Collection: Silicate and lime paint

Some walls cannot tolerate sealing, airtight paints. Old brickwork, stone walls, adobe, historic surfaces — where moisture is in motion and the wall’s natural breathability remains, diffusion-blocking paint is not a solution but a problem: it traps moisture, causing blistering and then peeling from the base of the wall.

What is silicate paint?

Silicate paint is a liquid waterglass (potassium silicate) based coating that bonds chemically (silicification) to mineral substrates. It does not form a film layer — it becomes part of the substrate. Therefore, it cannot flake off like a dispersion paint layer and naturally remains vapor-permeable. Silicate paint performs best on mineral substrates (plaster, concrete, brick, stone).

What is lime paint?

Lime paint is made from slaked lime (Ca(OH)₂) diluted with water. It is a traditional interior and exterior coating used for centuries, with antibacterial and antifungal properties of chemical origin: the alkaline environment of slaked lime inhibits microbial growth on the coating. Among paints, it has the highest vapor permeability — allowing the wall to breathe freely beneath it.

When is silicate or lime paint necessary?

• On historic buildings: where the original material is mineral, and restoration regulations or WTA compatibility are required;
• On adobe and stone masonry: where moisture movement in the wall is continuous and diffusion-blocking paint is therefore harmful;
• In damp, poorly ventilated indoor spaces: where antifungal properties are also required;
• For painting cellars, basements, and old masonry;
• In renovations where previously applied diffusion-blocking paint has deteriorated and the underlying plaster needs repair.

WTA compatibility

The WTA (Scientific-Technical Working Group for Building Preservation and Monument Conservation) is the European standard organization for material science in historic and heritage architecture. WTA-compatible materials — including silicate and lime paints — are required for buildings sensitive from a heritage protection perspective. Masterworks recommends and supplies material systems according to WTA standards.

How does silicate paint differ from dispersion paint?

The two materials cannot be layered on top of each other: silicate paint cannot be applied over dispersion paint, nor vice versa. The cleanliness of the substrate and harmony in material selection are mandatory.

Browse our silicate and lime paints, or request advice to assemble a breathable system suited to your wall material and space characteristics.