100% Free · No sign-up · 2026 UK comparison
Sandtex vs Dulux Weathershield? See either on your own house first
An honest, brand-neutral comparison of lifespan, finish, price per litre and DIY-friendliness, side by side. But the step that matters more than the brand is the colour: repainting masonry is a one-shot bet of hundreds of pounds on a shade you only truly see once it is on the wall. Upload one photo and preview the look on your actual facade, in about 30 seconds.
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3 reasons to preview before you buy a tin
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Avoid a costly repaint over a colour that looks wrong on your actual facade.
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Settle the household, neighbour or planning vote with a real preview, not a tiny tester patch.
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Skip the tester pots and the test patches drying on your front wall.
Quick answer: Sandtex Smooth Masonry advertises a longer 15-year lifespan and a thicker body, while Dulux Weathershield Smooth is lighter to apply and slightly cheaper per tin. Neither is "best" for every house. The decision that actually matters is the colour, so preview either look on a photo of your own walls with the free AI visualiser, in under 30 seconds with no sign-up, before you commit to a tin.
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Real UK Facades, AI Preview in ~30 Seconds
Same house, different masonry colour. Drag the handle to wipe between the original photo and the AI repaint.
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What our customers found before they bought
★★★★★
“The bottom photo was my old planning application that got rejected, and the top one was the new submission. The difference is small, but for some councils that tiny shift in tone is what makes the call: they reject pure white and accept cream.”
Matthew, painter
★★★★★
“The time it saves me means I can knock 10 pounds off every quote, both for regulars and new customers.”
Matthew, painter
★★★★★
“Cream white is brilliant and the base of the wall is picked up perfectly.”
Oliver, facade contractor
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Side by side: the 4 things that actually matter
We are not going to declare a winner. Both brands have repainted millions of UK homes successfully. Pick on the criterion that matters most for your house, then confirm the colour on your own photo.
| Criterion | Sandtex Smooth Masonry | Dulux Weathershield Smooth |
|---|---|---|
| Typical lifespan | 15 years on prepared masonry | 10 years on prepared masonry |
| Price per 5L (2026) | Small premium for the guarantee | Slightly cheaper per tin |
| DIY-friendly | Thicker body, harder roller work | Lighter body, easier first coat |
| Colour range | Strong on UK heritage tones | Largest mixed-to-order palette via Dulux Mix |
| Where to buy | Screwfix, Toolstation, B&Q, Homebase | B&Q, Homebase, Dulux Decorator Centres |
So which one should you buy?
Honestly, the brand choice matters less than the colour choice. A perfectly applied Sandtex in the wrong shade looks worse than a Weathershield in the right one. Before you stand in a Screwfix aisle holding two almost-identical tins of "Cornish Cream", do this one thing: preview the actual shade on your own house photo. The free AI visualiser renders either brand's look on your walls in 30 seconds, so the decision becomes obvious rather than a gamble.
Once the colour is settled, pick the brand on the criterion that matters for your situation. Coastal, exposed or rendered facade where you want maximum lifespan: Sandtex. Sheltered, brick or DIY weekend job where ease of application wins: Weathershield. Heritage Georgian or Cotswold stone: a Farrow & Ball Exterior or Little Greene Intelligent Masonry mix will out-class both on depth of colour.
Brand names, ranges and figures are referenced for comparison purposes only. FacadeColorizer is an independent AI visualisation tool and is not affiliated with Sandtex, Dulux, Crown, Johnstone's, Farrow & Ball or Little Greene.
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Test real UK shades on your walls
Whichever tin you end up buying, confirm the colour first. Preview popular Dulux and Farrow & Ball tones on your own facade photo, or paste any HEX code.
Dulux UK
Chalk White
DH CHW
China White
DH CNW
Pure Brilliant White
00E55
Denim Drift
87BG 27/077
Brave Ground
10YY 30/106
Sapphire Salute
50BB 08/171
Farrow & Ball
All White
No.2005
Wimborne White
No.239
Pointing
No.2003
Elephant's Breath
No.229
Hague Blue
No.30
Down Pipe
No.26
Colour names and codes are trademarks of their respective owners. FacadeColorizer is an independent AI visualisation tool and is not affiliated with Dulux or Farrow & Ball. On-screen swatches are an approximation, always confirm against a physical sample.
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Tested on common UK property types
Our AI was trained on a wide cross-section of British homes. It preserves brick, render and pebbledash texture, plus trim and shadow detail, on every style below.
Victorian Terrace
Bay windows, decorative brickwork and rendered fronts.
1930s Semi
Pebbledash or render with a part-brick ground floor.
Georgian Townhouse
Symmetric sash windows and smooth render or stucco.
Cottage
Rendered or stone walls, ideal for heritage cream tones.
Bungalow
Single-storey render, a popular full-repaint candidate.
New Build
Modern brick and render mix, refreshed trim and accents.
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6 colour palettes you can preview on your house first
From photo to colour in 4 steps
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1
Upload your photo
A daylight phone photo of your facade is enough. No sign-up, no card.
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2
Pick a colour
Preview popular Dulux and Farrow & Ball masonry tones, or paste any HEX code.
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AI renders in ~30 seconds
Photorealistic result that keeps your brick, render and shadow detail.
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Compare and decide
Put a stone, a charcoal and a sage side by side, then buy the tin you have already seen.
See my house in the colour, free
No sign-up · No card · 1 free HD render · Result in ~30s
Don't gamble on a tin. Preview the colour on your own house.
Upload one daylight photo and the AI renders your chosen masonry shade on your actual walls in about 30 seconds. Compare a warm stone, a charcoal and a sage side by side, then buy the tin you have already seen.
See my house in a new colour, freeNo sign-up · No card · 1 free HD render · Result in ~30s
Your photo is private, used only to create your preview, never sold. You keep full ownership.
Sandtex vs Dulux Weathershield: FAQ
Sandtex or Dulux Weathershield: which lasts longer in UK weather?
Sandtex typically advertises a 15-year lifespan on properly prepared masonry, while Dulux Weathershield Smooth advertises a 10-year guarantee. In practice both perform comparably on sheltered facades, and both struggle on neglected, chalky or damp substrates. If the wall faces coastal salt or sits in a permanently shaded valley, the longer Sandtex guarantee is worth the price premium.
Which is easier to apply for a DIY repaint?
Dulux Weathershield Smooth tends to be slightly more forgiving for a DIY weekend job: thinner consistency, less roller drag and an easier first coat on already-painted render. Sandtex Smooth has a thicker body that gives better coverage in fewer coats but takes more upper-body effort with a roller. For textured Sandtex (high-build), most homeowners hire a decorator.
Sandtex vs Dulux Weathershield: price per litre
Sandtex Smooth Masonry usually carries a small premium over Dulux Weathershield Smooth for the longer guarantee. Coverage is similar at around 16 square metres per litre on smooth render. Trade outlets and Screwfix often beat high-street DIY chains, so it pays to compare a couple of merchants before you commit.
Can I preview both shades on my house before buying?
Yes. Upload a daylight photo of your house to the FacadeColorizer AI visualiser. The first HD render is free with three AI variations, no sign-up required. You can test a warm stone or cream tone, then swap to a charcoal, navy or sage, on the very same photo, before committing to either brand.
Is my photo private?
Yes. Your photo is used only to create your preview and is never sold. You keep full ownership of your image. For full details, read our terms.
What about Sandtex vs Crown vs Johnstone's Stormshield?
Crown Trade Sandtex equivalents (sold mainly through trade merchants) sit between Sandtex and Weathershield on price, with a 10 to 15 year typical lifespan. Johnstone's Stormshield is positioned as a direct Weathershield competitor and is often cheaper at Toolstation. None is objectively the best. The right brand is the one that mixes the colour you can confirm on your own facade photo.
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