"intumescent paint"

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”.

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.

Specifiers looking to minimise maintenance requirements yet maximise cleanliness need look no further than Crown Trade’s innovative Clean Extreme Anti-Bacterial Scrubbable Matt. Clean Extreme Anti-Bacterial Scrubbable Matt is enhanced through the use of the independently tested SteriTouch® silver ion technology which not only inhibits the growth of any bacteria that comes into contact with the surface, but also prevents bacteria from multiplying. Unlike other anti-bacterial paints that can be prone to the problem of leaching, the ‘built-in’ silver ion protection can’t be washed off no matter how many times the surface is scrubbed clean.

Last summer, we heard from Alex of Tiny Victorian Home on Instagram who reached out to us about her garden decks. Alex explained that they were in need of a makeover and that she really wanted to use a paint to give them a new lease of life.After previously speaking with her followers, she was warned about using paint on her decks as paint finishes always fail. However, after doing some of her own research, Alex then found Owatrol Decking Paint and after reading that it does not peel or flake, she decided to reach out to us for some further information.We recommended that Alex first use Net-Trol to clean her decks (as there were no previous finishes on them she did not need to use a stripping product) and then finish them with Decking Paint once dry. We sent her out a free colour card (which you can also order on our Decking Paint page) which shows off all 35 of our colours, so she could decide which samples she wanted to try.After a little deliberation, Alex decided to try out 3 colours; Traditional Grey, Light Grey and White. After painting the samples on to some off cuts of wood, she decided to go with Traditional Grey.

Calderdale Council recently embarked on an extensive refurbishment project of the ballroom in the Grade I listed Todmorden Town Hall, which completely refreshed the interior using specialist redecoration services and colour insights from Crown Paints.The 19th century building, which includes a ballroom with ornate ceiling features and plasterwork, has been home to a variety of events over its long history. The Council’s £120,000 investment into the ballroom included improvements to the acoustics and a redecoration project that aimed to refresh the building while being sympathetic to its rich history.As part of the works, Crown Paints’ colour consultancy team devised a new colour scheme for the ballroom with a rich blue called Jet Stream and Victoria White with red and yellow accent colours. It is based on the hues and tones of the original Minton tiles which were hidden beneath the ballroom’s wallpaper and rediscovered before work began.

The team behind ESCREO is passionate about leading by example and implementing their own sustainable initiatives. They have set themselves ambitious goals and they are striving to achieve them as part of the company's climate protection strategy. Hence why they are working to reduce and balance their carbon footprint on their journey towards becoming the first carbon neutral company in the industry of writable paints by the end of 2022. At the heart of this transition towards a sustainable company are the conscious choices taken over the past few months. In addition to the green invoicing that ESCREO has adopted since the very beginning of their operations, they have recently started planting a tree for every order placed via their website. Their latest green initiative is related to the offsetting of the carbon footprint of their goods and services. This allowed ESCREO to provide the first carbon neutral whiteboard paint on the market. And this is just the next step on their way to a more sustainable company, also part of their conscious roadmap.

Union Court is located in the Clapham area of South West London. It is made up of bright and varied workspaces to rent.Anton Boekhoudt of KEIM Mineral Paints was contacted by GPAD Architects as they were looking to update and change the façade of the building from a plain stock yellow brick colour. The architect wanted to use a breathable coating as a way of changing the appearance. Changes were also to be made to the window details and signage for the building along with new cladding areas. From their conversation an initial site unseen specification was produced.Following a site visit with the architect and Anton, sample trials commenced. Anton initially produced seven samples using KEIM Soldalit and KEIM Restauro Lasur in a selection of colours. Once GPAD Architects reviewed the samples, two further samples were applied on a larger scale. One sample with the mortar joints painted using KEIM Restauro Lasur and the other without. The preferred option was the brick faces painted only.KEIM Restauro Fixativ was applied to all brick faces and mortar joints. A 1:1 ratio mix of KEIM Restauro Lasur, in colour RB001, and KEIM Restauro Fixativ was then applied to the brick faces only. Two decorating companies worked on this project – Restore & Preserve and Chameleon Brickwork, who both used different techniques. Restore & Preserve used a spray technique after masking up all mortar joints, whereas Chameleon Brickwork hand painted each brick face. Both techniques have worked brilliantly, and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.Graeme Winestone of GPAD Architects commented “We are delighted with the service that KEIM offered, including plenty of colour choices and on-site samples that allowed us and the client to make an informed colour choice for the finish of the brickwork.The existing building was given a new lease of life by the use of KEIM Paints, creating a uniform brick colour which complemented the new façade alterations.Frequent site visits provided by KEIM gave us peace of mind with regards to surface preparation and application of the KEIM products producing a very satisfactory end results.”

