Paint Brands

Dulux vs Taubmans vs Haymes: what Adelaide painters actually use

Painters in our network weigh in on durability, coverage, and price — no paint-maker gets spared.

Dulux, Taubmans and Haymes dominate Australian paint. Each has a mid-range and a premium line. Adelaide painters in our network use all three regularly and have strong opinions on which is best for what.

Exteriors in Adelaide’s climate

For standard exteriors, Dulux Weathershield and Taubmans All Weather are the two most-used premium formulations. Weathershield has a slight edge on heritage homes because the colour range is wider. All Weather is marginally more durable on west-facing walls. Haymes Ultra-Premium sits at the same durability level but the colour range is narrower.

Coastal painting

For homes within 500m of the Glenelg, Seaford or Henley coastline, salt-tolerant formulations matter. Dulux Weathershield Marine and Taubmans Coastal Armour are the go-to choices. Expect to pay 15-25% more than standard exterior paint, but lifespan jumps from 6-7 years to 10-12 years on the weather side.

Interiors

Dulux Wash & Wear and Taubmans Endure are the workhorse interior paints. Both scrubbable, both family-safe low-VOC, both tint-accurate. Haymes Ultra-Premium Low Sheen is the outlier choice many Adelaide painters quietly prefer on premium jobs.

The quiet winner

Porters Paints (for decorative and heritage) is in a different category — higher cost, but unmatched for period-correct palettes on Federation, Victorian and Edwardian homes. If you’ve got a heritage home in Unley, Norwood or North Adelaide, expect a heritage painter to suggest Porters or Dulux Heritage rather than the standard ranges.

The price difference

Premium paint adds about 10-15% to a quote vs builder-grade. Specialty paint (Porters, Dulux Heritage, antimicrobial healthcare grade) adds another 15-20%. Worth it almost every time — paint is a fraction of total job cost, and lifespan extension easily covers the premium.

Browse curated palettes at our colour scheme generator or jump straight to period-correct palettes via the heritage colour finder.

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