Wall paint is the collective name for the water-borne paints used to finish walls and ceilings. The types differ mainly in binder, gloss level and how well they can be cleaned. The European standard EN 13300 provides a single classification for these properties, which lets you compare products from different manufacturers.
Classification under EN 13300
- Wet scrub resistance — classes 1 to 5, where class 1 stands up best to cleaning and class 5 worst
- Gloss level — from gloss through to dead matt, measured with a gloss meter at 60° or 85°
- Opacity (contrast ratio) — classes 1 to 4, where class 1 has the highest opacity; always read it together with the stated coverage in m² per litre
- Grain size — fine to coarse, relevant for textured paints
These classes appear on the technical data sheet, which is a more reliable guide than the marketing text on the tin.
The main types
- Acrylic emulsion (latex) — the interior standard, from dead matt to silk. The higher the gloss, the easier to clean, but the more surface imperfections show
- Scrubbable emulsion — paint in wet scrub class 1 or 2, for kitchens, halls, landings and children’s rooms
- Mineral silicate paint — a water-glass binder that bonds chemically with mineral substrates; highly vapour-open and resistant to mould. Suited to lime plaster, old masonry and cellars, but not over existing emulsion
- Limewash — traditional, very vapour-open and with a live, cloudy appearance; easily marked and not washable
- Chalk paint — very matt, adheres to many substrates without primer, but usually needs a wax or varnish to be cleanable
- Masonry paint — vapour-open exterior paint in acrylic, siloxane or silicate form; lets a wall dry out while shedding driving rain
- Specialist paints — anti-mould paint for bathrooms, stain-blocking paint for nicotine, soot and water marks, and primer for highly absorbent or glossy substrates
Application
- Absorbent substrates (new plaster, plasterboard) should be sealed first with a thinned mist coat or a stabilising primer, otherwise the paint soaks in unevenly and you get patchy sheen
- Coverage. Reckon roughly on 8 to 12 m² per litre per coat on a smooth, prepared surface. On rough or absorbent surfaces it will be less
- Two coats. One coat rarely covers; plan for two and respect the recoat time on the tin
- Avoiding colour differences. On large areas, box together tins of the same batch and work wet edge to wet edge so joins do not show
- Bathrooms. Choose a paint with high wet scrub resistance and mould-resistant properties — and above all, ventilate. No paint solves a moisture problem
Related terms
- Emulsion paint
- Plasterwork
- Paintbrush
- Decorating
- Ventilation
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