Keim Mineral Paints Ltd

Say goodbye to Bechtel House and hello to 245 Hammersmith Road. Here the external painted concrete soffit of the undercroft was in poor condition. It needed a solution which would require low future maintenance due to its inaccessible position. Two coats of KEIM Soldalit were applied to the soffit for a long-lasting coverage, and KEIM Concretal Lasur applied to each column to create a uniform finish. 

You’ve likely seen the work of Charlie Davis amongst the pages of your favourite home renovation magazines. A Sussex-based Freelance Stylist specialising in interiors, Charlie has more recently turned her attention to the renovation of a double-fronted Victorian property. This outstanding example of 19th Century architecture will become a Location House, which with Charlie’s creative vision will be available for hire for photo shoots, tv, film and events.The spare room of the house was to become the perfect photography backdrop, reminiscent of perfectly imperfect Venetian plaster. The walls and cornicing would be decorated to replicate a historic limewash finish, a trend we continue to see grow in popularity.Charlie spoke with Amie Paxton, Technical Sales Advisor for KEIM Mineral Paints, on how to create the perfect finish. With just a handful of inspiration photographs, Amie produced a selection of sample boards combining award-winning KEIM Innostar with KEIM Restauro Lasur, a colourwash similar in appearance to limewash and just as breathable but composed of mineral pigments and potassium silicate for a permanent chemical bond.Charlie opted for KEIM Innostar 9314 with KEIM Restauro Lasur 9529 for the walls and KEIM Innostar 9255 with KEIM Restauro Lasur 9249 for the decorative cornice, commenting on receipt of the mock ups; “the samples look absolutely gorgeous, they are just what we wanted.”Armed with KEIM’s Oval Brush and with minimum application guidance, Charlie created an authentic looking and elegant limewash finish throughout the spare room of her Location House, available to hire via 07.crescent_locationhouse on Instagram.The process of creating a limewash finish onto any interior mineral substrate, whether previously painted or bare, is much easier than you may think and can be as simple as just two coats of paint. If you’re inspired to create your own serene space or would like further information, contact Amie Paxton via sales@keimpaints.co.ukCharlie commented “we have finally finished the room with your products and it looks incredible! I have already had people ask about it and I have referred them to you. It is exactly what I was hoping for and looks so incredibly stylish! Thank you.”The exterior of the property was also decorated using KEIM Paints. KEIM Fixativ was applied onto the lime render, followed by KEIM Soldalit Grob to equalise textural differences from the lime patch repairs. KEIM Soldalit-ME 9197 and AG71 was chosen for this Victorian property, including the porch and mouldings.  

Albion Riverside is a high-end residential and commercial development located on the southwest bank of the River Thames. It is between two listed and historic bridges – Albert Bridge and Battersea Bridge and not too far from Westminster. It has been built to create a dynamic quarter in Battersea, London, on the upper floors there are apartments and on lower levels are shops, art galleries and an indoor pool. KEIM Concretal Lasur was applied in 2003 to the V Beams and the swimming pool soffits to improve the concrete appearance whilst still maintaining a natural concrete effect.

Asta House, part of the 80 Charlotte Street development, comprises 22 apartments which have been designed with rich detail and luxurious materials throughout. The wide-windowed brick and slate building was decorated with KEIM Royalan to give a stylish, sleek finish.  

The owners of this domestic property in Penn, High Wycombe were looking to decorate their basement garage. They wanted the internal painted in-situ concrete to look like unpainted concrete.Dave Smith, Senior Sales Executive, and Nicola Young, Senior Colourist of KEIM Mineral Paints visited the property in August 2019 to trial samples for the client. It was noted during the visit that the walls were damp and required to be dried out prior to the applying of KEIM Mineral Paints. Pumps and dehumidifiers were installed to help this process.Once the moisture levels in the walls were below 18% by volume, the application of KEIM Design Lasur commenced.A translucent stain was applied to the walls, followed by KEIM Design Lasur sea sponged onto the surface to mimic a concrete appearance.

