When to Use Breathable Paints

Are you decorating a period property or a passive/A-rated house? If so, you will most likely need to use a breathable paint. Read our guide for a breakdown of breathable paints and where they can be used.

What is Breathable Paint and How Does it Work?

“Breathability” describes how easily water vapour can pass through a material. If your house has been constructed with breathable materials, then you will need to use a breathable paint. This will ensure that any moisture passes through the paint and is released it into the air. This, in turn, lets the structure breathe while also preventing the build-up of moisture.

When to Use Breathable Paint on Period Properties

Many Irish period properties were originally built with breathable materials (e.g. lime render), and as such, require breathable paint. This not only helps them to stay in good condition but also wards off dampness – a problem that is particularly prevalent in Ireland’s wet climate.

If you are painting a period property that has many decades’ worth of paintwork on the walls, it is worth removing this so that you can apply the breathable paint directly to the surface. Simply applying a breathable paint on top of a non-breathable paint will not have the desired effect of breathability.

When to Use Breathable Paints on Passive or A-Rated Houses

Many A-rated new build houses feature a lime render. This allows the walls to breathe and reduces the build-up of condensation. If you use non-breathable paints on the interior and exterior, then you risk negating this breathability.

Why It’s Important to Use the Correct Paint

If you don’t use a breathable paint where required, then you risk a build-up of moisture which may eventually cause and worsen issues such as dampness, mould, and can even cause structural damage.

Why is this? If you use a non-breathable paint on a breathable surface, you are effectively trapping any moisture inside the wall. Some tell-tale signs of this include the appearance of bubbles, blistering, and spots on your paintwork. These happen because the moisture is literally pushing the restricting paint off the surface so that it can breathe.