The Best Pliolite Masonry Paint on the Market

Pliolite is a synthetic polymer oil used as the oil in some paints, generally masonry. There are benefits of using oil-based over water-based when coating masonry, including durability, a longer lifespan and being able to apply the paint in adverse weather conditions. Some decorators will only use pliolite masonry paint when working during the colder months.

In this blog, I’m going to take you through the main trade pliolite products and give my honest opinion of each one as a decorator. Remember, it is only my opinion, but hopefully the text below will help you choose the best pliolite masonry paint for your project.

Johnstone’s Stormshiled Pliolite Finish

This is a paint I use on a regular basis because it sprays particularly easily. Available online, you should expect to pay around £70 for 5L in a tinted colour. It’s available in any Johnstone’s colour, which is another bonus.

This paint does everything it needs to do. The finish is fantastic, opacity is good, ease of use is as good as any other pliolite product. However, I’m struggling to review it really. Stormshield pliolite masonry paint doesn’t stand out as the best product on the list, but I can’t really pick many faults with it either. It does what it needs to do, and it looks good, so unless I need something special, I will carry on using it. One thing I will say is the colour seems to fade after a few years, whereas some of the comparable products last longer. 7/10 for me. Click here to see online prices.

Leyland TruGuard Pliolite Masonry Paint

Usually sold side-by-side with Johnstone’s Stormshield masonry paint, Leyland offer a budget pliolite alternative. Still trade quality, still a good finish, but a little bit cheaper. The opacity isn’t quite as good, so you tend not to dilute this paint as much before use. This effects the overall finish slightly, as pliolite is sticky at the best of times.

6/10 – Better than any retail alternative

Armstead Pliolite Masonry Paint

I REALLY don’t like Armstead pliolite masonry paint. Opacity isn’t very good and it doesn’t block stains. This is normally sold as a cheaper Dulux Trade alternative; however you can’t have Dulux colours mixed into Armstead and Dulux have discontinued their “all Seasons”, which was their premium pliolite paint.

4 / 10 – Avoid this at all costs

Sandtex 365

Sandtex 365 stands out as one of the best pliolite masonry paints on the market. Opacity and finish are second to none. This is a definite step up from Johnstone’s, although it is slightly more expensive. You can tell you’re using something special as you apply the paint. Then it dries dead flat with very few visable brush marks. The other thing with Sandtex 366 is it comes with “20 years protection”, as opposed to the 15 years offered by most of the others.

I used to use Sandtex masonry paint quite often and I have a soft spot for Crown products anyway. The issue I have with this is it only mixes into a handful of colours. You can’t have Crown colours mixed into Sandtex 365 and you can only have certain Sandtex colours. The other issue is Crown aren’t clear about which colours you can have mixed into pliolite. So, as a decorator I give my client a Sandtex colour chart. My client chooses a colour, I go to have it mixed at my local CDC, only to be told I can’t. It causes issues!! You can overcome this by choosing your colours online, but for me, I need the visual aid of colour charts. This is the opposite of Johnstone’s, who make choosing a colour very easy.

8 / 10 from me. Sandtex 365 would be my joint favourite if I could get it mixed into the colours I want and need. Click here to see latest prices.

Wethertex PP77 All Weather Pliolite Masonry Paint

This probably is the best pliolite masonry paint on the market, out of the ones I’ve tried anyway. Available online by clicking here, you should expect to pay roughly £55 for 5L in tinted colour. This also comes with “20 years protection”.

The opacity of Wethertex PP77 is exceptional! You can dilute this paint quite heavily and still achieve a solid finish with little effort. The overall finish is awesome and it’s breathable, meaning it is perfect for garden walls or sandstone windowsills!! You can tell when you’re using this paint that it’s something special. Drying time is a little longer than the other paints on this blog, but that helps when keeping a wet edge and achieving a good finish. 9 / 10 – an almost perfect score!

How to apply pliolite masonry paint?

Pliolite masonry paint is quite sticky and can be tricky to apply, so I thought it might be helpful if I gave you the steps I take when applying the stuff.

Supplies

Pliolite masonry paint

Masking tape

Masking film

White spirit

Tools

Paint Brush

Long-pile roller

Dust sheets

Access equipment

Paint scuttle

Steps

Sheet up

Pliolite masonry paint is difficult to remove from a surface, so you must take great care to cover everything before you start. Lay plenty of sheets on the ground. Cover windows, doors, drainpipes, and anything else you don’t want to paint.

Prep the surface you wish to paint

Sand and dust windowsills. Apply a fungicide to algae. Stabilise any loose material or chalky surfaces with Zinsser Peel Stop.

Get set up

Pliolite masonry paint skins up quite quickly, so it makes sense to get all your painting equipment set up before opening the paint. There’s no point in decanting your paint, only to then go and find your step ladders.

Mix the paint

You need to mix the paint before you can apply it. You normally dilute pliolite masonry paint with white spirit until you achieve the right consistency. It needs to be thin enough to flow from your brush or roller, but thick enough to cover.

Paint

If you’re painting a large flat area like a rendered wall, you should cut in around the edge with a brush, and then roll the middle. If painting trim, just use a brush and feather-off to reduce brush marks. Whatever you’re painting, try to keep a wet edge.

Clean up

Remove all waste and dispose of it as ethically as possible.

Best Tools to Apply Pliolite-Based Masonry Paint

Using pliolite based masonry paint isn’t like applying matt emulsion. It’s a very sticky paint product and you’ll really struggle unless you use the correct tools for the job. To that end, I thought I’d put forward my recommendations.

A relatively stiff paintbrush will make life easier. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on brushes either, because they’re likely to get wrecked. My suggestion is Hamilton for the Trade. They’re reasonably priced and will do everything you need them to. Available online here.

As for paint rollers, there are two you should consider, depending on what you’re paining. If your wall has a heavy texture, then the Axus Captain Chunk is by far the best option for pliolite masonry paint. It is expensive, but believe me when I tell you, it really will be a lifesaver. Available online here.

If your wall isn’t too textured, then Hamilton Perfection Long Pile roller will be fine. You’ll find distribution bang on. Available online by clicking here.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best pliolite-based masonry paint can depend on a few things. If your surface needs to be breathable because you suspect the substrate to contain moisture, then you need to go with the Wethertex PP77.

If you need something you can pick up “off the shelf” at a Trade Counter close to your location, then you might be better looking at the Johnstone’s Stormshield, or Sandtex 365.