And what is a silicate paint anyway?
We are asked this question time and time again.
The classic silicate paints are purely mineral paints that chemically bond with the substrate and silicify on it. However, they are dependent on a calcareous substrate for this silicification process. As they also have to be mixed together from two components before application and are therefore quite inconvenient to work with, these classic silicate paints are now used almost exclusively in specialised monument conservation.
Most common silicate paints, including those in our range, are dispersion silicate paints or sol-silicate paints. Up to 5% dispersion is added to these. This modification gives the paint processing properties that are very similar to emulsion paints.
Silicate paint or emulsion paint for interiors? Advantages and disadvantages:
Silicate paint:
Advantages:
- Free from solvents and plasticisers
- Mineral, therefore naturally mould-resistant
- Highly permeable ("breathable")
- Ensures a pleasant indoor climate
Disadvantages:
- Not quite as easy to work with
- Problems with grazing light. Especially in the ceiling area or on wall surfaces adjacent to large window fronts, you can see the roller structure, roller tracks in grazing light. The very high-quality silicate paints KEIM Innostar and Brillux Kalisil 1909 are an exception here.
Dispersion paint:
Advantages:
- easy to process
- Very good visual results
- In the meantime, emulsion paints, at least those in our range, are also free from solvents and plasticisers and contain hardly any preservatives. Some, such as the Brillux Vita products - Brillux Vitasense 9005, Vitashine 9006, Vitasmart 9004 - no longer contain these either.
Disadvantages:
- Not quite as open to diffusion as silicate paints