Where it makes sense
- Children's furniture and study units that will be replaced or repainted in five to seven years anyway.
- Rental and investment flats where the finish has to look sharp at handover without a premium budget.
- Internal faces, pelmets, boxing and joinery that is seen but rarely touched.
- Colour matching a small item — a Duco respray of an existing piece runs ₹120–200 per sq ft.
- Projects on a tight programme: Duco flashes off far faster than PU cures.
Where it does not
Duco is a lacquer, not a cross-linked film. It stays slightly soluble, which is why it can be re-sprayed easily and also why a spirit-based cleaner will soften it. It yellows under UV, so a white Duco shutter on a sun-facing wall shifts noticeably in three to four years. And it is softer under fingernails and keys, so kitchen fronts and tall unit handles-zones wear early.
| Property | Duco (NC lacquer) | PU (2K polyurethane) |
|---|---|---|
| Rate per sq ft | ₹140–220 | ₹180–450 |
| Hardness | Moderate | High |
| UV yellowing | Noticeable in 3–4 years | Slow, 8+ years |
| Solvent resistance | Poor | Good |
| Repair | Easy, blends well | Possible, needs skill |
| Cure to full hardness | 24–48 hours | 5–7 days |
The confusion to clear
Many quotations write “Duco / PU finish” as though they were interchangeable. They are not, and the ₹60–150 per sq ft gap is exactly why the phrase appears. On a 100 sq ft wardrobe front that is ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 — enough to matter and small enough to be quietly substituted. Ask which one, in writing, with the brand of the coating system named.
If the budget only reaches Duco but the piece is a kitchen front, we would rather move you to 1 mm laminate, which outlasts lacquer in a working kitchen. Discuss the trade-off on modular kitchen design or read the shutter finish guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Duco paint durable?+
Moderately. It is fine on low-touch joinery for five to eight years. On kitchen shutters, handled doors and anything in direct sun, it dulls and yellows faster than PU and picks up scuffs that cannot be polished out.
Can Duco be applied over an existing painted surface?+
Yes, after sanding back and priming — that is one of its strengths. It is the usual choice for refreshing existing wardrobes because it sprays thin, dries fast and blends into old work without stripping everything back.
Is Duco safe to spray in an occupied flat?+
It is solvent-heavy and the smell is strong for two to three days. In an occupied flat we spray in a sheeted zone with extraction, or move the panels out. Most societies also restrict spraying to weekday working hours.
Which is better for a kitchen, Duco or laminate?+
Laminate. A kitchen front is a high-wear surface, and a 1 mm laminate on BWP ply will look better in year six than a Duco face at the same price. Save the lacquer finishes for bedroom and study joinery.