The popularity for limewash or Venetian plaster aesthetics is increasing, but as watered-down acrylic paint mixed with bicarbonate of soda isn’t vapour permeable and can contain solvents, we’ve developed KEIM Colourwash – an interior mineral paint to replicate historic finishes which is non-caustic in composition and non-chalky in finish.In addition to the high quality associated with KEIM Mineral Paints, KEIM Colourwash is #likelimewashbutbetter, uses UV stable pigment and supplied ready for use, making it ideal to apply onto both bare and previously painted walls and ceilings.Following the launch of KEIM Colourwash in April 2023, we’ve been searching for collaboration projects to showcase the easiest way to achieve a limewash aesthetic without the hassle of limewash.Nathalie Mackinnon (AKA Nat the Painter), already experienced with the application of KEIM Mineral Paints for projects including St Andrew’s by the Wardrobe, put forward KEIM Colourwash for Waterloo wine bar, Café Del Marsh.Soft and cosy Colourwash KNIT was chosen to compliment the Parisian-influenced interior of the contemporary café and live music venue, paired with Farrow & Ball Wimborne White for the wooden panelling. Sol-silicate Colourwash BASE is suitable for direct application onto previously painted surfaces and creates the perfect opaque white base to create depth to Colourwash shades.“I can’t believe the coverage of Colourwash, it goes on like a dream. I can’t speak highly enough of the product and finish. It actually looks fantastic.”Nathalie rocketed through the paint application (you can follow the Café del Marsh decoration journey on Instagram: @natthepainter or @keimcolourwash), applying a single coat of Colourwash BASE followed by one coat of Colourwash KNIT with 12 hours between coats. Nathalie commented “I love the finish. Colourwash goes on like a dream”.

The Castle Hotel Windsor, dating back to the 1600s, is situated amongst some of the most historic examples of architecture in the UK. The hotel is located opposite Windsor Guildhall, near to royal attractions such as St George’s Chapel and Windsor Castle.The Castle Hotel first began its life in 1528 as The Mermaid Inn, brewing beer and cider. In the 1700s, Richard Martin was awarded the first of the hotel’s Royal Warrants, to provide horses and carriages for the royal household, making it one of the most popular and grandest places to stay in the Royal Borough.By the 19th century, the Duke of Wellington dined at the hotel following his victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, which elevated its reputation as the connoisseur’s choice of accommodation in the area.Today, The Castle Hotel Windsor retains this reputation and has recently been restored and to preserve the elegance and atmosphere of its rich history.It was recommended to remove all existing render and re-render using NHL (Natural Hydraulic Lime) to allow full breathability.The KEIM Soldalit-ME system, in colour 9435, was specified for the redecoration of The Castle Hotel Windsor to provide a long-lasting and durable paint finish. It has the added environmental benefit of helping degrade nitrogen oxide pollutants from the atmosphere. The photocatalytic reaction also helps to breakdown organic material and contaminants, keeping surfaces cleaner for longer.

Formerly known as the Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC), Compass Community Hub in Merthyr Tydfil has undergone a complete redevelopment sponsored through the Shared Prosperity Fund. The project has been transformed into a unique accommodation centre providing young residents with both housing and on-site training.In 2022, the demolition phase began and as part of the Council’s Capital Programme investment project, the centre was relocated from the three into two blocks, with the third converted into five self-contained apartments.Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council have previously used KEIM Mineral Paints on another regeneration project and specified using KEIM again on this redevelopment, due to its breathability and longevity credentials.Bryan Roe of KEIM Mineral Paints visited the project and specified KEIM Royalan. The main reason for this was that on the high elevations, they are open to windswept rain.KEIM Royalan, in colours 9505, 9543, 9514 and 9162, was applied onto the new render to allow full breathability and longevity. The masonry paint will last for years to come.KEIM Royalan is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, prominently in coastal and exposed locations.The new community centre opened in March 2023, with Merthyr Valleys Homes taking over the housing element of the scheme. 

During the restoration process the external façade was decorated to create high quality light Portland stone and bath stone paint effects, onto the render substrate, using KEIM Restauro Lasur. The subtle stone appearance created by the system will offer unparalleled longevity and protection. The colours are UV stable and therefore will not fade and the coating is moisture vapour permeable so doesn’t trap moisture in the substrate.

