Listed buildings have special architectural or historic interest and are recorded in a statutory list. English Heritage are responsible for the administration of the listing system in England, CADW in Wales, Historic Scotland in Scotland and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency for Northern Ireland.  These bodies protect these buildings, which are an irreplaceable part of our cultural heritage, from unsympathetic changes and unnecessary destruction.  KEIM Mineral Paints understand that, when it is necessary to redecorate listed buildings, it is important to ensure that it is done in a manner that protects and preserves the building.  The paint material choice is as important a decision as choosing the right decorator. 

Conventional acrylic paints merely coat the surface and create a film around the substrate.  This film forming coating does not allow moisture vapour to breathe through it, which can result in the formation of blisters which may lead to cracking and flaking paint finishes.  If moisture vapour is unable to pass through the surface, this can lead to elevated moisture levels within the substrate eventually leading to friability and damage.  This is a common problem in older buildings as a variety of coatings are likely to have been applied over the years.

Listed buildings suffer from a multitude of problems, which are fairly common and indicative of older buildings.  Typical problems to be addressed when redecorating are:

Substrate Condition - As buildings move over time, cracks and damage can occur within the structure.  By the very nature of old buildings, it is common to find a build up of algae and fungal growth which, if left untreated, will affect the structure and appearance of the property.

Prior to redecoration and refurbishment it is important to identify and rectify the underlying cause of the damage, to ensure that any work carried out is not simply ‘painting over the cracks’.

Peeling Paint - Moisture build up behind film forming paints saturates the underlying substrate, causing paint to blister and flake, leading to damage to the fabric of the building itself.  The use of breathable mineral paint enables humidity contained in building structures to be quickly released unhindered into the environment, avoiding moisture build up between the coating and substrate.

By refurbishing and redecorating using specialised products and materials that are in keeping with the original building, these problems can be dealt with effectively to give beautiful long lasting and protective finishes.

Mineral paints, unlike conventional acrylic paints, form a permanent crystalline bond with the underlying substrate, rather than a purely adhesive bond.  This retains the breathability of the substrate and ensures that moisture vapour continues to pass through the substrate unimpeded, with no risk of blistering and cracking of the paint finish.  This ensures that KEIM Mineral Paints provide an extremely long term decorative solution which works in harmony with buildings.

KEIM Mineral Paints are an ideal solution for the redecoration of listed and historic buildings.

KEIM Mineral Paints are:

−Extremely long life and durable, sustainable materials

−Highly breathable 

−Environmentally friendly – made from natural materials

−Water-based

−Low VOC and solvent free

−UV stable and fade free

−Highly light reflective

−Incombustible – A2-s1, d0

−Odourless

−Available in a wide range of colours

−Resistant to mould and fungal growth

−Suitable for unpainted and previously painted surfaces

−Cradle to Cradle Certified

Our experienced staff and comprehensive support service can provide:

−Colour cards and swatches

−Brush-out and liquid colour samples

−Colour matches

−Free of charge site inspections

−Proposal reports detailing pre-treatment and product recommendations

−On site assistance to painters and decorators

−A wide range of complimentary products and systems for repair and pre-treatment of surfaces