Masonry Paint and Damp Issues
Masonry Paint and Dampness
It is common defect for our surveyors to find dampness concerns related to masonry paint on many properties.
Throughout the years, masonry paint was often used throughout the Greater London and Home counties on Victorian and Edwardian buildings. In some cases, when masonry paint is applied to solid brick buildings, this may not be an issue at first, but if the masonry gets wet, dampness can start to affect the building, causing the paint to blister and the masonry to perish, decay and components will eventually fail. We can help you if you have noticed masonry paint has been used on a property you are considering purchasing. During our inspection we will look to see if the masonry paint is causing problems to the building. During the inspection, we will look for issues such as dampness that may be caused by masonry paint application.
Is it Masonry Paint?
There is no guarantee that any surveyor can identify the type of paint that has been applied to a building, but mineral paint has the advantage of allowing the masonry to breathe. Paints that are impervious to moisture, including microporous coatings, may cause damp problems in the future. Therefore, if impervious paint has been applied to the property, removing it and repainting the property with mineral-based paint is the best solution.
Stucco or stone dressings and windowsills can also be painted with masonry paint, as well as brickwork directly. Unfortunately, it can also cause problems when used on these surfaces. To quantify the cost of any necessary remedial work, a surveyor may recommend further investigation or seek advice from a specialist in external rendering or external decoration. There is also the possibility of problems with the render itself, depending on the type of material used, and it may be necessary to remove the render to apply an appropriate finish.
Painting Exterior Walls of Properties
The task of painting a wall or surface outside is always challenging due to many factors.
The right coating and paint will not only provide a professional finish but will also protect the building’s structure. It’s worth your time to consider which paint is the best to use to avoid future problems.
In any case, let’s look at some of the most common problems with masonry paint.
- Walls with cracks in the paint finish can and will trap moisture.
- The paint on brickwork and masonry causes internal dampness which can lead to expensive repairs.
- Rendering problems are increased.
- Patches of mould and dampness can become visible.
Aesthetics of Masonry Walls – Peeling
The weather can cause masonry paint to crack, flake, and peel, especially on exterior walls. A split or hairline crack in the masonry paint indicates that you have probably purchased poor-quality paint or that a primer was not applied before painting. Because exterior walls will be exposed to very cold and wet weather, preparation is vital. We may recommend completely removing peeling paint and reapplying a breathable type of paint if we notice walls where the paint is peeling.
For masonry paint to work properly, the wall must be properly prepared before it can be applied, otherwise, it will be necessary to repaint the entire surface to prevent any future issues from occurring.
Mouldy Walls
Your masonry paint could be the cause of mould forming on your home’s interior walls if you have a damp problem. Choosing the correct breathable paint will prevent brickwork from deterioration and last for many years. The wall will often begin to deteriorate when painted with synthetic, non-breathable paints. The damp problem must be treated, and mould removed internally before preparing and repainting the wall externally.