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.

Liverpool’s iconic India Buildings has used almost 8,975 litres of Crown Paints as part of the development’s multi-million-pound renovations.The Grade II listed building, which will house almost 4,000 members of HMRC’s staff once complete, has undergone extensive refurbishment by fit out experts Overbury.

Over the years ESCREO has realised many projects together with Cachè Atelier - a leading architectural and interior design studio, to make office spaces more productive and more creative. Cachè Atelier have realised a number of sustainable and creative office fit out and refurbishment projects in their own distinctive style. Depending on the specific needs of each company, they have been making use of ESCREO whiteboard paint, ESCREO clear whiteboard paint and ESCREO magnetic whiteboard paint in their interior design projects. We are glad that we are their trusted partner as well as that ESCREO whiteboard paint products have been best serving their needs when it comes to writable surfaces in office fit out and refurbishment projects. If you are interested in learning why they choose ESCREO writable walls for their interior design projects and what ESCREO brings them you can read the full interview with them on our website. You will also learn how together we create office spaces specific to each company, to accommodate and serve their true needs rather than creating universal office spaces that work for all clients.

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.

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.”

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. 

Crown Paints has provided hoteliers Malmaison & Hotel du Vin a 5-star colour treatment, following an 8-year partnership with the hotel chain which has resulted in beautiful, luxury spaces for guests to enjoy.

A palliative care hospice has been given a helping hand with a donation from Crown Paints. Halton Haven Hospice, which is based in Runcorn, Cheshire, has received approximately 250 litres of paint to help them with an extensive refurbishment project which started in June. In total, 21 rooms are being redecorated at the hospice, which provides care for individuals who have been diagnosed with a limiting or terminal illness. Jan Gray, Family Support Team Manager at Halton Haven Hospice, said: “The donation from Crown Paints means we can decorate all of the rooms to give them a fresh new look."

Johnstone’s Trade were approached by the Commissioners of Irish Lights to improve the condition of the walls and the railings as the structure indicated that it had not been painted for a number of years. The products that were specified for the project included Johnstone’s Stormshield Pliolite Masonry, a solvent based paint that was applied on the exterior walls of the lighthouse to provide a smooth matt finish in Brilliant White. To complete the makeover, the metal railings of the lighthouse were painted in Johnstone’s Steel & Cladding Semi-gloss Top coat in Signal red.

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.

Stately Home, Hestercombe House, has unveiled the first milestone in an extensive 18-month project, which will see 15 rooms in the 320-acre estate being redecorated.Thanks to specialist redecoration services and expert colour insights from Crown Paints, the interior of the Portman and Jekyll rooms now reflects the estate’s luscious 50-acre Georgian landscape garden, blending the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.

Akari Care, a nationwide residential care home provider, enlisted Crown to create a uniform refurbishment programme for its extensive portfolio of properties last year. Crown Paints Colour Service created six new dementia friendly colour schemes include mauve, pink, turquoise, natural, green, citrus and terracotta. Ideal for high-traffic areas, Crown Trade Clean Extreme Stain Resistant Scrubbable Matt was specified for all walls in the corridor, lounge and bedroom areas while Crown Trade Clean Extreme Mould Inhibiting Scrubbable Matt was specified for the bathrooms. Crown Trade Clean Extreme Antibacterial Durable Acrylic Eggshell will be used in the kitchens.

Timber Cladding: NORclad Painted ThermowoodCoating: Sansin SDF Paint SystemNORclad supplied over 18,500/LM of Painted product for this project, primarily across 3 different finished widths; 120mm (6500LM), 136mm (6100LM), and 178mm (4800/LM). A couple of additional board sizes were also supplied for reveals and particular detailing areas.Thermowood is the perfect Timber species for coating, being a timber with almost zero moisture movement the chance of coating failures is minimal. Supplied pre-finished with the Sansin SDF system, the material was ready to be installed as soon as it was delivered to site.

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.

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.

Crown Paints will be bringing home the benefits of supply chain collaboration at the forthcoming Procurement for Housing (PfH) Live conference by showcasing a range of solutions designed to help specifiers working in the social housing sector create colourful, cost-effective and high-quality decoration schemes. The event takes place from 25th-27th June as part of the annual Chartered Institute of Housing event in Manchester and Crown will take up position on Stand P11. From here specifiers will be able to find out more about Crown’s specification support packages, as well as the company’s innovative product range.

