Choosing a good masonry paint is more important than choosing a paint for use on the interior of your home, simply because you need it to do more than ‘look good’. It also needs to protect your home from the elements, resist algae growth and dirt build up, and withstand UV radiation.
There is a vast choice of brands on the market now, all varying in quality and performance (click here for a full guide), but this blog is going to be dedicated to the choice between smooth Vs textured masonry paint, so you can choose the one that best suits your project.
What is Smooth Masonry Paint?
Smooth masonry paint is the best option for most projects, regardless of whether you’re painting windowsills, render, or pebble dash. It flows slightly better from a brush, paint roller, or airless sprayer, and it leaves a much smoother finish.
So, if you’re painting windowsills, then you’ll be left with less brush marks. If you’re rolling a flat surface like a garden wall, then you’ll get less stipples and roller marks. The surface isn’t as pitted.
You can still use smooth masonry paint to hide cracks, simply by flooding the area with paint.
What is Textured Masonry Paint?
The texture left by textured masonry paint is very fine. (If you’re reading this blog because you need to patch some textured render, then I’ve included a little section further down.)
The reason you might use textured masonry paint rather than smooth is to hide imperfections. Say you’ve removed flaky masonry paint, and you wish to hide the edges between the paint you’ve removed and the paint you haven’t. Or an uneven stipple on a large masonry wall, or even hairline cracks.
Textured masonry paint hides a multitude of sins without the need to make structural repairs.
There is a big downside to using textured masonry paint; because it leaves you with a pitted surface, it’s more likely to hold onto dirt. This makes it harder to keep clean.
It doesn’t look very good on a smooth surface either.
So, Which Should You Use?
I’m a Professional Decorator, and 90% of the time I opt for smooth masonry paint, but there are occasions when textured masonry paint comes in handy. This is usually on jobs where time (and cost) is a factor.
I like to do the best job I can, so I don’t mind filling cracks or patching imperfections, but sometimes you can save yourself a lot of time by using textured masonry paint instead.
How to Repair or Blend Textured Render
I know a lot of people consider using textured masonry paint when they need to patch textured render, but as I’ve just explained, that isn’t what it’s for. But there is a product you can use that does the job perfectly.
That product is Emperor Textured Basecoat. It feels a bit like a cross between filler and masonry paint, and it’s designed to add texture to a surface and blend everything that’s already on the wall. You have a choice of three different rollers, depending on how much texture you want on the finish.
There are other products on the market like Sandtex High build that are similar, but I can only talk about what I’m familiar with. Emperor Textured Basecoat is easy to use, and because it’s made by Emperor, you know it’s always going to be top quality.
The Best Smooth and Textured Masonry Paints
I’m not going to bore you with a big section on the best masonry paints, but I will name a good brand for both textured and smooth masonry, and I’ll throw in a high-end option for smooth.
Sandtex Trade
Sandtex is the brand-leader in masonry paint, and it’s a range I use often. Make sure you opt for trade, rather than the Sandtex retail products that you see at DIY shops like B&Q.
You’ll find the paint easy to use, has good opacity, and more importantly, it lasts. You can buy it in smooth or textured.
If you want a smooth masonry paint and you’re looking for a step up in quality, then Sandtex Extreme Exposure might be the way to go. It is more money, but I’m a firm believer that you shouldn’t skimp when buying masonry paint. You need it to protect the surface you’re applying it to, and if it lasts another couple of years then it’s cheaper in the long run.
Emperor Masonry Paint
Emperor only makes a smooth masonry paint, but I seldom write a blog about masonry paint without mentioning the brand. Their masonry paint is silicone-based, which makes it water-repellent and highly breathable.
This means that surfaces stay dry, and cleaner for longer periods. It doesn’t trap water, so it’s less susceptible to flaking over time. Oh, and it has a life expectancy of 25 years!
Emperor Masonry Paint is 2 or 3 times more expensive than standard trade masonry paint, but it’s worth every penny.
FAQs
Should I use textured or smooth masonry paint?
Smooth masonry paint is best for 90% of the projects you might carry out, but it depends on the job. If you have loads of imperfections to hide, then textured masonry paint may be more suitable.
Does textured masonry paint hide imperfections?
Yes, textured masonry paint hides minor imperfections like hairline cracks.
What finish is smooth masonry paint?
Smooth masonry paint differs in sheen level from brand to brand, but it’s usually somewhere between a matt and an eggshell.
What is the best exterior paint to hide imperfections?
Textured masonry paint hides imperfections on surfaces like walls and windowsills. Low-sheen paints like eggshell are good for hiding imperfections on woodwork.
Can you use smooth masonry paint on pebbledash?
Smooth and textured masonry paint products are perfect for painting pebble dash.
Final Thoughts
When I started as a Decorator some twenty-odd years ago, most paint shops had both smooth and textured masonry paint on the shelves. Now there seems to be a lot less textured paints readily available.
I’m unsure why that is, because textured masonry paint still has its place providing you understand what it’s for.
0 Comments