The outer walls were constructed using blockwork and then rendered using KEIM Universal Render, which is an extremely flexible render system, negating the needs for expansion joints which would look unsightly on the impressive building. The render was then painted using KEIM Soldalit which combines durability with breathability, ensuring the system will last for many years. The swimming pools ceilings were also plastered using KEIM Universal Render but the fine version for a smooth finish, and decorated with KEIM Soldalit to give a high performance finish in such a humid environment.

This 12 year old, sea-facing property suffered from pink algae growth affecting the textured through-colour render and copings stones. There was a leak to the external staircase and the balcony downspout, which caused staining and what appeared to be salt efflorescence; this area required attention prior to decoration. KEIM Royalan was specified on the sea-facing elevation to protection the property from harsh weather conditions and give a long lasting, colour-fast and decorative matt finish. KEIM Lotexan was applied onto the coping stones to help shed water and reduce algae growth.

Located just off New York Street in Manchester city centre, Manhattan is a seven-storey development comprising 42 one and two-bedroom apartments. In a New York loft style, each property features floor to ceiling windows and private terraces set into a multi-level garden wall. On the seventh floor, there are duplex penthouses offering views over King Street and across the city. The ground floor also offers 2,000 sq ft of retail space.During several site visits, the original red brick was examined, and the requirements for a blue/black finish was discussed. Using KEIM’s Brick Colour Range, Nicola Young, KEIM’s Senior Colourist, conducted trial applications of KEIM Restauro Lasur, using different opacity ratios, to ensure colour consistency.Once the colour required had been achieved a specification was produced for a four coat KEIM Restauro Lasur system, comprising of two coats of diluted bespoke black base colour in a fairly opaque finish, followed by two further coats of a combination of two differing colours, more heavily diluted.The original red brick front façade of this five storey building was retained and enhanced to reference a more industrial feel. To fulfil the design brief, the client wanted to change in colour of the bricks to blue/black, without the bricks appearing painted.KEIM Restauro Lasur, a low pigmentation silicate colour wash, which acts as a stain that penetrates the surface of the brick, was used to change the colour of the façade, retaining the look and feel of the original bricks. KEIM Restauro Lasur is a breathable, colourfast system, which retains the original brick appearance and increases light reflectivity, whilst retaining a natural looking finish. The beauty of the KEIM Restauro Lasur system is that it can be used to achieve almost any effect without the surface appearing painted.

Devonshire Row, 150 Bishopsgate is a residential and commercial redevelopment in Central London. The existing façade was retained amongst the area to be redeveloped. The project consisted of 97,718 square metres of floor space and includes a site area of 5,000 square metres, with 284 residential units, car parking, leisure and entertainment facilities as well as business ventures. KEIM’s remit was to coat the existing Bath stone façade to match and blend seamlessly with the new Portland Stone façade.To deal with the potential for the new stone to age differently, KEIM Fixativ was applied to preserve and prevent the surface from getting soiled.KEIM Soldalit in colour 9295 was applied to all the surfaces, followed by a two-coat application of KEIM Restauro Lasur in colours ST019 and ST002 to mimic the new Portland Stone façade.

The owner of this converted church in Leven, Fife consulted an architect who specialises in the restoration of churches, Des Cairns, about the ongoing maintenance and decoration of her property. Des Cairns recommended Tony Carter, Senior Sales Executive of KEIM Mineral Paints to visit site to assess the existing wall paint, and suggest a plan for future painting.Des discussed with the owner that with old stone buildings, churches, palaces etc, KEIM is the paint of choice for restoration as it allows the building to breathe.During Tony’s visit, he explained how KEIM Paints are still made using a 140 year old recipe that consists of natural mineral pigments. It allows the walls to breathe, preventing flaking paint in the future. The colour is guaranteed not to fade or change over time, even up to 100 years.KEIM have their own Exclusiv colour range along with other standard colours and offer a colour match facility.KEIM Optil was chosen as it can be applied to previously painted surfaces such as painted plaster, plasterboard and sandstone window mullions without the need for primer.The owner said, “The painter was impressed with how well the paint covered”.“I am delighted with the result and finish of KEIM Paint. It is reassuring to have the architect’s recommendation and the knowledge that the paint will work with the building in the long term and last. It was a very big job to paint the inside of the church, in part it is 33 feet high and the whole job took several weeks. It is something I hope not to have to do again in my lifetime, so I wanted the best. I can strongly recommend KEIM Paint.”

