Dulux Weathershield Masonry Paint Review

Dulux Trade is a brand leader in paints. Notice I use the word “trade”, if you don’t already know, Dulux, like all other brands have two separate ranges of masonry paints – one designed for retail, the other trade. Dulux Trade Weathershield may be a little bit more expensive, but it is far superior in quality and performance, including longevity. If it doesn’t say “trade” on the tin, leave it alone.

Anyway, as a professional decorator, I use a lot of exterior Dulux products. I thought I’d sit down and write an honest Dulux Trade Weathershield masonry paint review which you can use as a guide. There are a few different products to talk about and I’m going to be completely honest about each. All Dulux masonry products are self-undercoating on bare masonry and available in any colour from the vast range in the Dulux armoury.

Dulux Trade Weathershield Smooth Masonry Paint Review

Dulux Weathershield smooth masonry paint is probably the most popular choice with professional decorators. The opacity of this paint is absolutely second to none! In fact, even when you’re changing colour, one coat almost does it. Dulux Trade smooth masonry is one of the only water-based masonry paints that will easily cover bare pebble dash in two coats, even after heavily diluting the first coat.

The recoat time of this product is 2–4 hours, but it completely depends on conditions. This smooth masonry paint has a party trick too — even in poor conditions, it is shower-proof within 30 minutes. It’s like a little safety net when you’re trying to work in dodgy weather.

All that being said, I think this is a great product. Easy to use, opacity is great and it leaves a really nice finish. Dulux Weathershield offers one of the better smooth masonry paints on the market. It’s reasonably priced too, which is another bonus.

My only real gripe is this paint isn’t as breathable as some of the other masonry products on the market, meaning it isn’t ideal for problematic substrates, such as render which holds onto moisture.

I use this product regularly and can’t recommend it enough.

Dulux Weathershield Textured Masonry Paint Review

You don’t really notice a big difference between the Dulux textured and smooth masonry paint when applying the products by brush. The texture seems to bridge cracks more, but overall I think the smooth leaves a slightly nicer finish.

Dulux Weathershield textured masonry paint comes into its own on large, flat walls with a lot of surface blemishes that you need to try and blend in.

Or if you’ve removed flaky paint in patches and filled around the edges. Your filler is always going to be smoother than the wall around it. This is where you crack the textured masonry paint out, use a nice big long-pile roller and lash thick coats of paint on. You’ll add a slight, very fine stipple to the wall, which takes your eye off the imperfections and makes everything look even.

The performance of the textured masonry paint is very similar to the smooth. Recoat time is still 2–4 hours depending on conditions, opacity is still bang on and you still get around 10 years of protection from it. Nine times out of 10 you’d use the smooth, but when you need it, this can be a brilliant product.

Review Summary

Armstead Masonry Paint Review

Armstead is owned and manufactured by the same company that own Dulux, and it’s all made in the same factory. Both brands are normally sold side by side in the same stores — Dulux being the premium brand and Armstead the budget option. This reflects in the quality and performance of Armstead masonry paint compared to Dulux, but it is still a great paint to use and much better than retail.

The opacity of Armstead smooth masonry is not as good as Dulux Weathershield. You’re looking at three coats on bare masonry, but two on previously coated surfaces. You wouldn’t dilute this paint with water either, as it isn’t as thick. The finish is basically the same though, so this is a cheaper option which is still viable.

Armstead does a pliolite version too. It is good gear and great value. It isn’t in the same league as Dulux Weathershield All-Seasons though. You get what you pay for in this regard.

If you want to save a few quid but still want a trade product, then look at Armstead over Dulux. Click here to see current prices.

Fungicidal Wash and Stabilising Solution

I thought I’d add these two products. I know they’re not paint, but they can be integral to the system. They’re indistinguishable compared to other brands if I’m honest. They do their jobs well, but I could be talking about Sandtex, Johnstone’s or one of the others and my review would be the same.

Dulux Weathershield fungicidal wash works brilliantly. Brush or roller it onto any green scum the day before you plan to paint and just leave it overnight. Just let the fungicidal wash do its job. Then simply give it a quick brush off with a yard brush and paint over whatever is left.

Dulux Weathershield stabilising solution should be used on chalky or unsound masonry at least a day before you plan to paint it. There is a lot of old sandstone on buildings locally to me, and this stuff just makes everything solid before you start. It is oil-based and does stink. When you apply it with a roller, it splashes everywhere too.

Best Place to buy Dulux Weathershield Masonry Paint

Dulux Weathershield masonry paint is a premium brand that is quite expensive. That said, you get what you pay for. If you need advice on products, systems or colours, then the best place for you to go is your closest Dulux Decorating Centre. It is expensive, but the staff there are incredibly well trained and very helpful. CLICK HERE for more information.

However, unless you qualify for a trade discount, it will almost certainly be cheaper to buy Dulux Trade masonry paint online.

FAQs

What is the difference between Dulux Weathershield and Dulux Trade Weathershield?

Dulux Weathershield is retail, so it is made from slightly cheaper materials than Dulux Trade Weathershield. Cheaper materials mean your painted surface won’t last as long before the colour starts to fade. The paint may also start to break down sooner.

Does Dulux Weathershield Masonry Paint need two coats?

Yes. The opacity is great, so while some masonry paint products require three coats, Dulux Trade Weathershield can cover a bare surface or achieve a colour change in two coats.

Do I need a primer with Dulux Weathershield Masonry Paint?

It’s self-priming and has great adhesion, so there is no need to use a primer unless you’re painting a very unstable or chalky surface. We normally just dilute the first coat of masonry paint.

How long does Dulux Weathershield Masonry Paint take to dry?

Dulux Weathershield masonry paint is showerproof after just 30 minutes, meaning it is very quick drying in normal conditions. The recoat time is 2 – 4 hours.

What happens if you apply second coat of exterior paint too soon?

It just creates excessive surface tension. Imagine your film of paint is tightening as it dries. You need the first coat to fully dry and stop tightening before applying the second; otherwise, it’ll tighten even more and possibly cause failure to the surface of the substrate.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed my blog. I thought it might be helpful to give you a little bit of insight into all the Dulux Weathershield masonry products, rather than a basic masonry paint review. Decorators love the Dulux Trade exterior range, and I can vouch for every product. Not only do they perform well on application, but they’re designed to stand the test of time, which to me is very important.