Armstead Smooth Masonry Paint is a water-based product designed for use on exterior stonework and render. You can buy this paint in a wide range of colours from several retailers or any Dulux Decorating Centre. However, unless you are entitled to a trade discount, it will almost certainly be cheaper to buy Armstead Masonry Paint online. Plus, there are more colours available online. Click here to see current prices.
This paint is showerproof in 30 minutes, touch-dry in about an hour, and you can recoat it after two to four hours, but all of this depends heavily on weather conditions. You should never use masonry paint inside your home, as it contains high levels of fungicide.
My Armstead Smooth Masonry Paint Review
This is one of the only masonry paints I’ll use without diluting it with water. In fact, you’ll find it silky smooth and a joy to apply straight from the tin. Brush marks just melt away, plus the paint seems to flood and fill any cracks and crevices you may have missed during the preparation stage.
Spraying Armstead masonry paint is one of the great pleasures in life for a decorator! You do not even need to whisk it first — just give it a quick stir and you’re good to go. There is nothing smoother through a spray gun, and it is very easy to use. No problem at all!
The finish is fantastic too! I find Armstead Smooth Masonry Paint dries flat with next to no sheen at all. This is great for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it helps to disguise imperfections in your masonry. Secondly, it just looks better! A flat finish is a lot more contemporary and luxurious.
The opacity is OK. I find Armstead Masonry Paint covers bare render in three coats, but two coats are usually ample when recoating a previously painted surface.
Click here to see latest prices online.
Review Summary
Armstead Smooth Masonry Paint Review - Decorator's forum UK
A water-based masonry paint designed for exterior use.
Product Brand: Armstead Trade
4.6
Pros
- Self-priming.
- Water-based.
- Good opacity.
- Available in colours.
- Reasonably priced.
- Showerproof in 30 minutes.
- Great flow.
- Nice finish.
Cons
- I wish this was available in Dulux colours, instead of having to choose from a small Armstead colour card.
- Dulux Weathershield has better opacity, but is more expensive.
The Alternative to Armstead Smooth Masonry Paint
Dulux and Armstead are both manufactured by the same company, so I thought I’d mention Dulux Trade Weathershield Masonry Paint in my review. Do not get this confused with the retail version, which you will find in places like B&Q. Always look for the word “Trade” on the tin.
As far as ease of application and finish go, there is little or no difference between Armstead Smooth Masonry Paint and its Dulux counterpart. Dulux is around a third more expensive in tinted colours, although white and magnolia are reasonably priced.
The only other difference, as far as I can tell, is the opacity. Dulux really is impressive when it comes to blocking out another colour. Armstead Smooth Masonry Paint has good opacity and can achieve a solid colour change in two coats, but the Dulux product is unreal. I suppose that is where the extra money goes. Both are great products.
You can also buy Dulux Trade Weathershield Masonry Paint from any Dulux Decorating Centre, or online by clicking here.
Good paint the armstead, the speading rate of the cheaper masonry paints Armstead, leyland, Macpherson etc are nowhere near dulux great gear, johnstones (dries quick) and sandtex goes for miles shiny finish though at around 16sm its 40/ 60 % more spreading per sm2, easy to forget this when comparing prices etc the dearer products dont always work out any dearer esp if saves a 3rd coat perhaps