What’s the Difference Between Exterior Masonry Paint and Exterior Wall Coatings?

Exterior masonry paint and exterior wall coatings both perform a similar function – they cover the outside of your walls. To many, they’ll even sound like the exact same thing. However, dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a number of key differences that set these two apart…

The fundamental difference

Masonry paint and wall coatings both act as a protective layer for the outside of your walls. They’re also both used to improve the appearance of exterior walls and cover any imperfections.

The main difference between the two is that exterior wall coatings are much thicker and more substantial. This results in a number of differences when applied…

Insulation

Masonry paint doesn’t offer any benefit in terms of heat retention. On the flipside, exterior wall coatings like SprayCork can act as an insulative layer to make your property much more energy efficient. That makes it easier to maintain a comfortable temperature, and could reduce your energy bills over time.

Durability

As you might expect from such a thin coating, masonry paint isn’t particularly durable or long-lasting. Wind-driven rain – or salt-spray from the sea on coastal properties – can eventually wear it down, which wouldn’t be an issue for a good quality exterior wall coating.

Coverage

Paint is designed to coat a surface including its finer details. Unfortunately, this means it’s not the best fit for hiding imperfections, as they will still show through the paintwork even if you apply multiple coats. On the other hand, exterior wall coatings actually cover the wall, so you can practically eliminate small cracks or bumps.

Appearance

Exterior wall coatings provide a smooth finish that looks great for years to come. Because of its poor durability and the fact that it doesn’t hide imperfections, paint will look substandard at first and only get worse as it becomes worn.

Peaceful

We’ve already mentioned how SprayCork exterior wall coatings reduce heat loss. Well, they also reduce the amount of noise that passes through your walls too. Because cork is naturally buoyant, it absorbs sound from outside the building for a more peaceful setting inside. As you can expect, even the best masonry paint won’t be able to do this.

Cost and hassle

If you want masonry paint to stay at its best, it needs to be repeatedly reapplied and touched up. Even then, it won’t offer the aesthetic and insulative qualities of an exterior wall coating. In contrast, an exterior wall coating only needs to be applied once for several years of great form and function. That’s a lot less hassle and could even work out less expensive over time.

See for yourself

Want to get a better understanding of the differences between masonry paint and exterior wall coatings? The best way is to try it first-hand. At Corksol, we have a network of approved applicators who are fully trained to get the best results using our innovative sprayed cork coatings.

For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch.