The UK's 5 Best Gloss Paints

What Is Gloss Paint?

First, let's tackle the question of what is gloss paint? Gloss paint is a type of emulsion paint finish with the highest level of sheen. This 'sheen' refers to the amount of light that is reflected off the painted surface; the higher the sheen level, the more reflective the paint will be. Other paint finishes include matt, satin & eggshell, which all have less amount of sheen than gloss.

For this reason, gloss has traditionally been the paint finish of choice for interior & exterior trim such as woodwork, doors and radiators, although in recent years this has been often replaced with satin when people want a more contemporary look.

Gloss paints were traditionally oil-based emulsions, although most modern gloss paints are water-based, as oil-based paints have the tendency to yellow over time.

The Best Gloss Paints

Almost all of the gloss paints in our experts list of the best gloss paints are trade paints. Trade paint is much higher quality, offers better coverage & higher durability than retail paints, which is why almost no professional decorator would opt for a retail paint over it's trade version. While they are slightly more expensive than retail paints, the quality offered & long-term value of the product is incomparable.

This list will include both interior & exterior paints as many gloss paints can be used for both. So let's run through our experts picks for the best gloss paints!

1. Armstead High Gloss

Armstead High Gloss is a trade-quality, high gloss finish paint that is suitable for use on interior and exterior wood & metal. It offers a high coverage, superb opacity & being from Armstead Trade, is great value for money.

We can mix Armstead High Gloss in a huge range of colours, including Armstead, Dulux, RAL & British Standard shades, plus equivalent shades of major paint manufacturers, even designer ones. Simply type in the name of the colour or select one from our colour palettes.

As a solvent-based formulation, it does have a longer drying time when compared to water-based formulations, however oil-based formulations are a favourite amongst many decorators for the quality of finish they achieve.

Pros:

• Durable high gloss finish
• Good opacity & coverage
• For interior & exterior use
• Solvent based
• Excellent flow

Cons:

• Is oil-based so may be prone to yellowing
• 16 to 24 hours drying time

2. Dulux Trade Weathershield Exterior High Gloss

When opting for an exterior paint, a crucial factor is durability. The harsher conditions that an exterior paint is put through requires it to be able to withstand weathering without allowing moisture to cause the paint to feel & flake. This is often what happens when poor quality, cheap exterior gloss paints are used. Dulux Trade Weathershield Exterior High Gloss is a three part system that offers weather resistance in order to provide long-lasting, high gloss protection for exterior woodwork. A big benefit of this gloss paint is that it contains a fungicide to inhibit mould growth, allowing the painted surface to stay cleaner for longer. While the system is more expensive than other products, with it's exterior weather protection, it is a great option if you want long-term performance.

Pros:

• 18 square metres per litre coverage
• Prevents mould growth
• Can be mixed in any colour
• Touch dry in 4-6 hours
• 8 year weather protection

Cons:

• Is more expensive than alternatives
• Is solvent/oil based which can have drawbacks

3. Dulux Trade Quick Dry Gloss

As we have mentioned, oil-based paints can have their drawbacks, and particularly for the average DIY'er are more difficult to use in general. Luckily, Dulux Trade have developed a water-based, quick drying formulation that offers a glossy finish while not coming with the drawbacks of an oil-based paint. The two big advantages of Dulux Trade Quick Dry Gloss is that it is touch dry in a matter of hours and it stays whiter for longer, as it does not yellow. This means that this is the perfect choice if you are a DIY'er who wants an easy to use, white gloss for interior use. Again, being from Dulux it is more expensive then other interior gloss emulsions, but don't let this put you off if it is the best gloss for you!

Pros:

• Water-based
• Can be mixed in any colour
• Touch dry in 1-2 hours
• Longer lasting whiteness

Cons:

• 12 square metres per litre coverage, which is lower than other gloss paints
• Is more expensive than alternatives

4. Zinsser AllCoat Exterior Gloss

Sometimes flexibility can make all the difference. We don't always want to buy one product that will sit in the shed until we re-paint a few years later. That is why Zinsser AllCoat Exterior is a hugely popular product, as it comes in a range of finishes, can be mixed to any colour and can be applied to almost any exterior surface, such as wood, metal, masonry, plastic, concrete and cladding. What makes AllCoat even better is that it is self-priming, as the first coat acts as a primer, plus with a recoat time of one hour it can much easier to use than other gloss paints. Not only this but it has a 15 year performance on exterior surfaces. The only drawbacks are that it has a lower coverage than other products and is priced at the higher end of the market. Having said this, if you require an easy to use, flexible and long lasting exterior gloss that you can use on all of your exterior trim, Zinsser Allcoat Exterior Gloss is a great option.

Pros:

• Multi-surface application
• Fast recoat time - just 1 hour
• Easy application as it is self-priming
• Long lasting finish - up to 15 years
• Can be mixed in any colour

Cons:

• 12 square metres per litre coverage, which is lower than other gloss paints
• Is more expensive than alternatives

5. Dulux Once Gloss

The only paint on our list that is a retail version of major manufacturer's gloss system is Once Gloss from Dulux. This gloss is designed to be applied in only one coat, which can be a huge time saver, especially with the long drying times that come with oil-based gloss paints. While it isn't the highest quality gloss paint on our expert's list, it does have it's uses, especially for the average DIY'er.

Pros:

• Once coat application
• Good value for money
• Readily available

Cons:

• 12 square metres per litre coverage, which is lower than other gloss paints
• 16 hour drying time
• Cannot be mixed in any colour

We hope this has answered any questions you may have had regarding the best gloss paints. If you require anymore help, just send an email to the team at hello@paintersworld.co.uk. At Painters World we have a wide range of gloss paints available, so no matter the job, we've got the right tools for you.