Dulux vs Resene — Which Paint Should You Choose in NZ?
# Dulux vs Resene — Which Paint Is Better for Your Christchurch Home?
Published by 2G Interiors | Christchurch Painters & Plasterers
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This is one of the most common questions we get asked before starting a job. Both brands have loyal followings in New Zealand, and honestly — both produce excellent paint. But there are real differences worth understanding.
As Dulux Accredited Painters who've worked with both brands across hundreds of Christchurch homes, here's our objective take.
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## The Short Answer
Both are premium NZ paint brands with excellent products. Dulux has the edge on durability and trade formulations; Resene has the edge on colour range and New Zealand-specific product development. The right choice depends more on the specific product and your job requirements than the brand name.
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## Brand Overview
### Dulux
Dulux is an international brand (owned by Akzo Nobel) with a significant NZ manufacturing presence. They're the largest paint brand in the world and have extensive R&D behind their product formulations. Their Weathershield exterior system and Wash&Wear interior range are industry standards in NZ construction.
Dulux operates an Accredited Painter programme — a vetted network of qualified painters who meet reliability and quality standards. 2G Interiors is Dulux Accredited.
### Resene
Resene is proudly New Zealand-owned and operated, with manufacturing in Lower Hutt. They've built their reputation on colour innovation, environmental leadership, and deep roots in the NZ residential market. Their EzyPaint colour tool and extensive colour chip system are genuinely world-class.
Resene developed their formulations specifically for New Zealand's UV conditions and climate — which matters in Canterbury.
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## Product Comparison
### Exterior Paints
| Category | Dulux | Resene |
|----------|-------|--------|
| Flagship system | Weathershield | Lumbersider / Sonyx 101 |
| UV resistance | Excellent | Excellent |
| Coverage | High | High |
| Colour retention | Very good | Very good |
| NZ climate testing | Yes | Yes (NZ-specific) |
| Warranty | Up to 15 years (system) | Up to 12 years |
Our view: Both perform excellently in Canterbury conditions. Dulux Weathershield has a slight edge on elasticity for timber weatherboards that move seasonally. Resene Lumbersider is excellent value for money and performs reliably.
### Interior Paints
| Category | Dulux | Resene |
|----------|-------|--------|
| Standard interior | Wash&Wear | SpaceCote |
| Premium interior | Wash&Wear Advanced | SpaceCote Low Sheen |
| Scrubability | Very high (Wash&Wear) | High |
| Low VOC options | Yes (Envirowalls) | Yes (Zero) |
| Colour range | Extensive | Exceptional (4,000+) |
Our view: Dulux Wash&Wear is the most scrubbable and durable interior finish we've used — excellent for family homes, high-traffic areas, and rentals. Resene's SpaceCote performs very well but is typically slightly less robust in heavy-use areas.
### Colour Range
This is where Resene genuinely wins. Their colour range is extraordinary — over 4,000 colours, with a naming system that New Zealanders love (Pohutukawa, Kaipara, Berm...). Their colour chip books are a fixture in NZ design offices and architect studios.
Dulux has an extensive range (2,000+ colours) and can colour match virtually anything, but Resene's depth is unmatched.
If colour selection is your priority, visit a Resene ColorShop. For most standard residential work, both ranges are more than adequate.
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## Price Comparison
Both brands are similarly priced at retail. At trade pricing (which we access as Dulux Accredited Painters), there's not a meaningful difference in cost on most products.
Don't choose a brand based on a couple of dollars per litre — the labour cost of a paint job dwarfs the paint cost. Quality of application matters far more than which brand is on the tin.
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## When We Use Each
At 2G Interiors, we default to Dulux as our primary specification — it's what our Accreditation is based on and we know the product range thoroughly. However:
- If a client specifies Resene, we use Resene. We're equally comfortable with the product range.
- For architectural projects, we often specify based on the architect's preference — many NZ architects specify Resene as standard.
- For earthquake repairs on existing Resene surfaces, we'll continue in Resene for the best colour and texture match.
We'll always tell you exactly what products we're using and why.
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## The Actual Answer to "Which Is Better?"
Neither. The right question is: which product, from which brand, is right for this specific surface and application?
A good painter will know the answer. If someone quotes you a job without being able to tell you the specific product specification — exterior topcoat, primer system, number of coats — that's a red flag regardless of which brand they name.
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## Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dulux Accreditation important when choosing a painter?
It's a meaningful signal — Dulux vets Accredited Painters for reliability and professionalism, not just ability to buy Dulux paint. An Accredited Painter can also access extended product warranties. It's one useful data point among several (reviews, experience, insurance, Master Painter membership).
Can you colour match between brands?
Yes. Most modern tinting systems can match any colour across brands. The base paint and finish level may differ slightly but the colour will be accurate.
Does it matter what paint the previous owner used?
Generally no — modern water-based paints are compatible with most existing finishes. However, painting over old oil-based paint or certain specialised coatings requires specific preparation and primers. We assess this as part of our pre-job inspection.
What about Haymes, Wattyl, or other brands?
Both are solid trade brands with good product lines. Wattyl's Solagard exterior system is widely used. Our default position is Dulux because it's what we know best and what our Accreditation covers, but we can discuss alternatives.
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2G Interiors are Christchurch painters and decorators. Dulux Accredited | Master Painters NZ | Fully Insured | Free quotes within 24 hours. Call 021 438 248.
