One of the main protective requirements of an exterior wall paint is that it needs to be water repellent and offer superior protection against even the harshest and most adverse winter weather conditions. Coastal areas of the UK will also benefit from additional protection against salt-air corrosion. We have products in our waterproofing exterior masonry paint range for every kind of outside cladding or substrate, from simple rejuvenation projects to full restoration projects, including waterproofing paint for exterior walls:
- Lime render
- Concrete render
- Stonework
- Exterior brickwork
- Roughcast
- Pebbledash
- Concrete
- Building blocks
- Facing bricks
- Previously painted masonry surfaces
For trade and construction customers, the leading masonry paint manufacturers stocked at Rawlins Paints are Rust-Oleum Mathys, Sika, Wethertex, and Zinsser. In all, there's over 4,000 colours to pick from to ensure that the finish you need is the finish you get, at Rawlins Paints.
What is Masonry Paint?
Masonry paint is a maintenance, repair and decorative exterior coating for use on concrete, stone or brick – although certain products can also be used on suitably prepared wood, metal, or vinyl/plastic. Sometimes referred to as brick paint, exterior wall paint, or simply ‘outdoor paint’, paint for masonry is used as a waterproofing, UV protective and decorative coating, it is one of the best ways to protect building substrates from environmental elements in the UK – from coastal locations, to inland high-rise buildings. Click here if you require an insulating interior or exterior wall paint to prevent heat transfer through a substrate – which can cause moisture build-up in a substrate, as well as premature peeling and cracking in a coating.
One of the key elements about masonry paints is selecting the correct product for the task, and checking product datasheets to ensure that all requirements are met:
- Surface preparation requirements prior to applying the masonry paint
- Priming the surface
- Removing grease, grime, dirt, loose materials, etc.
- Treating any graffiti
- Repairing any damage – holes, cracks, and loose / crumbling substrate
- Surface and substrate drying – and whether the masonry paint is a breathable coating that can be applied to damp surfaces and substrates
- Waterproofing capabilities
- Weatherproof / all-year round protection
- Smooth or textured finish
- Dirt resistance
- Durability and flexibility upon application
- Colour retention and aesthetic values
- Surface levelling – bridging small gaps and cracks
- UV protection
- Environmental resistance – salt in coastal areas, air pollution in city districts, chemical resistance in factory and industrial settings
- Surface coverage and how economic the product is for the size of a project
Picking a suitable product can depend on the substrate and its condition – new-build, renovation, redecoration, or restoration project – and whether the substrate or surface needs priming first. If you have any questions about recommended masonry paints for listed buildings, heritage properties, historical buildings – churches, chapels – industrial builds, high-rise buildings, coastal facilities, water-processing plants, etc. please contact Rawlins Paints’ Technical Support Team.
Waterproof Brick and Masonry Paint
The benefits of buying or researching waterproofing masonry paints at Rawlins Paints is the elevated level of technical and application support you receive. We can discuss datasheet details, maintenance and repair work that may need to be undertaken to ensure the longest possible protection period can be obtained from application, or storage of a product for continued use on long-term site projects.
Waterproofing properties are at the forefront of most of our customer’s requests for masonry paint. Rust-Oleum Mathys Murfill Waterproofing Coating is a popular coating for exterior masonry, thanks to its microporous structure allowing the substrate to breathe. This lengthens the life of the finish and improves the visual impact of the coating. Mathys paint is available in a range of colours from Ivory White to Anthracite.
Zinsser AllCoat Exterior Satin is an all-surface paint, which has been designed to give eight years’ protection on masonry and other exterior surfaces. As Zinsser AllCoat contains a specific biocide to protect against fungal degradation, the coating gives a longer mould-free finish. In most cases, there’s no need to use a primer before applying Zinsser AllCoat, as long as any existing mould or mildew is removed before application.
Popular Brickwork and Masonry Paint Colours
With over 60 products and 500+ colour options, Rawlins Paints will have a masonry product to meet your requirements. From clear coatings to white, slate grey, tile red, and hundreds more, products including those from Rust-Oleum’s Murfill range are quick and simple ways to restore masonry surfaces to their former bright and colourful glory. Many users prefer light, pastel colours, or an accented colour to business signage, doors, windows or roof colours. Whatever your preference, the masonry paints available all offer excellent colour retention, do not fade in standard UV or environmental exposure, and allow any damp in a substrate to dry out after the coating system has been applied, so that damp will not become trapped and discolour or darken the exterior surface.
High-Build Masonry Paint
If you need to cover fine cracks and uneven surfaces to make your exterior masonry even and finished to your satisfaction, Wethertex HBS Flex-Coat Hi-Build Coating is an excellent choice. This decorative and protective coating is one of the best exterior masonry paint products on the market. Wethertex HBS Flex-Coat Hi-Build Coating is a high quality, ready to use, highly vapour permeable and flexible, high build silicone wall coating. For use on most exterior masonry surfaces and exterior grade building boards. Ideal for renovation of uneven and irregular surfaces. A variety of textured finishes can be achieved using various application techniques.
Water-Based Masonry Paint
Water-based masonry paint can be used on a range of surfaces but render which is clean and dry is most common. With minimal preparation, a fresh coating can quickly be applied. Occasionally, for example for chalky or powdery substrates a stabilising primer may be required to be applied first, to act as a sealer for the topcoat masonry paints.
In some instances, soundly rendered walls only require a thinned down first coat of the water-based masonry paint to act as its ‘primer’ coating. Older mortar joints may require further thin coatings if a light/white masonry paint is being applied as a topcoat.
Previously painted substrates can be coated with most water-based masonry paints available at Rawlins Paints. These micro-porous paints allow for moisture present in the wall to pass through it and evaporate.
Water-based masonry paints are typically available in a wider colour range than solvent-based masonry paints. Solvent-based masonry paints are chosen when projects require completion in winter months or when the product offers better performance on substrates.