Breathing new life into a 16th century farmhouse in Redmarley, Gloucester, Durbridge House has undergone extensive renovation works. Bryan Roe of KEIM Mineral Paints, visited the property and found evidence of algae, and flaking paint. In order to provide a solid foundation on which to paint, a skim coat of KEIM Universal Render for the base of the exterior stonework was recommended, to consolidate the fried stone and create a bell shape for improved water shedding.The damp chimney stack on the north elevation was stripped back, using the DOFF system (a high temperature, low pressure method, which is least invasive for the brick facia), to release trapped water and left to dry for two weeks prior to re-decoration. Bryan recommended removing all loose material by wire brush, as well as stripping the chimney stack and base of the stonewall to the north elevation, as much as possible.To remove the red algae, 50:50 of bleach and water was advocated, in addition to KEIM Algicid for mould and algae growth. The KEIM Royalan system was recommended, due to its durability and breathability. It was applied to the newly skimmer render and will provide a long-lasting coating, as its highly resistant to fungal and algae growth, while also being resistant to airborne pollutants and acid rain. 

The structureThis residential property emerged from the ashes of a World War II bomb site formerly occupied by a coach house, and was constructed circa 1945 by a local postman to serve as a family home.The distinctive characteristicsSurrounded by grand white stucco houses, this property was a joyful oddity amongst the archetypal street. With an off-centre pitch, horizonal windows and a central door, the owner was keen to work with and improve the existing fabric. The renovation The property had been re-built under a new centred pitched roof extending across two storeys to the rear. Stepping down at ground floor to a deep brick-finned façade opening onto a protected and peaceful walled garden.At the front, the old and new bricks were sewn together under a coat of bagged lime wash and mineral paint and insulated internally. The rendered base speaks to its stuccoed neighbours and grounds the building; the subtle depth of the relief creates a play of light across the front facade in the evening sun, celebrating its distinctive character.Why KEIM?The owner had been aware of the unique properties of mineral paints for allowing bricks to be painted but crucially to breathe, understanding so often houses are painted with non-breathable paints and the suffocated bricks lead to condensation. A mineral paint was required that can be painted over brickwork as well as the rendered base.The owner reached out and arranged a site visit with James Best, Senior Sales Executive at KEIM Mineral Paints. Following his expert guidance, it was recommended to utilize KEIM Soldalit for the project. Samples of five distinct shades of white were provided for testing across various façade orientations and times of day. The owner ultimately selected KEIM Soldalit in colour 9870, commenting “It is the perfect white. It is warm without being yellow and looks great in direct sunlight, shadow and of course our many overcast days.”

Falkener House is a 17 storey, residential apartment block located near Coventry city centre. It was originally constructed in 1968 to provide council accommodation.New regulations stipulate that buildings of over 18 metres in height must be fire resistant and classify to A2-s1, d0. KEIM Paints are the only paint manufacturer, to date, that meet this classification.Leicester based Elhance Limited, who specialise in cladding and roofing installation and repair, contacted KEIM to provide a fire resistant paint coating. Bryan Roe, Senior Sales Executive of KEIM Mineral Paints, visited site and produced a comprehensive specification. His findings included moss and green growth over the previously painted concrete, particularly on the south elevation and corners. A power spray was recommended to thoroughly clean the surfaces as part of the pre-paint preparation.Upon cleaning, it was found that the previous paintwork was in good condition. KEIM Soldalit-ME was specified due to its A2-s1, d0 fire classification. Soldalit-ME is a durable exterior paint that has the added benefit of breaking down organic material and contaminants, which will keep the surfaces cleaners for longer.The facades will not require decoration for another 10-15 years, if not more.A further two tower blocks, also situated in Coventry, have been commissioned to be painted using KEIM Soldalit-ME again due to its fire resistant and durable benefits

