For many, a home can be one of the most important and valuable assets you ever own. Of course, that’s where the relevance and utility of DIY, decoration and renovation comes in – for one, you want to ensure that the house you live in is a pleasant place to be, but secondly there may come a time when you need to sell that house. It’s the exterior that makes the first impression, and that’s why masonry paint exists.
Typically, masonry paint serves multiple purposes, of which the main ones are protection and looks. Whatever the finish of your exterior walls they’ve got to be able to withstand the elements more directly than anything else in the home, and that’s where a good masonry paint comes in. A good quality paint for this application will be grounded in weather proofing your home and looking good doing it.
You want to make sure that the paint you do buy for the outside of your home looks the part as well as being able to stand up to the rigours of the weather. With the right paint, your house can be protected and picturesque without compromise. Read on on for our selection of the top masonry paints to use at home.
| Name | Coverage | Dry Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dulux Weather Shield Smooth Masonry | 15 m2 /l | 4 hours | £££ |
| Leyland Granocryl Smooth Masonry | 12 m2 /l | 5 hours | ££ |
| Rustins Quick Dry Masonry Paint | 12 m2 /l | 4 hours | ££££ |
| Sandtex Ultra Smooth Masonry Paint | 16 m2 /l | 2 hours | £ |
| Polar Premium Smooth Masonry Paint | 16 m2 /l | 1 hour | £££ |
Dulux Weather Shield Smooth Masonry
Dulux’s Weather Shield paint is designed specifically for use on exterior walls, thanks to a number of important and useful features that really help it to stand out. One of the main draws is Dulux’s own ‘Biocide’ technology which serves to significantly inhibit the growth of mould, ideal for the external usage. On top of that, it’s guaranteed to offer protection for 15 years, a fantastic bit of peace of mind.
Within that extensive protection, the water-based formula offers substantial UV protection to keep the paint from fading or discolouring. The nature of the paint creates a thin porous film that allows moisture to escape while preventing any more getting in. The paint itself can also be purchased in at least 9 different colours, ranging from the pictured ‘Toasted Terracotta’ through other neutral shades, as well as a few bolder hues. It also dries very quickly, touch dry and rainproof in just half an hour, with four hours needed between the 2 recommended coats.
Pros
- Long life
- Colour variety
- Quick to dry
Cons
- Colours lighter than advertised
Leyland Granocryl Smooth Masonry
The Granocryl range from Leyland, available in a wide range of 13 different colours, is a tough masonry paint with a long life. The colours range from common neutral tones through a few interesting outliers, including black, green, blue and red. It can also be used on a wide variety of masonry surfaces, including bricks, concrete and pebbledash, among others.
Thanks to it’s durability, capable of protecting in all weathers from sun to rain and snow/ice, Leyland offer a 10 year protection. It is also actively resistant to mould, helping to enhance the protection and prolong the life. The thick consistency, which produces a smooth finish, is also fairly easy to work with, making for a good quality, good value masonry paint.
Pros
- Lots of colours
- Long life
- Works with various surface types
Cons
- Matt finish not for everyone
Rustins Quick Dry Masonry Paint
This masonry paint from British brand Rustins is a water-based formula that’s easy to use and, most notably, very quick to dry. That feature comes courtesy of the water base, leaving it touch-dry in around half an hour and ready for re-coating in around 4 hours. It can be applied to a variety of surfaces, including interior walls, brickwork, cement and stone tiling.
There are four different colours in Rustin’s masonry paint range, including black, white cream and red (subject to availability). As mentioned, it can be used for some interior applications, and as such is designed as a low-odour paint to make it easier to work with indoors. Additionally, only one coat of paint is normally needed, enhancing its value.
Pros
- Low odour water base
- Versatile
- Quick drying
Cons
- Limited colour selection
- Small tins supplied
Sandtex Ultra Smooth Masonry Paint
This ultra smooth masonry paint from well-established DIY and paint brand Sandtex comes with a fantastic finish and great levels of protection to make for a competitive choice. It’s a highly versatile paint, able to be applied to a huge range of surfaces including (but not limited to) pebbledash, concrete, facing bricks & emulsion/masonry painted surfaces. The cornerstone of the protection comes thanks to Sandtex’s ‘Microseal’ technology which is resistant to dirt, waterproof and breathable.
