Tikkurila Optiva 5 - has it changed?

We all like to moan about paint don't we?
Expensive Farrow and Ball not covering for two coats.. well, I can say Tikkurila Optiva 5 also doesn't cover for two coats on this mixed colour!

Talk to me, have you had the same recently?

It's a mixed colour to a near match of Slipper Satin (a F&B colour), feels thin when you apply it... one coat over white CoverMatt and it grins.. two coats its' not 100%.

You can still see it grinning on the cutting in and flocculation on the rolled areas too.... not good.

Do we need to change brands?

[sanbucaone]

Hi Phil,
recently found your channel.
I did my apprenticeship way back in the seventies when. I had to finger print my apprenticeship papers father as a witness. In the days when we would pumice stone surfaces and use wet and dry paper to get a key. Fingers raw at the end of the day. Your father would remember. After years out of the trade now I’m recently helping my son with his house decorating. So I have recently found a local Tikkrilla supplier. I’ve jut tried the optiva 5 as I wanted a durable finish. I believe it’s called lemonade in the Tikkrilla colour pallet. Mind I did try over magnolia it really needs to have a coat of white first. It was grinning Like a Cheshire Cat lol didn’t seem to have any body. Luckily I only needed one litre. I think it will be ok but maybe ok on two but I think three.
Carry on with the good reviews on the paints.

[putsy]

Jonnos cleanable Phil. I ve commented before about it. It's all we use. Easy to use, no brush /roller marks, unless your crap and I know your not !! Sometimes grins a little on the cutting in over white but I love it.

[James-sfbb]

Yeah i have to agree with you on this one. Optiva 5 isn’t as good as it used to be. They’re pushing the optiva 5 “nature” more so now which, does cover better and flows a lot easier. I always regardless of what paint I’m using tend to ease them a little, it helps separate the pigment and helps out with coverage contrary to belief. That said, on a new build I’d tend to go for optiva colour and it’s quite durable too.

[ryan_dawes]

They state that they haven’t changed it yet since May 2021 when they had stock issues with the Optiva range we started to hear of the lack of coverage. I would personally recommend calling them up stating the batch number. If you use optiva 3 ceramic you’ll find that hasn’t changed at all. Helmi products again we noticed lots of difference however not in the Helmi 30, the Helmi 30 seems a thicker bodied product in comparison to all the others.

[adriandeb]

Had the same problem, did not cover around the edges

[kerizteeundehntsun]

I've been using it for a few years and I didn't really think it had changed . . . however! I went back to a job site with a gap of about 12 months. Different room on the same site, going the same colour as previous rooms and client still had half of a 10(9)L from previous occasion. Gave it a good stir, bit of a test in a spot it wouldn't be seen, come back the next day, the older stuff seemed fine still. So! Moving on to the new lot of Optiva 5 I'd bought for the job, in the same colour, completely different stuff! Coverage nothing like as good as the older batch! Now you might say that it having been sat for 12 months may have affected it?! Who knows. But not only did the older stuff cover WAY better, but smelled completely different. Didn't really seem like the same product at all. End long comment. :P

[elliottrichmond]

I’ve had a couple recently with Optiva. Did a room mixed to a LG aqua (over white) looked good with just one coat tbh but I gave it 2, customer then decided change it to Optiva mixed to FB Wimborne White. Took 4 coats to cover the turquoise. Same job I did a very dark green over white in a different room, again one coat looked great. 🤷🏽‍♂️

My last job I got given Optiva nature as a surprise replacement to normal Optiva in a sky blue, 2 coats over white and it looks like barely anything gone on the wall. Patchy, gloopy. Wouldn’t use nature again if I was payed the rrp to take the tins.

Gotta say standard optiva mostly good for me but when it’s bad it’s been so bad. AR2 and helmi always great.

On the walls I love the Benjamin Moore regal and aura, goes on a dream, but they do way too many colours for the customer to wade through and the “matches” to FB etc aren’t close enough.

[Justyoutubing]

Another great video Phil, after watching your review, I'm thinking of not using Optiva 5, we need a durable scrubbable paint flat finish, what would your current recommended product be? Ideally would like it to be able to matched colour option.

[leefishwick]

It’s gone rubbish now Phil . It’s all I ever used. Like you said it’s a 3coat paint now. I’ve switched to isomat premium its a much better paint by miles.

[willm]

Don't know about the paint you're using but I use other brands and find the same at the moment I think all paint ranges must be doing something differently

[sgpaint]

Now you mention it, I've noticed I've needed 3 cuts in places.

[Brummyscouse]

I've been using it for a while and have started noticing recently it does need 3 coats. I'm looking at changing

[Cassandra]

Ive had this problem today! thanks for your review

[grahamstacey]

I had Optiva 5 mixed to LG flint, an off white. Firstly I had an issue with the colour match, it was nowhere near the LG colour, almost a PBW. Secondly it’s still grinning like a Cheshire cat after two coats over white vinyl Matt. Worst paint I’ve ever used, not even as good as retail paint! Now here’s the weird thing, at the same time I ordered Optiva 5 mixed to LG Sallix, a soft mid green. Covered like a dream in one coat, I noticed the consistency wasn’t as thick as the flint colour but covered and flowed out much better. My customer is refusing to accept the flint colour match, so well out of pocket because of this paint. ☹️ Never had this problem before so can’t believe Tikkurila haven’t changed something.

[iSpRayZz]

I would of just bought farrow and ball modern emulsion maybe 3 coats sometimes but very good finish

[grahambewick]

I loved this paint. However! I’ve had an absolute nightmare with it. Things all went down hill last year. I painted a whole house in white give it two coats and it was still see through. That said I’ve had the same with Dulux from time to time

[richardtaylor]

Just stumbled across this video. I did a whole house in Optiva 5 colours two years ago. Every room needed 3-5 coats. Tik refunded me £200. Didn’t even touch the sides of my loss. I have now seen that they recalled optiva 5 later that year. I’ve never touched Tikkurilla since.

[Justyoutubing]

Hi Phil, Since your past experience, have you been happier with Optiva 5 recently, or have you explored other brands and perhaps have a new favourite?

[richwilbraham]

Been using it for over two years now about 8 months ago I noticed the smell had changed first and then like you said coverage is now rubbish. Used to do everything thing in two coats even over Mag but now 3 coat's so we've stopped using it such a shame.

[SuperMarkalfie]

Phil how have you found AF2 when papering up to it? Do you find yourself have to touch up? Cheers