Grey Exterior Paint Ideas – The Complete Colour Guide

Are you looking for the right colour to transform your exterior masonry? Whether you are painting the full exterior of your house or revamping a garden wall, grey shades are an ideal choice, especially if you are looking for a clean, modern look. But what do you need to consider before choosing which shade is for you? Do not worry, as we are going discuss everything you need to know about grey masonry paint, in our ultimate colour guide.

When it comes to the exterior of houses in the UK, neutral shades such as beige, magnolia & cream are all commonly used, especially on properties renovated in the 70’s and 80’s. The reality is, in today’s decor a more modern look is desired, which can be achieved using monochrome colours like white & grey.

Light grey shades have become a particular favourite, for their ability to create a sophisticated, balanced finish that creates the perfect backdrop for other accent colours on the property. A particularly popular colour combination is light grey exterior walls and dark grey trim, such as doors & windows. This combination can modernise any property, offering a subtle finish while also allowing the house to stand out on the street from the more traditionally decorated properties.

No colour comes in as many varieties as grey. From light greys to dark greys and warm greys to cool greys, there is thousands of hues that grey shades can offer. When used on the exterior walls of a property, it is recommended to stay to the lighter end of the grey colour palette, with dark greys often overpowering the overall look of a property. Dark greys are much better suited as an accent colour, or in space areas such as a garden wall.

Light grey isn’t just for those looking for a neutral, monochrome look. They create the perfect backdrop for bolder and brighter shades, allowing you to add a bit of personality to your outdoor spaces without overcrowding the colour palette.

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, greys can appear off-white in nature, while in the shade they can appear darker and richer in colour. 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.

When we designed our specially curated colour palette, we had to include a grey shade. Light Grey is a cool delicate grey that offers a subtle hue, making it a versatile colour that is effective both on large and small areas. Whether used with white & other grey tones or as a background for bolder colours, if you are looking for a soft grey, this is a fantastic option. In fact, it is fast becoming the most popular colour in our range, after our standard ‘White’.

When it comes to painting exterior surfaces, weathering can lead to masonry looking tired after a matter of years. This is at the heart of why we developed our exterior masonry paint, as preventing this weathering is the key to keeping painted surfaces looking like new long-term. This weathering is caused by water absorbing into exterior walls over a period of time, which causes a number of problems. Firstly, the water once behind the paint film causes the paint to peel and flake. Furthermore, the constant wetting of the surface leads to discolouration from damp patches, but also through organic growth such as lichens blooming on the surface of the wall. Preventing this water from entering the wall is crucial for ensuring the long-term performance and appearance of the paint.

This is why we created our super hydrophobic nano-technology, which repels any water from the masonry walls. This reduces 96% of water absorption, helping to prevent peeling and flaking paint but also creates a self-cleaning surface that prevents staining & discolouration. Any dirt that lands on the wall is also washed off with any rainfall, ensuring no dirt can get deeply ingrained on the rough texture of the masonry surface.

You may be wondering, aren’t all masonry paints waterproof? The reality is, the vast majority of masonry paints 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 reduced water absorption by 96%, have high breathability and also withstand harsh weathering for a 25 years period without peeling or flaking. After the 25 year weathering test was completed the results found that the paint was in the same condition as the day it was applied, with no signs of change in performance or appearance. This is why we offer a lifetime guarantee on our masonry paint, as we are confident it will never peel or flake, even in harsh weather conditions.

Emperor Masonry Paint is available in Light Grey, plus 17 other popular exterior shades that have been specifically curated to bring your home to life. Our colour range includes White, Off-white, Light Grey, plus a number of light and pastel shades that are perfect for transforming exterior surfaces. Why not order a sample pot and find that perfect colour for you?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. DOES LIGHT GREY MATCH WITH ANTHRACITE GREY?

Anthracite Grey is the exterior colour of the moment. It is the shade that you see used on UPVC thanks to its highly modern, dark grey tone. If you want a modern looking home, we would highly recommend using Light Grey on exterior walls, coupled with Anthracite Grey on your exterior trim, such as doors & windows. The colours work perfectly in harmony together, with the Light Grey offsetting some of the deep, rich hue of the Anthracite Grey, that can often be too overwhelming if used in isolation.

The popularity of Anthracite Grey is why we launched a brand-new formulation; Dark by Emperor Paint. For years homeowners have loved the performance of our Emperor Masonry Paint but wanted to use a dark shade Due to the composition of Emperor Masonry Paint this isn’t possible, meaning it is only available in light or pastel shades

After countless requests from our community to provide a better alternative to the standard masonry paints available we set out to formulate the best possible masonry paint we could in dark colours. The result was Dark – a brand-new formulation that offers greater breathability, durability and weather protection than standard masonry paints, while delivering the deep hues of Black and Anthracite Grey.

Q. WHAT IS BREATHABILITY AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

You may be wondering what we mean when we say Emperor Masonry Paint is highly breathable. Breathability refers to the ability for water vapour to pass through a surface. If a paint has low breathability, any moisture that is in the surface cannot escape. Over time, as water soaks into the surface and enters through hairline cracks in the wall, it becomes trapped, eventually causing the paint to start peeling. This is the reason why many standard masonry paints that have low breathability and aren’t waterproof fail after a matter of years.

Q. WHAT SURFACES CAN I APPLY MASONRY PAINT TO?

Masonry paint is specifically designed to be applied to any exterior wall surface, including brick, stone, concrete & render. Remember, if the surface is bare & unpainted, you will need to apply a primer to the surface before you paint it. This prevents the paint from soaking into the wall, leaving a patchy finish.

We hope that our full guide to grey 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 Light Grey 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 [email protected].