- January 20, 2025
When dealing with external paint coats, we usually expect them to perform two functions. The first one is connected with the protection of plastering expeditions underneath them, while the second one is connected with giving the elevations an aesthetic appearance. The facade paints themselves are classified as mineral topcoats.
Among the solutions appearing on the market most often one should mention those which prove effective in relation to lime, silicate, cement-lime and acrylic plasters. When we deal with cement paints, lime paints and cement and lime paints, the role of the binder is usually played by extinguished and hydrated lime, although it can also be a cement and a mixture of calcium and cement. Other ingredients include water, modifiers and pigments. Not so long ago, these three types of paints dominated the market and were produced directly on site. We are still dealing with such techniques today, although they have a number of advantages, and in many cases they do not satisfy officials at all. Among their biggest drawbacks is the ease with which the façade is easily soiled, but one should also take into account the limited colouring and the tendency to colour fading.
After some time, the façades start to look quite unsightly, which results in the decision to renovate them. Unfortunately, this is an additional expense, and yet one does not always have the financial resources and time necessary to carry out such an undertaking. All this makes more and more popular more modern solutions, i.e. those based on synthetic pigments and binders. It is worth mentioning here the ready-made silicate, acrylic, silicone and silicone paints and their compositions. Silicate paints attract attention, among other things, because their adhesive is potassium water glass and matching pigments. Such paints are characterized not only by durability, but also resistance to changing climatic conditions. Acrylic paints, on the other hand, stand out mainly thanks to a binder derived from acrylic resins. The coatings are therefore not only weather-resistant, but also UV-resistant.
When it comes to silicone paints, we should bear in mind that they mainly consist of so-called silicone resins. They are the ones to whom these paints owe their hydrophobic properties, and as a result, there is no need to worry about dirt and dust sticking to them in other circumstances. So if we are dealing with precipitation, the surfaces painted in this way are self-cleaning. It is also worth noting that silicone paints perfectly adhere to the facade substrates, and at the same time they prove their worth even in the case of old and damaged buildings. They can be used on concrete and reinforced concrete surfaces such as bridges and viaducts. If we are considering what colour to choose, we should not limit ourselves to aesthetic reasons only. The quality of the paint is also very important, because it must meet not only aesthetic criteria, but also maintenance and protection criteria as long as possible. If these conditions are met, we can count on a durable and aesthetic façade that is at the same time resistant to external factors.
