When it comes to painting exterior walls, there is often a misconception that you have to opt for a neutral colour, however the rulebook in recent years has been thrown out of the window. Are you looking for something a bit different? Don't worry, you are in the right place as we are going to cover everything you need to know about green masonry paint in our ultimate colour guide, so you can decide if it is the ideal colour to transform your masonry surfaces.
When it comes to exterior masonry colours, the same shades commonly appear. White, magnolia & light grey are all colours you will usually see on masonry surfaces, however this traditional use of colour is not always desired by homeowners today.
Pastel shades such as blue, pink & green are fast becoming some favourites in exterior home decor thanks to their ability to bring personality to an outdoor space. In a world where white, cream & light grey are used on the majority of house renovations, using a pastel shade is an easy way to create a unique look, without overpowering the colour palette of the house and its surroundings.
Green evokes nature & life, which can marry perfectly with the green tones that you will find in the garden and the backdrop of the home. Whether you are painting the full exterior of your house or want to revamp a masonry garden wall, green is an ideal colour choice to create harmony between nature and your masonry surfaces.
As with other pastel tones, white & light grey are perfect complimentary colours for green. Greens blend especially well with brown and other earthy tones, especially when used in natural woodsy settings.
TIP: Colours will look brighter in direct sunlight, so bear this in mind when selecting the colour for your next exterior project.
In direct light, greens can pop with colour, while in the shade they can appear more subtle in hue. To get the best representation of a colour, it is important to apply a sample to the wall first, to test exactly how the colour reacts to the amount of light and the type of light the wall receives.
We love green shades, which is why when we designed our specially curated colour palette, we had to include a green shade. Green Mist is a mid-green tone which is quiet and subtle, making it perfectly at home when used on exterior surfaces. If you are looking for a shade that is at one with nature & creates a soft atmosphere to your home, we would highly recommend Green Mist.
When it comes to painting exterior surfaces, weathering can lead to masonry looking tired after a matter of years. This is caused by water absorbing into the wall over time, causing the paint to discolour or start to peel. The wear & tear is also a result of organic growth such as lichens growing on the wall, leaving significant staining. When it comes to maintaining the newly painted look on masonry, it is crucial to ensure you use a waterproof masonry paint. Using a waterproof masonry paint not only discourages green growth from staining the masonry but also helps prevent moisture from absorbing into the surface.
For this reason, we created our super hydrophobic nano-technology, which repels water from the masonry walls once they are painted. This not only reduces water absorption by 96%, preventing paint from peeling and flaking, but also creates a self-cleaning surface that does not allow organic growth to attach to the wall. Any dirt that lands on the wall is also washed off with any rainfall, preventing the need to clean the surface regularly.
This is in comparison to the vast majority of masonry paints that are available, which are acrylic-based. Acrylic-based masonry paints are not waterproof, which is why they are often referred to as 'weatherproof' or 'weather resistant'. For a paint to be waterproof, it must be water repellent.
Emperor Masonry Paint in an independent 25 year weathering test was found to prevent 96% of water absorption, have high breathability and also withstand harsh weathering for a 25 years period without peeling or flaking. In fact, after the 25 year weathering test, the paint showed no signs of change in performance or appearance, meaning it looked and performed exactly the same as it was when it was applied. For this reason we offer a lifetime guarantee on our masonry paint, as we are confident it will never peel or flake.
When it comes to exterior decorating, the weather can play a huge role in the performance of the paint you use, which is why it is crucial to use a high-quality paint that helps to reduce weathering. After all, you do not want to have to repaint exterior surfaces on a regular basis when the paint fails, costing you time and money. Emperor Masonry Paint is available in Green Mist, plus 17 other popular exterior shades that have been specifically curated to bring your home to life. Why not order a sample pot and find that perfect colour for you?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. WHAT DOES WATERPROOF MEAN?
Emperor Masonry Paint contains nano-technology which creates a super hydrophobic surface on painted surfaces. It achieves this by lining the pores of masonry, without sealing these pores. This means that the pores are too small for water to enter through them, but water vapour is still able to naturally breathe out of the material through the pores. By creating a water repellent surface, any water that can cause the paint to fail simply washes straight off the surface. This is known as the 'lotus effect', as named by the lotus leaf which has the same water repellent properties that causes water to form beads on the surface.
Q. WHY IS BREATHABILITY IMPORTANT?
Breathability refers to the ability for water vapour to pass through a surface. If a paint has low breathability, it will trap any moisture in the surface, causing it to build up. Over a period of time, the moisture results in the paint bursting and peeling when the water has nowhere else to go. This is why many standard masonry paints fail after a matter of years, or in some cases months, as they do not keep the surface dry. By having high breathability, Emperor Masonry Paint allows any water vapour to naturally breathe out of the exterior wall, keeping it dry.
Q. WHAT SURFACES CAN I APPLY MASONRY PAINT ON?
Masonry paint is specifically designed to be applied to any exterior wall surface, including brick, stone, concrete & render. You can apply masonry paint straight to previously painted surfaces, or to bare, unpainted surfaces after applying a primer. When using Emperor Masonry Paint, apply one-coat of Emperor Exterior Primer to the surface first. This primer contains the same highly breathable, water repellent technology as the paint, so it is important not to use a standard primer. Read our full guide to painting masonry that contains everything you need to know to achieve long-lasting, beautiful results.
We hope that our full guide to green masonry paint has helped you decide on what colour of masonry paint is best for you. Why not order your sample pot of Emperor Masonry Paint in Green Mist to see if it is the perfect shade to transform your outdoor spaces? Alternatively, if you have a question regarding get in touch with our experts by emailing info@emperorpaint.co.uk.