Want to know what products are best for your project? Take the quiz

Free Delivery
Dedicated Customer Support

Dark by Emperor Paint

Free delivery

‘Dark’ by Emperor Paint is a brand-new formulation designed to provide a higher quality alternative to standard masonry paint for those looking for dark shades. With our Emperor Masonry Paint unable to be formulated in dark colours due to the nature of its composition, we wanted to create a unique formulation that improved on the performance of what was available in the UK today, but in two beautiful deep shades.

  • Contains our cutting-edge nano-technology
  • Suitable for use on masonry surfaces such as brick, stone and render
  • Formulated for durability - 25 year expected lifespan
  • Hydrophobic - Repels rainwater to keep your home dry
  • Highly breathable - SD value of 0.14
Find out more

Size

How much do I need
Tester PotTester Pot
£7.00
Tester PotTester Pot
£7.00
5 Litres5 Litres
£69.00
5 Litres5 Litres
£69.00
10 Litres10 Litres
£125.00
10 Litres10 Litres
£125.00

Selected:

£49.00
Emperor Paint Exterior Masonry Cleaner

Emperor Paint Exterior Masonry Cleaner 5L

£20.00

Pick a colour

View colour gallery

Selected:

Add to basket
klarna

3 interest free payments with Klarna. No fees.

Learn more
  • Highly Breathable
  • Highly Durable
  • Independently Tested
  • Self-Cleaning
  • UV Resistant
Suitable for Exterior walls
Finish Semi-matt
Composition Pure arcylic resin
Application method Brush, roller, airless spray
Coverage 5-6m2 per litre on smooth surfaces, rougher textures will reduce the coverage accordingly
Number of coats Two-coats
VOC's > 40g/l

We offer free and fast delivery on all UK mainland orders. Once your order has left our warehouse, we will send you an email with tracking information. Additional charges apply to Scottish Highlands and UK islands.

We accept returns up to 28 days after purchase. For full delivery and returns information, please visit our delivery and returns page.

Dark Colours. Emperor Quality.

YOU ASKED, WE LISTENED

By popular demand
  • 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
  • If compromising on colour wasn’t an option, this meant compromising on quality and performance, until now
  • 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 is ‘Dark by Emperor Paint’ – 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
Dark by Emperor Paint paint drip

Ideal for those finishing touches

Window sill

Window sills

Water runoff and pooling are common on sills - with Dark your sills are protected from the elements and given a beautiful new look that will last for years to come.

Below DPC

Below DPC

Breathability in areas of high moisture like this is crucial - Dark ensures these areas can breathe much easier than standard masonry paints or bitumen.

Window lintel

Lintels

Dark helps to keep lintels looking their best by avoiding long-term damage and preserving the durability of the building envelope.

Black render

Most other masonry surfaces

Dark can be applied to almost any masonry surface where you want a deep shade including brick, cement and render.

25 YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY

Peace of mind

Dark has been independently tested in 25 year accelerated weathering tests to the EAD 040287-00-04:2018 quality standard, demonstrating long-term durability in even harsh weather conditions.
HOW TO APPLY
Dark by Emperor Paint performance

The quality you need, the colour you want

Self-Cleaning

Enjoy that newly painted look for longer and be the envy of your neighbours. Dirt is washed away with rainfall and the growth of moss, algae and lichens is deterred.

Formulation of Dark

Premium Formulation

Our premium formulation contains the highest quality ingredients as we don't believe in offering both a trade and retail version of our products. We simply offer the very best formulation we can to all.

UV Resistant

Formulated to withstand the elements, it offers excellent UV resistance to help maintain colour depth and consistency for years to come.

NEW FORMULATION, SAME QUALITY FINISH

Paint that you'll love
  • Dark has the same unrivalled opacity that you would expect from us here at Emperor Paint
  • Easy to apply – anyone can achieve a flawless, fuss-free finish
  • Suitable for use on brick, stone, render and previously painted exterior walls
  • Can be applied with a brush or a roller
  • Two-coats required
  • On bare surfaces, apply one-coat of Dark Primer first before painting
Dark by Emperor Paint Opacity

Frequently Asked Questions

How is it different from Emperor Masonry Paint?

Dark is formulated using pure acrylic resins rather than silicone resins like Emperor Masonry Paint. The reason behind this is the resins used in Emperor Masonry Paint mean it cannot be formulated in deep and dark shades. In short, the amount of colourant required would dilute the paint.

In contrast, Dark has been specifically engineered to still contain our Emperor nano-technology, meaning it is still highly breathable and durable, but is able to be formulated in Black and Anthracite Grey.

 

How is it different to standard masonry paints?

Dark is a pure acrylic resin, which helps to provide it with better durability, breathable and weather protection compared to standard masonry paints which often use a blend of acrylic and cheaper binders. While having a slightly higher SD value than our standard Emperor Masonry Paint, it is still highly breathable.

What surfaces is Dark designed for?

Dark is designed to be applied to a range of masonry surfaces including brick, render and stone. When it comes to surfaces such as limestone, sandstone, lime render and silicone render, we recommend using Emperor Masonry Paint. Please feel free to get in touch with us if you’re not sure which is best for your property.

Can Dark be applied over the top of other paints?

Yes, Dark can be applied to previously painted surfaces providing that paint is sound and not a silicone-based masonry paint. We do not recommend applying Dark over Emperor Masonry Paint as this is a silicone-based formulation.

When applying both Emperor Masonry Paint and Dark to the same property, apply Dark first followed by Emperor Masonry Paint to the other areas. This means that where the two paints overlap, the silicone-based paint won’t interfere with adhesion and both products can perform to their full potential without compatibility issues.

What finish is Dark?

Dark is a semi-matt finish with a slightly higher sheen than our Emperor Masonry Paint, which is a flat matt finish. This subtle difference gives Dark a richer, more defined appearance, while still maintaining a low sheen look that suits traditional and contemporary properties alike.

Does it come with a lifetime guarantee?

No, we don’t offer our lifetime guarantee on Dark by Emperor Paint. This lifetime guarantee only applies to Emperor Masonry Paint and Emperor Masonry Creme.

While Dark is formulated to an exceptionally high standard using pure acrylic resins for extreme durability, it is a different type of system. We only offer guarantees on products that have gone through a rigorous independent testing program over an extended period of time.

As a new formulation we do not extend the same lifetime claim to Dark at this time. That said, you can still expect Dark to deliver premium performance and we will continue to the testing process so we can hopefully offer our lifetime guarantee on Dark in the near future.

What you’ll need to ensure your lifetime guarantee

In order to be covered by our Lifetime Guarantee, you must use Emperor Exterior Primer on any bare, unpainted surfaces and Emperor Exterior Cleaner on any surfaces that suffer from organic growth.

Find out more

Emperor Paint Exterior Masonry Primer

5 Litres

£49.00

Add to basket

Emperor Paint Exterior Masonry Cleaner 5L

5 Litres

£20.00

Add to basket