Prepping Exterior Walls

It may come as a surprise to hear but preparation is the single most important aspect of any decorating project. We are extremely proud of our products, however they are only as good as the surface they are being applied to. That is why it is crucial to take the necessary steps to prepare the wall before you do anything else. 

Why Is Preparation Important?

Proper prep is key to not only beautiful results but also a finish that stands the test of time. Preparation ensures you have the best possible surface for the paint to stick to. If you do not prepare the surface for painting, there are two main problems that can be caused.

Firstly, the surface could allow moisture to get into any defects such as cracks, which negates the benefits that our super hydrophobic technology achieves. Secondly, the paint could simply fail altogether if the surface is not prepped correctly, as it needs to be able to adhere to a clean and sound surface.

How To Prepare Exterior Walls

So, what is involved in preparing exterior walls before you paint them? Well, there are a number of steps you need to take, which can vary depending on the surface and the product you are using.

At this point it is important to point out that while Emperor Masonry Creme and Emperor Masonry Paint are applied differently, much of the preparation is the same. There are some key differences, such as priming, but we will cover that! 

Preparation involves three steps; cleaning, repairing and priming (if required). Each one is as important as the next, so make sure you don't cut any corners.

1. Cleaning

No matter whether you are applying Emperor Masonry Paint or Emperor Masonry Creme, the cleaning process is the same.

Cleaning ensures exterior walls are clean and free from dirt, debris or contamination. At the end of the day, you want the paint to stick to the wall not a layer of dirt! Cleaning not only ensures the product you are applying can perform, but also ensures the wall looks its best. In the case of Emperor Masonry Creme, this is a clear product, so you don't want any dirt on the wall that will be left for all to see.

Cleaning is a two step process. Firstly, wash the masonry down with a pressure washer, hose-pipe or a stiff brush and hot water. This removes the surface level dirt so that there is nothing that can stop the paint from adhering to the wall.

If you are using a pressure washer, ensure you use a low pressure to avoid causing any damage to the wall. Furthermore, on lime render and sandstone, we recommend cleaning these with a steam cleaning process. This is because both of these surfaces are highly porous, meaning they will absorb a large amount of moisture. If a steam cleaning process is not feasible, a stiff brush should be sufficient for removing small amounts of dirt.

The second part of the cleaning process is to apply Emperor Masonry Cleaner where there are problems with organic growth, such as mildew, lichens and algae. This is what is called a fungicidal wash, which kills any fungus. If this organic growth is not killed, it could continue to bloom on the wall after treatment. Simply apply the cleaner to the wall using a brush, roller or pump-sprayer and allow this to dry for 2-3 hours at 20°C. Once dry, wash the cleaner off the wall to remove any residue if you are using Emperor Masonry Creme, or you can leave it on the wall if you are using Emperor Masonry Paint.

2. Repairing

The surface you are painting or treating must be sound. Water will find its way into any holes or cracks, so making sure it is watertight is crucial for long-term protection.

Start by checking the surface is sound. If you have a rendered wall, tap the surface to see if there are any signs of delamination or detachment from the wall. If the render sounds hollow, this is a sign it isn't adhered to the masonry beneath and could need to be hacked off and repaired.

If there are any holes or cracks these should be repaired. A masonry repair filler will be effective at filling any cracks on the masonry. After raking out the crack to remove any loose debris, simply work the filler back and forth into the defect using a filling knife and once dry sand back to your desired finish using 180-grit sandpaper.

Finally, let's address any previous paint that is applied to the wall. If you are using Emperor Masonry Creme, you must remove all previous paint as this is only for use on bare masonry surfaces. If you are using Emperor Masonry Paint, you do not need to remove sound previous paint, you only need to remove any failing paint. Scrape the failing paint back using a paint scraper until you have a 'firm edge', where no more paint can be removed. To make the edge as smooth as possible simply sand this back using a low grit sandpaper.

3. Priming

Now to the final part of the preparation process, priming! Priming is something that must be done when applying a coloured paint to a bare, unpainted surface. The job of a primer is to prevent the paint from soaking into the masonry, which causes you to lose coverage and opacity. It also helps the paint adhere to the wall, creating a strong bond for long-term durability.

You do not need to apply primer to a surface that has previously been painted or a pre-coloured silicone render, as the paint already on the surface of the wall will prevent the primer absorbing into the surface and adhering. You can simply apply Emperor Masonry Paint straight to the previously painted surface once they are cleaned.

You also do not need to apply primer if you are using Emperor Masonry Creme. This is because this is a clear treatment that absorbs into the masonry to offer an invisible finish. Applying primer first would prevent the treatment absorbing into the masonry.