This Grade II listed farmhouse in Monmouthshire has recently been redecorated using the KEIM Granital system. The 16th – 18th century limewashed lime rendered property needed a freshen up. The limewash was delaminating and powdery, lower sections on the northern elevation were damp with black mould, green growth moss and algae were prevalent on all elevations, as well as hairline cracks within the render.   It was specified that all elevations should be cleaned free of excessive mould and green-growth and powdery residue from the limewash. KEIM Algicid-Plus to be applied and left to dry on the surface before coating. The lower exposed render on the front elevation was suffering from splash back off the paving stone, it was recommended that an application of KEIM Silan Primer was applied on the first 0.5m of this elevation, to allow improved water repellence. The KEIM Granital system was then used to obliterate hairline cracks and provide a breathable coating.  

Headland House in Dale, Haverfordwest is a detached barn conversion. We advised to remove all existing coatings using the DOFF & TORK system. The smooth render had evidence of red algae on some of the surfaces, we therefore recommended for these areas to be treated using a bleach solution prior to decoration of KEIM. A three-coat application of the KEIM Royalan system was applied due to the coastal location of this property, to give a long lasting, high performance coating.

HMP Five Wells, Millers Park, Wellingborough HMP Wellingborough is Britain’s biggest prison holding 1,680 inmates. A flagship, mega, category C jail, aimed to rehabilitate offenders with rooms flooded by natural light and barless windows. There are dedicated classrooms and workshops for ‘high quality academic and vocational learning’.The new seven staggered cross-shaped buildings ensure that corridors are broken up into smaller zones, which enables staff to have more direct contact with inmates. They have been designed in this way to offer better use of outside space for sports and gardening facilities.The aim of the programme was to modernise the prison estate to build a more efficient, safer and focused supporting rehabilitation for inmates.KEIM paints were specified for the project due to it being recommended and applied at HMP Wrexham previously.Dave Smith, Senior Sales Executive of KEIM Mineral Paints, was on hand to help during the entire decoration of the prison. Discussions were carried out with the contractor regarding VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), BREEAM and algae and fungal resistance.In order to maintain a consistent colour, KEIM recommended that the precast concrete was painted. This provided both a cost effective solution for colouring the concrete as well as ensuring consistency of finish.A training session was held by Dave & Nicola Young, Senior Colourist of KEIM, for the sub contractor to show them the application of the paint.KEIM Concrete Cleaner and KEIM Soldalit-ME were specified to clean and decorate the concrete exterior of the housing, administration block, and the medical wing. KEIM Soldalit-ME has particular environmental benefits as it helps to degrade nitrogen oxide pollutants from the atmosphere, offering durable protection for years if not decades to come.

This site is within what was originally the estate of a large house, known as Longhurst, in south Belfast. It has now been divided into several large residential properties with views across Lagan Valley Regional Park.McGonigle McGarth Architects contacted KEIM Mineral Paints because they wanted to use a breathable mineral paint, applied onto bare concrete and render. On any new build project, McGonigle McGarth Architects use KEIM to allow the mineral paint to penetrate into the unpainted surface and creating a chemical bond that acts to both keeping water out but allows water vapour to pass through. Tony Carter, Senior Sales Executive of KEIM Mineral Paints, visited Longhurst and recommended using KEIM Granital onto the render to provide an opaque finish, along with KEIM Concretal Lasur, a low pigmentation colour wash that acts as a stain, onto the smooth surface to maintain the look and feel of concrete.This project has been shortlisted for the Royal Society of Ulster Architects Awards 2024. The winner will be announced on 9th May 2024.

KEIM Concretal W was applied to the external concrete to give a vibrant white finish with unparalleled concrete protection which will not fade and yellow over time. KEIM Concretal W provides an integral protective and decorative finish to the concrete.

