The ultimate paint
for brick and stone
Emperor Masonry Paint is the next generation of paint for brick and stone, engineered to let your walls breathe and protect the surface beneath, proven to last at least 25 years and backed by a lifetime guarantee.
Moisture is the enemy of brick and stone
Like a sponge
Brick and stone are porous. Some, like sandstone and limestone take in large amounts of water. Others, like granite, are much denser and absorb far less. But whether highly absorbent or more dense, all brick and stone are affected by moisture.
Needs to breathe
That moisture needs a way out. Block it and it gets trapped inside, eventually forcing its way through and damaging itself.
Paint often doesn't do both
From limewash to standard masonry paint, most paint for brick and stone makes a trade-off between water resistance or breathability. Your walls pay the price either way.
The trade off no one tells you about
When water gets into brick and stone it causes a range of problems for your walls. It gets into the wall, builds up behind the paint and eventually causes it to peel and flake, driving damp into your home.
So the instinct is to seal it, but trap moisture inside a wall and you get the same problems from the other direction.
Traditional paints and coatings force you to choose, keep rain out or let the walls naturally breathe.
- Limewash – highly breathable, but very little water resistance
- Oil-based masonry paint – high water resistance, but very low breathability
- Standard masonry paint – offers some water resistance and some breathability, but not enough of either. Water still gets in, moisture still gets trapped and the paint can still peel
Paint brick and stone without the compromise
On exposed homes, that compromise shows up as damp, peeling paint and wasted time and money.
But you don’t need to choose anymore. With our cutting-edge nano-technology, you get the best of both worlds.
How it works
Keeps rain out
Within Emperor Masonry Paint there are millions of microscopic pyramids with tiny gaps between them.
When rain hits, it only touches the tips, so it can’t spread or soak in, reducing water absorption by as much as 96%.
Lets walls breathe
At the same time, those same gaps allow water vapour to pass through.
A droplet of rain is millions of times larger than a molecule of water vapour, so while rain is too large to get in, water vapour is small enough to move through the surface.
That means it stays highly breathable, with an SD breathability value of 0.03, similar to limewash and well below the 0.5 often considered ‘breathable’.
Tested. Proven. Guaranteed.
It’s easy to make claims, but we believe in proving them. Every benefit we talk about has been independently tested by a world leading laboratories, including certification from the BBA.
Most importantly, after 25 years of harsh weathering, it showed no change in performance or appearance. That’s why we’re so confident in it, we back it with a lifetime guarantee.
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96%
less water absorbed into a brick wall
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25yr
proven performance in harsh weathering
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0.03
SD breathability value, similar to limewash
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6°C
warmer walls vs untreated
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+66%
more solids than standard masonry paint – less water, more paint
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14
national and European quality standards achieved
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Emperor Masonry Paint
Ideal for brick and stone housesReady to paint the outside of your home for the last time? Get it right first time round with a paint designed not only maintain your brick or stone walls natural breathability, but provide it with added weather protection and a finish that will last decades, not years.
✓ 25 years proven performance
✓ Lifetime guarantee
✓ Keeps rain out, lets walls breathe
✓ Independently tested and certified
Content reviewed by Emperor Paint technical team – specialists in external coatings with an average of over 25 years experience in the building industry.
Frequently asked questions
Can you paint on brick & stone?
Yes, you can paint onto brick and stone but it’s important to use the right masonry paint. Both materials are porous, so a breathable masonry paint is essential to prevent moisture from becoming trapped.
What paint should you use on brick & stone?
When painting brick or stone, it’s important to use a breathable masonry paint. The paint should also be able to repel rainwater; otherwise, moisture can soak in and become trapped, which can lead to damp issues or long-term damage.
How long does masonry paint last on brick & stone?
Providing you have used a suitable paint, how long a paint lasts depends on the paint itself. Emperor Masonry Paint lasts a minimum of 25 years on brick and stone without peeling or flaking, which is why it comes with a lifetime guarantee.
How do you prepare brick & stone for painting?
In order to paint brick or stone , you must ensure the surface is clean and sound.
Firstly, wash the masonry down with a pressure washer (on a low pressure), hosepipe or a stiff brush and hot water. Then apply a fungicidal cleaner to the wall where there are problems with organic growth.
If you are painting bare exterior brick or stone, you must prime it like most other bare surfaces before painting. This is because the paint will absorb into the brick rather than create a solid paint film.
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