Paint

[Uriah Heep]

What is the difference between masonry paint and 'ordinary' paint? A colleague can only get the colour he wants to paint his timber fence with in the masonry range.

[gammaray]

Masonary paint is generally thicker and has additives in it to retard mould, lichens and the like for longer than normal paint would if you used it outside. There's no reason why you can't paint a fence with it.

[KARL]

Paints have different material properties once it has dried into a film. There are significant differences in elasticity and porosity characteristics, quite apart from the fact that some are solvent based and others are water based (the latter are usually emulsions of some form). If the fence is wooden then I would not expect masonry paint to be well suited because it is likely to flake off as the wood expands and contract as moisture levels and temperatures change. Metal fences would not be quite so difficult to adhere to but because of the porosity the masonry paint will likely lead to accelerated corrosion. Why not get suitable white paint as a base and see if B&Q or other will add a colourant for an agreed fee ? Colourants can be bought on their own so your colleague can also try to achieve a satisafactory result that way.

[Uriah Heep]

Thank you both. Most of what you said is what I have already passed on, just put better by yourselves.

Now he has it in writing he might believe the rest of us.

Many thanks

JAM