Meadow House is a 17 storey, block of flats situated in Coventry. The residential apartment block was built in 1967 and is the second tower block, in Coventry, to be painted using KEIM for its fire-resistant certifications.Similarly to Falkener House, located near Coventry cite centre, this project required a fire-resistant coating and must classify to A2-s1,d0, to meet current building regulations.The applicator, Elhance Limited, who are Leicester based, contacted KEIM to provide a fire-resistant paint. The painted concrete balcony surrounds, and painted brickwork were in relatively good condition. There was general dirt from the urban environment as well as moss and green growth on the surface which required cleaning before any decoration was to take place.KEIM Soldalit-ME was specified due to its A2-s1,d0 fire classification. It is a durable exterior paint that has the added benefit of breaking down organic material and contaminants, which will keep the surfaces cleaners for longer.The facades will not require decoration for another 10-15 years, if not more.A final tower block, also situated in Coventry, has been commissioned to be painted using KEIM Soldalit-ME again due to its fire resistant and durable benefits.

KEIM NHL KalkPutz is new to the UK, with Montalto House being the first specified and completed project, but has been used for many years by KEIM in Germany and other worldwide KEIM subsidiaries. It is a multipurpose Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) render suitable for both manual and machine application, and for interior, exterior and damp areas. KEIM NHL Kalkputz can be used as a complete lime render system and also for patch repair of existing NHL rendered facades, over large or in localised areas.

Loxford Lodge, Homeleigh and Borough Farm are residential properties within the National Trust estate of Arlington Court, Devon. The grounds cover over 20 miles of footpaths, offering walks such as the Lake walk and Deer Park walk.The National Trust contacted KEIM as they needed a reliable vapour permeable paint, which is more resilient than limewash, to decorate the previously limewashed substrates. The National Trust have previously worked with KEIM on many projects, so they were aware of the benefits that KEIM Paints has to offer.During the site inspection carried out by Julian Cullum of KEIM Mineral Paints, there was evidence of green mould and algae growth on the render.It was recommended to wash down the surfaces by pressure washing and using a stiff brush to remove all mould and fungal growth. KEIM Algicid-Plus was applied and allowed to dry for 24 hours before the decoration could commence.KEIM Fixativ was specified to consolidate the limewash render, followed by a coat of KEIM Soldalit Grob to give an even finish and fill hairline cracks within the render. KEIM Soldalit-ME, in colour 9037, was applied as it has a high resistance against mould and algae, which may build up from the tree canopies surrounding the properties.Following the completion of this project, The National Trust have several more projects they would like us to get involved in.

Park Farm Barns are barn conversions set in the Shropshire countryside. The simple, elegant interiors have been curated by Charters Property, with sustainability at the forefront. Beautiful designs and detailing has been evident, from the original roof boards, gravity arches and beams to the soft lime plastered walls. KEIM Mineral Paints were chosen on these barn conversions due to its breathability and sustainability credentials. The mix of lime plastered walls and gypsum walls were decorated using KEIM Optil in a warm neutral palette. It is a modern mineral paint, ideal for application onto historic and contemporary buildings. KEIM Innostar, which is a one coat paint, was applied onto the gypsum ceilings for a clean healthy living environment. It allowed rooms to be occupied the same day.

The Park Hill Estate in Sheffield was built as a council estate between 1957 and 1961. It was designed by Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith in a brutalist architectural style and has always divided opinions.Described as revolutionary for its time, the concept was `Streets in the Sky` with wide deck areas and distinctive concrete frame.  Whilst demolition of the site was being considered, in 1998 the estate was listed by English Heritage and given Grade II* status which was considered very controversial and attracted much criticism.  It is the largest listed building in Europe and, with its protected status, it was decided to renovate and redevelop the site as a joint venture between Urban Splash and English Heritage.The future of the scheme was to develop the site into desirable upmarket apartments, business units and social housing and the success has been widely publicised, including features in almost all architectural and concrete magazines, with a shortlisting for the 2013 RIBA Stirling Prize & 2023 RIBA Yorkshire awards, as well as winners of the AJ Retrofit Awards 2023.The key involvement for KEIM Mineral Paints was renovation of the extensive concrete frame. The discoloured concrete gave a drab and dirty look to the building – not the desirable, upmarket effect that the designers were looking for. The first consideration was to paint the frame in its entirety but this would have led to the loss of what is considered to be the most iconic feature of the building. So the challenge was to renovate the frame, improve the colour and finish without creating a painted effect.The answer was to use KEIM Concretal Lasur. This innovative paint system is a colourwash or stain which is applied onto concrete to cover blemishes and enhance the appearance, whilst, most importantly, keeping the look of natural concrete. KEIM Concretal Lasur has all of the features integral to KEIM Mineral Paints such as a permanent and highly protective chemical bond, complete UV stability and resistance to mould and fungal growth.KEIM Concretal Lasur is diluted with a complementary product using differing ratios and opacities to achieve the required colour and coverage, whilst still enabling surfaces to look like unpainted concrete. The system can also be employed to minimise any unsightly repairs to concrete. The versatility of the system allows almost complete coverage of repairs, or slight coverage, if preferred, which enhances the natural look of the concrete but gives the effect of a more visually appealing finish.

