Aethos advice
Modern paint or breathable paint?
The best paint is not always the most traditional one. It is the system that suits the wall, the room and the way you live.
By Aethos Studio · Published · Updated
Modern paint is right for most homes
Quality contemporary emulsions are dependable, available in almost any colour and easy to clean or touch up. On sound modern plasterboard, previously painted walls and rooms with good ventilation, they are usually the practical choice. Durable matt paints also make excellent sense in halls, kitchens and family spaces.
Older solid walls can behave differently
Traditional buildings often manage moisture through permeable lime plaster and masonry. An impermeable coating can interfere with that movement, particularly where damp or ventilation is already an issue. Limewash, mineral or other breathable systems may then be more appropriate, but only after the substrate is understood.
Breathable is not automatically better
A breathable product cannot correct failed gutters, penetrating moisture or poor ventilation. Nor does every period room need limewash. Good specification starts with diagnosis, then considers appearance, durability, maintenance and cost together.
Check the whole coating system
A permeable topcoat over an impermeable layer does not make the wall breathable. Ask what is already on the surface, how sound it is and whether the proposed primer and finish are compatible. Check the product data for water vapour permeability rather than relying on a label describing the paint as natural. A small adhesion and appearance trial can identify problems before a whole wall is treated.
Compare finishes and their requirementsResolve moisture before decoration
A persistent damp patch needs investigation, not a stronger stain blocker alone. Check the possible contribution of leaks, rain penetration, condensation and ventilation with an appropriate professional. Let repairs and fresh plaster reach the condition required by the paint manufacturer; there is no universal drying period that fits every wall.
Read our period home decorating guideOur approach
Aethos uses reliable modern paints every day and specialist traditional finishes where the property benefits from them. We will recommend the straightforward option when it is the right one, and explain clearly when a character wall requires something different.