The Ronseal Brand
Ronseal makes woodcare, paint and DIY products for homes and gardens in the UK and Ireland. We're based in Chapeltown, Sheffield, where our products are developed and made. We've been owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company since 1997.
Our job is simple: make products that do exactly what they say on the tin, so anyone can do DIY.
Ronseal at a glance
| Launched | 1956, as Ronseal Floor and Wood Seal |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Thorncliffe Park, Chapeltown, Sheffield, England |
| Made in | Sheffield, England |
| Owner | The Sherwin-Williams Company (Cleveland, Ohio, USA), since 1997 |
| UK company | Sherwin-Williams UK Limited (formerly Ronseal Limited), company no. 02968830 |
| Sold in | UK and Republic of Ireland |
| Known for | Fence, shed and decking treatments, wood stains, varnishes and fillers |
| Slogan | "Does exactly what it says on the tin" (since 1994) |
Is Ronseal a British company?
Yes. Ronseal is a British brand, made in Britain. Products have been made at our Chapeltown site in Sheffield since 1964. In 2022 we brought production for our UK brands together there, and in 2025 the site became the home of all research and development for Sherwin-Williams' UK and Ireland consumer brands.
We've been owned by an American company, Sherwin-Williams, since 1997. So the simplest answer is: a British brand, made in Sheffield, with an American parent.
Who owns Ronseal?
The Sherwin-Williams Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, owns Ronseal. Sherwin-Williams bought the business in 1997.
In the UK, Ronseal is run by Sherwin-Williams UK Limited, which was called Ronseal Limited until 2014.
Ronseal is not connected to Cuprinol, which is owned by a different company.
Where is Ronseal made?
At Thorncliffe Park in Chapeltown, Sheffield, S35 2YP. Nearly every new Ronseal product is designed, tested and produced there, from first idea to filled tin.
Where can I buy Ronseal?
Ronseal is sold across the UK and Ireland in DIY stores, builders' merchants and online, including B&Q, Wickes, Screwfix, Toolstation, Homebase, B&M, Travis Perkins and Amazon. Stock and colours vary by store.
Use our store finder to check stockists near you. Trade customers can find Ronseal Trade at builders' and decorators' merchants.
Can I buy Ronseal in the USA?
Ronseal isn't sold in the United States or Canada. If you're in North America, Sherwin-Williams' sister brands Thompson's WaterSeal and Minwax cover similar jobs: exterior wood protection and interior wood stains.
In Ireland, Ronseal is widely available, supported by our team in Dublin.
What does Ronseal make?
- Garden woodcare: fence and shed treatments such as Fence Life Plus and One Coat Shed & Fence Protector, plus decking stains, oils and garden paint
- Interior woodcare: varnishes, wood stains, floor finishes and wood dyes
- Paint: exterior wood paint, metal paint, radiator paint, tile paint and One Coat Everywhere
- Repair: wood fillers and wall fillers
- Ronseal Trade: professional versions for decorators and builders
- Colron: our specialist wood dye and finishing brand, first launched in 1927
Not sure which product you need? Try the product finder.
Our history
- 1896 Ronuk Ltd starts making floor polish in Portslade, near Brighton.
- 1927 Ronuk launches Colron wood dyes.
- 1956 Ronseal Floor and Wood Seal goes on sale, and the Ronseal brand is born.
- 1964 Manufacturing moves to Thorncliffe Park, Chapeltown, Sheffield.
- 1994 London agency HHCL writes "Does exactly what it says on the tin". Sales take off.
- 1997 The Sherwin-Williams Company buys Ronseal.
- 2022 A £10m expansion brings more production to the Sheffield site.
- 2025 A £250k lab expansion makes Sheffield the R&D centre for Sherwin-Williams' UK and Ireland consumer brands.
Where did "Does exactly what it says on the tin" come from?
The line was written in 1994 by Dave Shelton and Liz Whinston at HHCL, for ads that explained each product plainly. It's now in the Oxford Dictionary of Idioms and has been borrowed by everyone from Katie Melua to a Prime Minister. Read the full story.
Get in touch
For product advice, contact our technical team or see our FAQs.