Premier Inn located on Custom House Street in Cardiff is a Grade II listed building built in the mid 1800s. It has recently been transformed into a 248-bedroom hotel and associated bar and block restaurant.Custom House has been carefully renovated in accordance with the architectural plans, preserving its listed facades and historical elements. The scheme's concept was based on the goal of creating a superior tower that will blend in with Cardiff's ring of towering structures, serve as a backdrop for the historic Custom House building, and revitalise it from street level.KEIM Soldalit Fixativ was applied onto the newly lime rendered surfaces to equalise surface porosity. A coat of KEIM Soldalit Grob was used to act as a bridging coat on the painted render and to fill hairline cracks to create an even texture throughout. The technical representative, Bryan Roe, of KEIM Mineral Paints recommended the KEIM Soldalit-ME paint system by reason of withstanding the pollution with the added benefit of a long-expected lifespan.

This Grade II listed windmill in Blakesley was built in 1832 and bought by the current owners 25 years ago. Since then, they have been keeping up with the restoration of the property.The owners stayed in a lighthouse during a vacation and read up that KEIM had been used on lighthouses due to its hard wearing and durable formula. They specified KEIM to their decorator, who subsequently got in touch to arrange a site visit.Dave Smith, Senior Sales Executive of KEIM Mineral Paints, visited the property in May 2018. It had various different coatings applied over the years, including limewash, none of which were particularly successful and the most recent limewash was patchy. The owners were looking for a long lasting, durable but breathable coating.The building was sand blasted to remove the existing coatings and allow for KEIM Silan Primer to be applied to give protection against water ingress. An extra coat of KEIM Silan Primer was applied on the top third of the building as this area was most exposed.The KEIM Royalan system was applied as it withstands harsh weather conditions and is specified for exposed locations. Its advanced formulation makes it ideal for coating hard substrates such as brickwork. The owners commented “we are very happy with the level of service provided. Dave came out to visit us a few times and was extremely helpful, explaining what was required.”

This property in a picturesque town in Cornwall, was in need of some TLC. The exterior walls are exposed to the seaside climes, making it perfect as the first project in the UK to use KEIM Twinstar, 2in1 masonry exterior paint.Prior to re-decoration, it was recommended that the painted stone gable walls were stripped back to enable the property to breathe, which reduces the paint from blistering and flaking due to moisture being trapped within the substate. KEIM Twinstar, in colour 9354, was applied by KEIM lover, Ry Spencely of Airborn Painting & Decorating.  KEIM Twinstar is the latest exterior and masonry paint solution, designed to ‘buy you time’ with its 2in1 system where paint is applied wet on wet. There’s no drying time between coats, which reduces waiting, labour and time. It allows a two-coat paint in one work step.Simply mix and apply the paint undiluted, straight from the bucket to ‘saturate’ the surface, then apply more of the same paint working into the existing wet paint layer.The decorator commented, “Another top quality product from KEIM. Application was very nice, it’s a thick chunky product as you’d expect and it covered a dream. The finished look was that signature luxurious KEIM super matt finish, all the while it’s letting the building breathe. Winner!”Ry Spencely of Airborn Painting & DecoratingKEIM Twinstar is the latest product development, designed specifically to speed up application and project time, whilst offering the full suite of sustainability credentials associated with KEIM.

Riversfield is a large detached Grade B listed town house. This property had severe contamination of moss and algae. We recommended that the climbing plants and wall shrubs to be moved away from the surfaces prior to the decoration of KEIM. We then advised that any existing fungal growth must be thoroughly removed using wire brushes to remove all growths and then all areas were to be treated with KEIM Algicid. Onto the cement based, roughcast surfaces, a three coat KEIM Royalan system was used to provide a colourfast, longlife, breathable, protective and decorative mineral matt finish.

