Mineral paint is on the rise. It can be applied both indoors and outdoors. To learn more about this coating, read this article!

Characteristics and Application of Mineral Paint

There are 3 main binders for mineral paint:

Mineral Clay Paint:

Characteristics: Clay paint is not widely used because of its fragility. However, it is environmentally friendly, and it is even possible to make it yourself. This paint is composed of water, various mineral fillers, and additives such as cellulose. This additive is mainly used to thicken and make the paint more resistant.

Application: Mineral clay paint is reserved for interior application. Indeed, it is naturally “anti-allergenic”. Even if it can be applied in a humid room (bathroom or kitchen), it can only be applied on smooth, non-porous, or non-absorbent surfaces such as wood, concrete, or plaster. In addition, it isn’t easy to clean.

Silicate Mineral Paint:

Characteristics: It is the most widely used paint, especially for exterior use. Indeed, it resists to lousy weather. It is also known as “liquid glass paint” or “Keim paint (the name of its inventor)”. It is based on potassium silicate.

Application: Keim paint is microporous. Indeed, it allows a good regulation of temperature and humidity for interior walls. Moreover, it can resist ultraviolet rays. It is also non-elastic, non-toxic, and non-flammable. It can thus reduce the risks of intoxication during a fire. Moreover, it adapts to all mineral supports (stone, cement, concrete, etc.). However, it should not be applied on metal, plastic, organic surfaces, especially in children’s rooms. In addition, it does not support deep cleaning.

The application of silicate mineral paint is quite difficult, and that’s why it is necessary to use the services of an experienced painter.

Mineral Paint With Lime:

Characteristics: This is the traditional mineral paint. The lime binder is obtained by firing limestone rocks. In addition to lime, mineral paint is composed of casein, natural pigments, and water.

Application: Mineral paint with lime is rarely used to paint facades because of its low resistance. However, it can be applied without undercoat on natural plaster, stone, or clay bricks. If you want to apply it on wood, plaster, and plastic supports, it is necessary to use a specific undercoat for lime, which will prevent the paint from flaking and peeling off. Although mineral paint can be applied to facades, it is preferred on interior walls in dry and damp rooms.

Cost of Mineral Paint

Mineral paint can be found in specialized wall covering and paint shops, DIY stores, or online sellers. Depending on the type of paint chosen, the price is:

9 euros per liter for mineral silicate paint. This can be applied on a surface of about 4 m².

10 euros per kilo for clay mineral paint. It can cover a surface of about 6 m².

12 euros per kilo for the mineral paint with lime, with a yield of approximately 5 m².