Masonry Painting & Cream in Suffolk

What masonry painting actually is

Masonry painting is the job of painting the external rendered or brick walls of a property — the visible large-area exterior surfaces. Done well, it can transform a dated or stained property into something that looks freshly built. Done badly, it traps moisture in the substrate and peels off in sheets within a couple of years.

The standard product I use across Suffolk is Sandtex Ultra Smooth or Dulux Weathershield Smooth Masonry — both are proven, available in any colour, and rated for exterior weathering. They give 10-15 years of service when properly applied. The cheaper own-brand masonry paints don't last anything like that and the saving isn't worth it on a job you only want to do once a decade.

Preparation: where the actual work is

The preparation is at least three times the time the painting itself takes. On a typical house it goes: power-wash the walls clean of all algae, dirt and loose existing paint, and let dry; treat any remaining green or black biological growth with a proper biocide and let dry; rake out any cracks larger than hairline and fill with the appropriate exterior filler (sand and cement on render, flexible filler on smaller movement cracks); spot-prime any bare patches; mask windows, doors, downpipes, and protect ground vegetation with sheets.

Only at this point does the actual painting start. First coat thinned with about 10% water to soak into the substrate properly. Allow to dry. Second coat at full thickness for the final finish. On an average 3-bed semi the prep takes 2-3 days and the painting takes 1-2.

Clear masonry cream — the alternative for fair-faced brick

For properties with attractive fair-faced brickwork that you don't want to obscure with paint, but where damp is getting through, clear masonry cream (Stormdry, Permaseal Brickseal, Soltex MC15) is an excellent option. It's a clear, breathable silicone-based treatment that soaks into the brick face, repels water, and is invisible once dry.

The benefit is dramatic on west-facing or exposed walls that have started to let damp through — particularly common on Suffolk's coastal properties and on solid-wall older houses without cavity insulation. Properly applied, masonry cream lasts 20-25 years and prevents the wall absorbing rainwater while still allowing it to breathe out any internal moisture.

The application looks easy in marketing materials. In reality it needs care: even coverage, two coats wet-on-wet, no skipping the awkward bits. Otherwise you end up with damp patches on the inside wall exactly where the application missed.

When NOT to paint masonry

Two situations where I'll usually recommend against painting masonry: pre-1920s solid-wall properties where the original brick has never been painted, and listed buildings or properties in conservation areas. Painting solid-wall brickwork can trap moisture and cause spalling damage to the brick face that's expensive to repair. Painting listed/conservation properties without consent is a planning offence.

For these properties the better answer is clear masonry cream, careful repointing where needed, and otherwise leaving the brickwork alone. Modern masonry paint on a 1950s rendered semi is a different proposition entirely — it's the right product for the right substrate.

Colour choice and finish quality

I'll always do small test patches of two or three colour options on a hidden section of wall before the full job, because masonry paint dries significantly different from the wet-tin colour and changes again under different lights. White, magnolia and cream are the safe traditional Suffolk choices. Soft greys, sage greens and deep blues work beautifully on render but require more careful surface preparation because they show every imperfection.

Other services I offer across Suffolk

Towns I cover for masonry painting

I work across the whole of Suffolk. A handful of the towns I regularly visit: