover Magnolia, 2 coats later and the walls in a small en suite are still largely Magnolia, absoloute garbage paint, dont know what sort of tradesmen rate it as brilliant on Google! remaining 2 tins are going back for a refund.

"Summer Storm bathroom paint. Totally different colour than advertised. Would not take to the walls. Very strong smell that gave me a headache.
Email sent to their Customer Service who are as much use as a chocolate fireguard!
Sent them a photo of the wall and the paints barcode. Want me to take it back to the shop for them to check the batch number and manufacturing dates.
Bearing in mind the shop is 18 miles from me. I told them I won't take it back and from now on will use Dulux. Absolute waste of time

used this on the wooden 'railing' off my balcony and am very pleased with it.

The wood had previously been done with Dulux Woodsheen (which seems to get terrible reviews) and despite doing the job very carefully and applying several coats didn't last well at all.

In some ways this was good for the new finish as woodstain doesn't really work over paint or other coatings as it's supposed to let the wood below shine thru.

Anyway. I have to say the colour of this is fantastic, and the finish. Looks amazing and is so simple to apply. It dries very quickly.

Since taking the pics I have now applied a 3rd coat.

Being water-based there is every chance it will not last any longer than the (water-based) Dulux product before it but we can't criticise the product in advance.

4 stars given, instead of 5, purely because being water-based it could be weak.

Wanted to add pics but there doesn't seem to be functionality for that

If I could rate this zero stars I would! Bought the shade steel smoke for my hallway, landing and stairs, it was previously magnolia so should’ve been an easy job but it took 6 coats and it’s still extremely patchy! I now have to take the paint to another shop and have them mix it and redo it under another brand to fix the absolute mess it’s caused! Everybody should avoid this brand because the paint is shocking, including the gloss!

Used Johnstone solvent base satin within six months it turns yellow. Phoned Johnstones to be told what do you want me to do.

Absolute waste of money and time. Worst paint I've ever used. Started lifting after two coats and destroyed all the time I spent painting

Johnson's paint ,worst ever ,patchy after 2 coats and left with a chalky white residue,have to repaint with crown paint.awful paint.please do not buy.

Paint went on really patchy. 2 coats still patchy. Gave up at that point and went and bought Farrow and Ball. 1 2.5 litre tin did the room and covered all the patchiness. Will never buy from Johnstones again! Will be expecting a full refund!!

Purchased a tin of "Dark Angel" (deep purple) to decorate the bathroom in our new house. Walls were a very light cream, so should've been an easy job, however it took 4 coats to finally cover without leaving any streaks.

Will not be using Johnstone paints for any other jobs. Utter rubbish!!

I have been really struggling to get coverage with this Johnstone's Silk Emulsion - third coat and still clumping and dragging and blotching. Absolute rubbish.

These reviews highlight the fact that Johnstones paint have no interest in customer relations. If that were so they would respond. I have used different colours and different finishes all with the same result - each colour needs more than two coats regardless of whatever colour that you are covering. We have to listen to the deathly silence from customer services at Johnstones.

Utter garbage paint - might as well paint the walls with milk for the coverage it gives you. In the middle of doing a job for a client who chose the paint so didn't have much choice, but pretty much confirms my belief of several years now that this paint is awful - lord only knows why people still use it?!

I visited Johnstones Watford whippendell rd shop today looking for ideas for painting living room I spoke to chap called Charlie very helpful gave me few ideas didn't rush me had good look around picked out couple of colours will be going back

I usually have no issues with johnstonespaint. So decided to use the cupboard paint on my kitchen units, BIG MISTAKE, took 3 coats which I persevered with, only to find as soon as u put item back in your cupboard the paint just doesn’t rub a bit off but completely comes off , leaving the original colour,so after buying 3 tins and hours of labour, was totally pointless. Not fit for purpose

We have always used the vinyl matt plus but will not be buying again after our most recent purchase, they must have messed with the mix as its a really patchy finish and is going to need a 4th coat to hopefully make it look ok, in the past 1 coat has been sufficent.

Would not recommend. Looked tasty and had a lovely texture but tasted toxic and left a very strong and disgusting after taste. Made me really ill and stomach pains have been constant following consumption. Certainly would not recommend feeding this to children.

Absolutely awful. I’ve bought kitchen paint in x3 colours in hemlock, natural sage and apple flower. I’ve used x2 colours so far, the hemlock is going back for a refund. Experienced at decorating for 30yr and this paint is just awful. Walls were very well prepped and it’s patchy taking about x4 coats. The cutting in is darker than the rest and is streaky like it won’t stick to the walls, same using the roller and it takes off the paint as you go too. Absolute waste of my time doing this at weekends. Gonna have to go get Dulux and start again. Only bought Johnstones as I preferred these colours but I’d rather change shade than continue because of this.

In local store last year another customer recommended Johnstones matt for my new ceiling & result was brilliant. Today I've put Pink Cadillac silk, (Walls and Ceilings), over magnolia (painted wallpaper). Result is great...one coat...rich creamy paint...I love it.

I bought Johnson’s trade smooth metal paint from selco my husband has a trade account. I was going to buy a new radiator for my hall but decided to paint it instead, what a mistake I do a lot of painting so I sanded and cleaned carefully stirred the paint. When I started to paint couldn’t believe how thin and runny paint was, I continually had to go over the radiator to stop all the runs and it didn’t cover any marks, very disappointing.

Steel smoke matt, 1st coat patchy as expected, 2nd coat still patchy, 3rd coat (2nd pot) and it's like I've used a different colour grey. Not impressed at all and I've used Johnstones paint several times. Really put me off and now in the predicament of either putting on more coats or changing brand/colour, either way more time/expense! avoid avoid avoid