St Clements Apartment on Bow Road was converted from a hospital into housing in 2014. The former hospital was built in the mid-1800s and underwent tribulations in the first half of the twentieth century. In 1935, a fire destroyed the main building and west wing of the building. It also suffered from bomb damage during World War Two. KEIM Restauro Grund was used for deep repairs within the external render, followed by building up layers and a skim coat of KEIM Universal Render. KEIM Soldalit was then applied over the new and existing surfaces. KEIM Ecosil-ME was specified for the internal walls as it is very resistant against scrubbing and abrasion, disinfectant resistant and reduces harmful gases and neutralising odours. 

St Michael’s Catholic Church is a mid 19th Century church in Brecon, Powys. It is one of the most historic churches in Diocese of Menevia.Bryan Roe, Senior Sales Executive of KEIM Mineral Paints, was contacted by the decorator, Mike Curry of Phillips & Curry to visit the Grade II listed church.The architect, Bonnie Kitching of Hummingbird Architecture Limited and Mike Curry had used KEIM previously on other projects and were delighted with the results. Bonnie, in particular, was looking for a paint system that offered breathability so specified KEIM on this project.There were a multitude of coats of various paint systems, including limewash, covering the lime plaster and concrete surfaces.KEIM recommended removing all existing coatings, as there was moisture entrapment, to obtain breathability of the KEIM products. Once all surfaces were dry and moisture readings were below 18%, KEIM Granital Dilution was used to treat the areas of lime which were chalky and powdery.KEIM Dolomitspachtel, a mineral filler, was then applied as a skim coat on some areas to equalise textural difference on the surface and defects.KEIM Optil White was the required system due to its endless benefits, including breathability, durability and longevity. The white makes the interior church look pristine and will continue to do so for many years to come.

St Peter’s is a Grade II* listed church in Notting Hill, West London. It was built to designs by Thomas Allom and is reputed to be the last Classical Revival church built in London in the 19th century. Building began in 1855 and the church was consecrated in 1857. Its large scale portico and west tower are the notable features. A complete restoration and refurbishment has been carried out, including the re-instatement of its redundant gallery, new meeting rooms and exterior colour-washed facades.The architect wanted to achieve a look that replicates limewash, with some very subtle variation almost replicating a layering colour of bath stone. The final specification was a layered solution to achieve the desired finish. This included a coat of KEIM Soldalit Fixativ to the newly applied lime skim, and KEIM Soldalit Grob applied to all areas. The surface was then painted using KEIM Soldalit, before lastly KEIM Restauro Lasur being applied as the top two coats.

St Winefride’s Catholic Church in Holywell is a Grade II listed building and was the first church in the UK to be administered by the Vocationist Fathers. The smooth internal plastered surfaces were originally painted with KEIM Mineral Paints, which had performed very well however there were a few issues that required attention prior to redecoration. There was a water ingress issue in the naive, which was repaired, and small areas of mould growth were visible that were treated using KEIM Algicid. KEIM Optil was applied over the prepared surfaces to provide a long-life, durable finish.

Swaffham Assembly Rooms is a Grade II Listed building, built in 1776 in the marketplace in Swaffham, Norfolk.The building has recently undergone restoration work, funded by Breckland Council, Historic England and the Iceni Partnership.Previous, non breathable paints had resulted in damage to the façade. A complete strip of the building was carried out, followed by re-decoration using the KEIM Soldalit system.Cliveden Conservation contacted Dave Smith of KEIM Mineral Paints to produce a detailed specification for the project.KEIM Mineral Paints were chosen due to their longevity, breathability and sustainability credentials.KEIM Soldalit was recommended onto these substrates due to it sol-silicate properties, which means it can be applied onto both unpainted and previously painted without the need of a primer. It is fire resistant and is the only mineral paint to be A2-s1, d0 classified.KEIM Soldalit in colour 9312 was used, which not only allow the surface to breathe, but won’t fade and will last for years to come.