Sandtex promise 15 years of protection from the paint, making it great value and enhancing the quality. It has a very thick consistency, making for smooth application, but is still rainproof in just one hour. It is also available in a few different colours, subject to availability, and promises to keep its colour for a long time, without peeling, flaking, fading or discolouring.
Pros
- 15 year guarantee
- Good consistency
- Versatile
Cons
- Consistency can be tricky
Pick up a tin of Polar Protection Products (and Accessories) exterior masonry paint for a good quality paint with high levels of protection at a reasonable price. It looks to stand out as a super protective layer, thanks to a number of features. It’s dirt and mould resistant, but on top of that also possesses insulating qualities, which really helps it to stand out.
An eco-friendly water based formula, it dries to the touch in around 1-2 hours and is fully dry for recoating in 4-6 hours. Polar recommend that two coats are typically required. Another notable feature is that is is slightly elastic, meaning that it can handle surface expansion and contraction without cracking, and the thin film it creates on the very top is breathable to ensure moisture doesn’t get trapped. It’s also available in 3 different bold and smooth finishes, including grey, white and off-white ivory.
Pros
- High levels of protection
- Eco-friendly formula
- Good finish
Cons
- A little pricey
Which Masonry Paint To Go For?
Masonry refers to the range of materials that can make up the exterior walls of housing. Painting it can really help to spruce up your house, giving the outside a new lease of life whilst protecting the walls and surfaces under it. It can be a little difficult to know where to start with a wide range of products available. That’s why we’ve collated the overall best choice for masonry paint as well as the best value option, so that whatever your budget you’ve got something that doesn’t compromise.
Best Masonry Paint – For overall quality, look to the Dulux Weather Shield Smooth Masonry. It’s hard to argue with the combination of colour options, 15 years’ protection, weatherproofing and overall high quality Dulux is known for. It’s also not even the most expensive option available, meaning that if your budget can stretch out a bit further it’s a worthy purchase.
Best Value – The best value masonry paint is the Sandtex Ultra Smooth Masonry Paint. It offers a strikingly high level of protection for its price, guaranteeing 15 years of life with great all-round weather proofing.
Masonry Paint FAQ
What is masonry paint
Masonry paint is designed to go on exterior walls, which could be brickwork, cement, stone or a variety of other surfaces. It’s generally a fairly thick consistency to provide a strong level of elemental protection necessary for external paint.
How to remove masonry paint
Masonry paint is quite heavy-duty compared to other paints. As such, you’ll need more heavy-duty cleaning things to remove it. An extra-strength paint stripper, paint removal strips, a strong scraping tool and a very stiff bristled brush will be needed – multiple layers of the stripper should be applied, before using the strips to peel away the majority of the paint. Then use the scraper and brush to remove any remaining residue.
How to remove masonry paint from UPVC window frames
Removing masonry paint from UPVC window frames is a slightly easier prospect than removing it from the masonry itself. As UPVC is a variety of plastic, using a strong paint stripper may do damage. It’s best to try and gently scrape and/or scrub with a stiff bristled brush.
How to paint masonry
As with many painting jobs, making sure you have a clean surface is essential. Thoroughly clean the walls to remove any existing dirt, paint or anything similar. A primer is also key, but make sure you have a primer that’s designed for your particular masonry type. In terms of the actual logistics of painting the masonry, wear protective gear, use ladders where appropriate and paint with a brush or roller in broad, sweeping strokes. Typically, masonry paint is too thick for paint sprayers.
What is the best masonry paint
The best masonry paint is one that will offer significant weather protection for a number of years, reducing the number of times/frequency with which you’ll have to repaint the outside walls. It would also have a good consistency, thick enough to be easily paintable without being claggy.
What is textured masonry paint
Textured masonry paint is, as the name suggests, paint for exterior walls that dries with a texture. For the same reason that some people choose to have a pebbledash exterior, for the visual texture, the same (or at least a similar) finish can be achieved with a textured paint.