How to Use Earthborn Silicate Masonry

July 21st, 2026

Give your home's exterior a fresh new look this summer with Earthborn Silicate Masonry Paint. Follow our guide to choose the right primer, apply the paint correctly and achieve a durable finish that will look great for years to come.

What Is Earthborn Silicate Masonry Paint?

Earthborn Silicate Masonry Paint is a high-quality exterior paint designed for renovation work or historic buildings, including painting of lime-based products, stone and brick substrates and for covering old, sound, silicate-based paints.

It gives a soft matt finish that won’t yellow or fade over time and is available in 48 colours.

Apply An Earthborn Primer

For Silicate Masonry Paint to work effectively, it should be used with an Earthborn primer. The primer you use depends on the surface you’re painting.

Use Silicate Primer for bare, mineral-based surfaces such as:

• Lime render

• Sand-lime brick

• Stone

• Concrete

• Pebbledash

• Cement render

• Surfaces previously painted with Earthborn Silicate Masonry Paint

Use Bonding Primer for existing, sound, previously painted surfaces.

Using The Primer And Paint

Each primer works differently. Find out how to use each one and apply Silicate Masonry Paint depending on the surface you’re coating.

Using Silicate Primer

1. Apply a coat of Silicate Primer.

2. Let the primer dry for 5 hours.

3. Apply a coat of Silicate Masonry Paint thinned by 10-20% with Silicate Primer.

4. Allow the paint to dry for 6-12 hours.

5. Apply a full coat of Silicate Masonry Paint to finish the project.

Using Bonding Primer

1. Apply a coat of Bonding Primer.

2. Apply a coat of Silicate Masonry Paint.

3. Allow the paint to dry for 6-12 hours before applying a second coat.

4. Apply a second coat of Silicate Masonry Paint.

Tips For Success

• When choosing a colour, think about the age of the property, its location and orientation, and how it sits alongside neighbouring properties. Neutrals offer a clean and classic look whilst pastels like pink or yellow are more playful and stand out in the sunshine.

• Do not use the products if the temperature is below 8°C or expected to fall below 8°C within 24 hours of application.

• Don’t paint in direct sunlight or in extreme temperatures.

• Use high-quality tools such as brushes and rollers to ensure a smooth finish.

• Paint in thin, even coats to avoid drips and runs.

Cottage painted in Honeycomb.

FAQs

How can I tell what masonry paint has been used on a newly purchased property?

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to tell. If you’ve bought an old property that needs airflow to prevent damp issues in the walls, ideally you would strip back to the original substrate if you need it to breathe. You would then use a breathable render and follow this with Silicate Primer and Silicate Masonry Paint.

If breathability isn’t an issue, you can use Bonding Primer followed by two coats of Silicate Masonry Paint.

My house is painted with a modern masonry paint. Can I paint over it in Earthborn Silicate Masonry Paint?

Yes, you can! When painting pre-painted masonry, you will need to use Earthborn’s Bonding Primer before applying the Silicate Masonry Paint.

Is Silicate Masonry Paint available in black?

No, unfortunately Earthborn cannot achieve a pure black colour in the Silicate Masonry Paint range. This is because very dark colours like black would require a large amount of colourant and this would affect both the breathability and chemical properties of the paint meaning it wouldn’t bond to the surface properly.

Can I use an airless spray gun to apply the paint and/or primers?

Silicate Masonry Paint and Bonding Primer are suitable for spray application. Earthborn do not recommend spraying Silicate Primer as this would result in the primer becoming airborne and potentially etching into any metal or glass around, causing irreversible damage.

Refresh Your Exterior With Earthborn Silicate Masonry

With the right preparation and primer, Earthborn Silicate Masonry Paint is an excellent choice for renovating traditional buildings and refreshing exterior masonry. Its breathable formula helps protect your property while creating a natural matt finish that resists fading and yellowing over time. Explore the Earthborn Silicate Masonry range online and give your home's exterior a beautiful new look that's built to last.