If you are applying Emperor Masonry Paint to a bare surface that hasn't been painted, priming is a must. Make sure the masonry is dry and that conditions are above 5°C before you apply primer.

Simply apply one-coat of Emperor Exterior Primer to any bare areas using a masonry brush or a long-pile roller. You can expect to achieve a coverage of between 5-8m2 per litre, depending on the porosity of the surface. If you have a number of isolated bare areas where you have removed peeling previous paint, apply the primer only to these areas.

Allow the primer to dry for 3-5 hours at 20°C, or for longer at lower temperatures, before you apply the masonry paint. Drying times are essential for the performance of the wall, so make sure to give the primer plenty of time to dry.

Optional: Textured Basecoat

Part of this preparation process is ensuring the surface you are painting is sound, as you need to have a stable base for the paint to stick to. As we have discussed, any cracks, holes or other imperfections need to be repaired in order to prevent moisture entering the wall when it rains.

The problem is, repairing these surfaces with a neat and attractive finish is difficult to achieve, especially if the surface you are repairing is textured. These surfaces are repaired with a masonry filler, which while effective at filling the imperfections are less effective at disguising the repairs. This means that repairs can be visible once painted, leaving a less than perfect finish that can stand-out.

That is why we developed our Emperor Textured Basecoat, which can create a range of textured finishes quickly and easily without needing to repair the surface with render.

Emperor Textured Basecoat is not only easy to apply but incredibly versatile too. You can achieve different textures, depending on which of our textured rollers you use to apply the basecoat. Choose from one of our three textured rollers to achieve either a light, medium or heavy textured finish easily and effectively. The basecoat can also be applied via brush, for small or hard to reach areas.

As Emperor Textured Basecoat is self-priming, you do not need to apply primer to the surface before applying.

Generously load your chosen textured roller with the basecoat and simply roll over the surface of the wall. If using a brush, just brush the product on until you achieve your desired finish. Avoid spreading too thinly as you will lose the texture you have created. You can expect to get a coverage of 350-500g per m², which will depend on the level of texture you are applying. Once allowed to dry for 24 hours at 20°C, you can paint using Emperor Masonry Paint.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT HAPPENS IF I APPLY PRIMER TO A PREVIOUSLY PAINTED WALL?

If you apply primer to a previously painted wall, that paint will stop the primer soaking into the surface and cause it to simply wash off. That is why we recommend spot priming bare areas of masonry if there is a mix of both bare and painted areas of a wall.

WHAT FILLER SHOULD I USE TO REPAIR MASONRY?

You can use any exterior filler in order to prepare walls before treatment. We recommend using a high-quality exterior filler such as Toupret Masonry Repair Filler, which will provide a solid bond to the wall to prevent any future problems occurring.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T PRIME A BARE SURFACE?

If you do not prime bare masonry before applying Emperor Masonry Paint, a number of things can occur. Firstly, the first coat of paint that you apply could simply soak through into the porous masonry instead of create a film of paint of the surface. This could result in you requiring more than two-coats of paint. Furthermore, if the surface is chalky, the adhesion of the paint could be compromised. Emperor Exterior Primer can help to bind chalky surfaces, preventing any problems with failing paint.

DO I NEED TO APPLY EMPEROR EXTERIOR PRIMER AND CLEANER TO QUALIFY FOR THE LIFETIME GUARANTEE?

Our lifetime guarantee covers both Emperor Masonry Paint and Emperor Masonry Creme and ensures that both products will not fail in your lifetime if applied correctly. The key to applying the products correctly is the preparation, which is why we always say this is the most important aspect of exterior decorating.

Let's first talk about Emperor Exterior Cleaner and whether it is a requirement or not. To qualify for our lifetime guarantee, you only need to use Emperor Exterior Cleaner on all areas with visible organic growth. If there is no visible growth, simply clean the wall to remove any dirt and debris using a hose-pipe or stiff brush and water. Not all organic growth is visible however, which is why we always recommend applying Emperor Exterior Cleaner to the full wall. While this isn't a requirement for the guarantee, it does ensure you have full peace of mind knowing the surface is free from fungus and that there is nothing that can bloom underneath the paint film. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry.

In terms of Emperor Exterior Primer, this is a requirement for any bare masonry surfaces in order to qualify for the lifetime guarantee, when using Emperor Masonry Paint. It is not a requirement and therefore not recommended if you are applying Emperor Masonry Paint to a previously painted surface where the paint is sound or if using Emperor Masonry Creme. For full details read our guide to our lifetime guarantee.