Bricks, render, cement, and general masonry usually come in shades of grey and red. However, these natural colours aren’t always what you want, so a coat of masonry paint can transform the interior or exterior of a home and add weather protection.
Alternatively, a fresh coat of paint on previously painted masonry surfaces will bring them back to life. Or maybe you're just thinking of painting exterior window sills as a smart designer statement. Whatever you want or need, we are here to help. Make sure to check out our list of our favourite places to buy masonry paint.
If you’re buying masonry paint, make sure you’ve got the right tools
Masonry paint is specially formulated to provide a protective, weather-resistant layer on render, concrete, brick, tiles, stone, cement, pebbledash, and similar surfaces. These are typically not quite as smooth and straightforward as interior surfaces.
To ensure a good finish, you need to invest in the right tools. The key equipment is a brush and roller. Specialist masonry brushes (like this Harris Trade Angled Masonry Brush from Amazon) are typically wider than the average paintbrush and often have angled handles.
If using a roller, you’ll need a deep-pile roller to help ensure the paint reaches all the nooks and crannies you often find in exterior finishes. And, of course, you will need a roller tray for the paint. Try this Harris Trade Outdoor Polyamide Extra-long pile Decorating set from B&Q, which will have everything you’ll need for painting.
Finally, you’ll need to access hard-to-reach areas and protect surfaces from paint spray. Make sure to invest in large dust sheets (like these Laminated Cotton Dust Sheets for Decorating from Amazon). For hard-to-reach areas, an extension pole (like this Harris Seriously Good Aluminium Extension Pole) or a ladder is a good choice.
Where to buy paint for indoors and outdoors
Here we have selected some of the best UK retailers where you can buy masonry paint for indoor and outdoor projects. Prices are correct at the time of publication, but make sure to check each website for the most up-to-date prices and any special offers.
- Amazon - Trade paint, everyday masonry paint and paint for small indoor projects
- B&Q - A smart collection of one coat, own brand and big name brand masonry and tile paints
- The Paint Shed - High-quality masonry paint from top trade brands and designer exterior paints
- Wickes - Budget-friendly, own-brand paints and big-name trade brands
- Little Greene - Independent British paint manufacturer with a range of traditional and modern finishes
Amazon
A smooth trade masonry paint ideal for use on bricks, concrete and render. Comes in a 20 litre tin and is available in a variety of basic colours.
A quick drying high quality smooth masonry paint. Good for small interior and exterior projects.
A durable and long lasting textured paint that offers 10 year protection. A 5L tin offers coverage of around 25 square metres and is touch dry in one to two hours.
B&Q
A high-performance paint in brick red, it is designed to provide long-lasting protection and an attractive finish to all exterior and interior brick and tile surfaces.
A breathable water-based shower-resistant masonry paint formulated for concrete, pebble-dash, render and stone. Touch dry within an hour, fully dry in 24 hours.
An exterior smooth masonry wall paint formulated with stay clean technology that protects against dirt and mould growth. Comes with a 15-year guarantee.
The Paint Shed
A durable, water-based masonry paint that has an expected lifespan of 15 years plus. It is rain resistant after just 20 minutes and offers coverage of 17m2 per litre.
A tough, durable, high adhesion solvent-based masonry paint for exterior walls. It is shower proof 20 minutes and can be applied in temperatures as low as -10°C.
An all-round high-performing mould-resistant paint for exterior surfaces, including masonry and concrete. Touch dry in 30 mins and recoatable in one hour.
Wickes
This Microseal Ultra Smooth Weatherproof Masonry exterior wall paint in from well-known brand Sandtex. Suitable for rendering, concrete, and masonry surfaces.
This smooth exterior masonry paint is easy to apply and offers a tough, crack-resistant finish. Algae- and mould-resistant, it has a coverage of 11m2 per litre.
Comes with a textured finish that is crack resistant and is suitable for exterior application on masonry, concrete, brick, sand/cement rendering and pebble-dash.
Little Greene
A highly water resistant masonry paint with advanced adhesive properties to give a tough weatherproof film. Suitable for use on brickwork, new render and cement blockwork.
This limewash paint has an extremely low-sheen of less than 5% providing a traditional, breathable finish. Recommended for use only on lime render and porous stone.
If you're buying masonry paint, it's a good idea to make sure the surface you're painting is in good condition. If painting brickwork, consider repointing brickwork (and leave to dry before starting.
If painting a damaged garden wall, make sure to check our guide on garden wall repairs. Finally, read our guide on painting a brick fireplace if decorating indoors.
