Video summary

Peintures ZOLPAN, tests et avis

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product / brand overview (Zolpan)

  • Brand: Zolpan (exists since 1959), originally focused on facade products
  • Early manufacturing: first factory built in 1962 in Savoie
  • Current footprint: 3 production sites in France and about 171 points of sale (including overseas territories)
  • Market position: entered DIY superstores with “entry-level for professionals” pricing, while its Pro range distributed through retailers remains one of the leading options
  • Overall impression (from the testing persona): Zolpan paints are described as generally consistent in quality, supported by prior testing and a pro-oriented reputation

Paint 1: “The hexagon” (matte ceiling / indoor paint) — key findings

Main features

  • Matte paint with a semi-smooth finish
  • Very white with high opacity
  • Water-based, diluted with water
    • Advertised coverage: 10–12 m² per liter
    • Reported achievable with slight dilution
  • Low odor (pleasant enough), though the speaker personally disliked the smell
  • Measured specular gloss < 2 at 85°, confirming strong matte behavior
  • Does not bleed (maintains clean appearance)
  • Single coat may be enough on previously painted surfaces (based on “final look” observed)

Pros (as stated)

  • Excellent whiteness
  • Excellent opacity and tracing (strong coverage/finish quality)
  • Low odor and within VOC expectations
  • Good ceiling performance if the surface hasn’t yellowed from age/smoke
  • Good coverage value for the category

Cons / limitations

  • Needs slight dilution to glide well; otherwise it can feel thick
  • Dries quickly, which is not ideal for large ceilings (around 30 m²)
  • Speaker’s note on smell: they don’t like it
  • Requires surface prep and using the right roller to get the best matte result

Ratings / scores mentioned

  • Overall: “10 stars” (described as a rare top score)
  • Breakdown-style notes:
    • Consistency: 2 stars
    • Opacity and tracing: 2 stars
    • Perfect final appearance: 2 stars
    • (Implied remaining stars total the rare “10”)
  • VOC/COV: within standard, max 30 g/L (2010 standard referenced)

Paint 2: “La Longue du Lac” (lacquer) — matte expectation vs glossy reality

Main features

  • Labeled “satin”, but the tester finds it clearly glossy
  • Specular gloss: 24–30 at 60°, strongly indicating a glossy lacquer finish
  • Thicker than the matte paint, but not so liquid that it splatters much
    • Tester: “doesn’t project much”
  • Long open time for reworking areas before full dry
  • Excellent tension/hold (described as very easy to guide while painting)
  • Advertised coverage: 12–14 m²
    • Tester: average for glossy; satin slightly lower
  • Odor: slight odor, not overpowering

Pros

  • Adjustable consistency due to thickness (easier to adapt)
  • Long open time (more forgiving)
  • Smooth application with minimal mess
  • Good finish strength and coverage efficiency

Cons

  • Misleading labeling: “satin” is visually glossier than expected
  • Drying: “dries a little too quickly” (overall the tester still likes the rework window)
  • Slightly more odor than some others in the range

Ratings / scores mentioned

  • Overall: “9 out of 10 stars”
  • Value for money: 1 star (explicitly called out as less favorable)
  • KOV/COV: advertised around 100 g/L (described as standard for the category)

Paint 3: “Zolp Affaire Hydro” (rust-preventive water-based lacquer) — railings use case

Main features

  • Water-based glossy lacquer for rust prevention
  • Intended for railings (tester’s actual use: security grilles after ~10 years)
  • Usable indoors and outdoors
  • Coverage: about 9 m² on a surface that is already covered
    • Consumption depends on prep/adhesion
  • Adhesion matters: it doesn’t spread infinitely; must meet technical specs
  • Anti-rust additive (factory-preserved)
  • Drying/recoat:
    • Touch dry fairly quickly
    • Polymerizes in ~6 hours
    • Recoatable only the next day
  • Odor: some odor attributed to rust inhibitor
  • CO2/VOC: around 60 g/L, well below the 2010 max 140 g/L

Pros

  • Suitable for railings (use case that matters here)
  • Less nauseating odor than older-style glycerophthalic products
  • Good durability/longevity if applied well (tester implies “no reason not to give … two stars”)
  • Overall conclusion: 8/10 quality

Cons / limitations

  • Thick lacquer consistency even when diluted; hard to find correct water amount
    • Can run or glide poorly if dilution is off
  • Line work is harder with low control (“hard to do a line unless …”)
  • Smell costs a star due to rust inhibitor presence
  • Still requires proper rust handling: prep should not be skipped

Ratings / scores mentioned

  • Consistency: 1 star
  • Whiteness: 2 stars (assuming substrate isn’t too old/stained/rusty)
  • Smell: loses a star
  • Overall: 8 out of 10

