Paints

Exterior and interior paints for masonry and render

Licata supplies exterior masonry paints, silicone paints, silicate paints, anti-carbonation coatings and decorative interior finishes formulated for the substrates found on UK buildings.

What an exterior paint has to do

Paint on a building envelope does considerably more than provide colour. It has to resist driving rain, survive years of UV without fading or chalking, cope with atmospheric pollution, and resist the algae, fungi and mould that colonise damp north-facing elevations.

It also has to remain breathable. A paint that seals a masonry or render surface completely traps moisture in the wall, and trapped moisture causes blistering, peeling and, on solid wall construction, decay in the fabric behind. The requirement is water repellent at the surface but vapour open through the film, and that combination is what distinguishes a proper masonry paint from a general-purpose product.

Silicone and silicate paints

Silicone paints combine high water repellency with vapour permeability. Rain beads and runs off rather than soaking in, while moisture vapour still escapes from the wall. They also resist dirt pick-up, so elevations hold their appearance longer in urban environments.

Silicate paints bond chemically with mineral substrates rather than forming a film over them, producing exceptional durability and breathability on masonry, lime render and mineral render. They are the natural choice on traditional and heritage buildings where breathability is critical, and their alkalinity gives them inherent resistance to organic growth.

Anti-mildew and biocidal protection

Algae and mould are the most common complaint on rendered and painted elevations, particularly on north-facing walls, shaded areas and anywhere near vegetation. Our exterior paints include anti-mildew additives that resist colonisation by algae, fungi and moulds, keeping elevations cleaner for longer between maintenance cycles.

Anti-carbonation coatings for concrete

On exposed concrete, a protective coating is a durability measure rather than a decorative one. Anti-carbonation paints slow the ingress of carbon dioxide and chlorides that cause reinforcement corrosion, extending the service life of the structure while remaining vapour open so the concrete can dry.

These coatings are normally specified as the final layer of a concrete repair system, applied across the whole element rather than only over the repaired areas.

Preparation determines the result

No paint performs on a poorly prepared surface. Elevations need cleaning to remove organic growth, salts and general grime, defects need making good, and the correct primer needs applying to regulate suction. On previously painted surfaces, adhesion of the existing coating should be checked before overcoating, since new paint is only as secure as what it is applied to.

• Exterior masonry, render and concrete surfaces
• Traditional and heritage buildings requiring breathability
• Exposed concrete requiring anti-carbonation protection
• Elevations prone to algae and organic growth
• Interior decorative finishes and feature walls

Colour and supply

Licata paints are available across an extensive colour range, with samples available for any project. Products are stocked at our six branches in Twickenham, Southgate, Dartford, Wickford, Birmingham and Manchester.