Zinsser vs Dulux vs Ronseal vs Legacy: Anti Mould Paints Compared

If you've searched for Zinsser anti mould paint, Dulux or Ronseal, you're already comparing — so let's do it properly. We make one of the four (Legacy™ Anti Mould Paint, manufactured in East Kilbride), and we'd rather earn your order with a fair comparison than a biased one. All four are credible products; they differ in approach, finish and price, and the right one depends on your job.

The four contenders in brief

• Zinsser Perma-White — the trade favourite. A self-priming water-based coating with a long mould-resistance film guarantee, available in several sheens and tintable. Typically the most expensive of the four, and usually the pick for commercial jobs and problem properties.
• Dulux (Trade Mouldshield / Easycare Bathroom) — the biggest brand name. Mouldshield is Dulux Trade's fungicidal range; the retail Easycare Bathroom line is moisture-resistant with mould protection in the film. Wide colour availability through tinting; usually bought where colour choice matters most.
• Ronseal Anti Mould Paint — the DIY-shed staple. Straightforward white anti mould emulsion in matt or silk with a multi-year protection claim, widely available and keenly priced in 750ml and 2.5L tins.
• Legacy™ Anti Mould Paint — ours. Solvent-free, low-VOC acrylic emulsion with an in-film fungicide, batch-tested at our own UK factory. White matt, brush or roller, warm-water clean-up. 2.5L for £32.99 or 5L for £49.99 with free next-day delivery.

Head to head

Prices for the other three move around between B&Q, Screwfix, Toolstation and Amazon, so check current listings — but as a rule of thumb Perma-White costs the most per litre, Ronseal the least per small tin, and Legacy's 5L is where the cost-per-square-metre sums come out strongest for anyone painting more than one wall.

An honest word on the "5 year protection" claims

Every brand on this page, ours included, sells protection that lives in the paint film. All the guarantees share the same small print in spirit: the surface has to be prepped properly (mould killed and removed first — here's the method), the film has to stay intact, and no coating survives being painted over with ordinary emulsion or being fed by an unfixed leak. A cheaper tin applied well beats a premium tin applied badly, every time. Whichever you buy, the prep is half the product.

Which should you buy?

• Landlord or whole-room job on a budget → Legacy 5L. Best protection-per-pound of the four.
• Need a specific colour → Dulux tinted range, accepting a price premium.
• Commercial spec sheet demands a named guarantee → Zinsser Perma-White.
• One small patch, one small tin → Ronseal from the local shed will do the job.

Frequently asked questions

Is Legacy as strong as Zinsser Perma-White?
Both carry an active fungicidal film that stops spore germination. Zinsser adds self-priming versatility and sheen options at a higher price; Legacy focuses on a matt fungicidal finish at better volume pricing. On condensation mould — the UK's standard case — both do the job when applied to a clean, dry surface.

Does anti mould paint come in 5L?
Legacy and most trade lines do. The 5L (£49.99) covers a typical bathroom with two coats plus spare for a ceiling elsewhere.

Can I use these paints over each other?
Over a cured, sound anti mould coating, yes — though see our guide to painting over anti mould paint for why the top layer is the one that counts.