Important prep warning (safety / performance)

  • Even with anti-rust paint, you must:
    • Scrape off excessively rusted areas, and/or
    • Apply a first anti-corrosion treatment if needed
  • If the paint is water-based:
    • Don’t add solvent-based anti-rust additives (solvents can’t be added to water-based systems)
  • Strong message: preparation of heavily rusted zones is still necessary (referenced as covered in another video)

Comparisons made (within the video)

  • Matte vs glossy behavior

    • Matte “hexagon” praised for very low specular gloss and opacity
    • “La Longue du Lac” labeled “satin” but criticized as glossier than expected, supported by specular gloss measurements

  • Rust-prevention paint vs older glycerophthalic paints

    • Suggestion: glycerophthalic often resists “poking” better (tester would have preferred it for a gate scenario)
    • For railings, tester considers the water-based rust-inhibiting option perfectly suitable
    • Odor comparison: water-based is far less nauseating than old glycerophthalic smells

All unique points mentioned (consolidated)

  1. Zolpan exists since 1959, factory in 1962, 3 production sites, ~171 sale points
  2. Entry into DIY superstores with higher accessibility; Pro range remains leading
  3. “Hexagon” matte: very white, excellent opacity, very low odor (speaker dislikes smell)
  4. “Hexagon” matte: semi-smooth finish; needs proper roller + surface prep
  5. “Hexagon” matte: water-based, coverage 10–12 m²/L, works with slight dilution
  6. “Hexagon” matte: thick at start; may be hard to apply without dilution
  7. “Hexagon” matte: does not bleed; good on ceilings unless substrate is yellowed
  8. “Hexagon” matte: single coat possible on previously painted surfaces
  9. “Hexagon” matte: dries quickly; less ideal for ~30 m² ceilings
  10. “Hexagon” matte: specular gloss < 2 at 85°
  11. VOC/COV for “Hexagon”: max 30 g/L (2010 standard)
  12. “La Longue du Lac”: “satin” label but visibly glossy
  13. “La Longue du Lac”: specular gloss 24–30 at 60°
  14. “La Longue du Lac”: thick but adjustable; less splatter; good tension
  15. “La Longue du Lac”: long open time; rework possible before full drying
  16. “La Longue du Lac”: coverage 12–14 m², noted as efficient
  17. “La Longue du Lac”: slight odor
  18. “La Longue du Lac”: value for money criticized (1-star), despite quality praise
  19. “Zolp Affaire Hydro”: water-based rust-preventive glossy lacquer for railings/security grilles
  20. “Zolp Affaire Hydro”: indoor/outdoor suitable
  21. Coverage: about 9 m² on already covered surfaces; adhesion affects consumption
  22. “Zolp Affaire Hydro”: thick consistency makes dilution difficult; risks running/poor glide
  23. “Zolp Affaire Hydro”: touch dry quickly; polymerizes ~6 hours; recoatable next day
  24. “Zolp Affaire Hydro”: good whiteness if substrate isn’t too aged/rusty
  25. “Zolp Affaire Hydro”: smell due to rust inhibitor; loses a star
  26. “Zolp Affaire Hydro” CO2/VOC: about 60 g/L, below max 140 g/L (2010)
  27. Even with rust-inhibiting paint, heavily rusted zones must be scraped / treated first
  28. Don’t add solvent anti-rust products to water-based paint
  29. Practical takeaway:
    • matte “hexagon” for ceilings/matte whites
    • “La Longue du Lac” for true glossy lacquer results (don’t trust “satin” expectations)
    • “Zolp Affaire Hydro” for railing-like rust protection with less odor than old-school products
  30. The persona includes jokes about painter tools/real-world site work (framing usability emphasis, not a product fact)

Speaker-specific / multiple-viewer aspects

  • A single main tester/narrator performs application and measurements
  • Mentions a Parisian friend (Eric) as informal background validation of Zolpan consistency
  • Closing thanks to Valentine and Zolpan Toulouse team for support/patience (no additional technical product opinions)

Overall concise verdict / recommendation

  • Best overall performance: Matte “Hexagon” — standout for whiteness, opacity, and finish (10/10)
  • Best glossy option: “La Longue du Lac” — glossy lacquer feel with good rework time (9/10), but the “satin” label is misleading and value is weaker
  • Best for rust protection on railings: “Zolp Affaire Hydro” — water-based rust-inhibiting lacquer (8/10) with much better odor than older solvent products, but it’s harder to get right due to thicker consistency and it still requires proper rust prep

Recommendation: Choose Hexagon for ceilings/matte whites, La Longue du Lac when you want a glossy lacquer finish, and Zolp Affaire Hydro for railings/grilles rust protection—assuming careful surface prep and correct dilution.

Original video