Puzl CowOrKing selects our clear whiteboard paint to boost productivity while keeping their colourful walls. Puzl CowOrKing is a coworking space that thinks outside the box for everything they build. From custom desks, shelves, arcades, even sinks they design any space to fit its unique needs. When they wanted to add some additional space for creative collaboration that matched the décor of their meeting rooms they turned to ESCREO. The idea of the wall is to act both as a place for expression but also as a strong design element, something that the clear whiteboard paint was perfect for.

Whiteboard paint turns MentorMate walls into collaborative surfaces. MentorMate provides innovative software solutions to tackle tech challenges across several industries. While their roots are in education, nearly half of their business is focused on healthcare and the large amounts of secure data that comes with it. As a software service company invested in its success, they engage the brightest minds in the world of innovative solutions. One way of giving them freedom of expression is ESCREO’s whiteboard paint that turns any wall into a writable surface. It fuels their creativity during brainstorming sessions and has livened up their meetings.

A wedding venue that showcases a Historic England perfectly has been transformed using Johnstone’s decorative paints. Specified for its high quality finish and whiteness properties, Johnstone’s Covaplus Vinyl Matt in off-white was used to paint the elegant hallway of the grade 1 listed building. As well as being applied on the walls and ceilings of the spectacular reception. Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt was used in the food and bar area, due to its outstanding durability. Additionally, Johnstone’s Satin Woodstain was used on the hand rails of the balconies to protect the wood from decay.

Shopping centres are at the heart of most major cities across the UK. As popular, high-traffic destinations, these buildings require regular upkeep in order to maintain a high-end finish. One such example is Resorts World in Birmingham, a modern shopping, dining and entertainment destination that attracts visitors from across the Midlands and beyond. When tasked with renovating Resorts World, architects and interiors practice Alexander Owen Architecture (AO) and painting contractor, Bagnalls, turned to PPG Architectural Coatings and its paint brand Johnstone’s Trade for its wide range of colour.

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.

The refurbishment of a community leisure centre in Wiltshire has been given a paint finish that is more than fit or purpose, thanks to leading paint manufacturer Crown Paints.

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 unrivalled durability of Johnstone’s Trade’s Endura Super Durable Matt has been put through its paces at the £27 million Trinity Academy in Halifax.With thousands of pupils attending the school, the need for a paint that would withstand the rigours of heavy traffic was paramount so Johnstone’s Endura Super Durable Matt was duly specified for its outstanding durability and aesthetic properties. Johnstone’s Water-Based Aqua Gloss system was used for the interior woodwork throughout the Academy after becoming the natural successor to solvent-based trim paints, which have been impacted by legislation in recent years.

Klaudia and Michal purchased a brand-new property in Staffordshire in November 2021, built by David Wilson Homes. The couple’s chic, minimalistic design aesthetic soon gained a following on Instagram with clean lines, sleek finishes, and a focus on simplicity. @ThePolishedGosford has become a popular account with other new-build homeowners with similar proportions and layout.In their quest to enhance their interior design aesthetic, the couple sought out an artistic addition that would perfectly complement their existing décor. They received a recommendation from a friend suggesting KEIM Colourwash, and they eagerly embarked on a project to create captivating feature walls in both their kitchen and master bedroom.Klaudia and Michal desired to incorporate a concrete effect, a task that is often challenging and time-consuming when using conventional materials. Seeking advice, Amie Paxton, Creative Finishes Designer at KEIM, provided personalised colour choices combining KEIM Innostar & KEIM Colourwash to achieve the desired outcome.Available in over 200 colours, KEIM Innostar is an innovative interior paint, requiring just a single coat application to achieve full coverage and a luxuriously fully matt finish. Klaudia commented: “The paint was really easy to use, and the application was better than other brands we’d used in the past.”KEIM Colourwash offers a convenient and hassle-free solution for achieving a beautiful limewash effect. Unlike traditional limewash, which can be time-consuming and potentially hazardous, KEIM Colourwash provides a safe and easy alternative. When used in combination with KEIM Innostar, a trendy “perfectly imperfect” aesthetic can be applied to both bare and previously painted walls and ceilings.Using a KEIM Oval Brush, the couple applied KEIM Colourwash to their selected feature walls, transforming the plain surfaces in a remarkably short time frame of less than 20 minutes per wall. Michal commented: “We originally wanted a concrete effect on our kitchen wall, which seemed very complex to do, unlike using KEIM.”

Clean and contemporary lines, an atmosphere of mystery and drama and a natural, rural patchwork effect are the three dominant themes in Crown Paints’ latest, on-trend Colour Influences. Three palettes have been developed for the Autumn/Winter 2017 season, Considered, Intrigue and Patterned Landscape, with each collection designed to give architects and designers inspiration to create personality in their projects. The Colour Influences are produced by an expert panel, assembled by Crown, who join forces to pinpoint the latest trends, using their knowledge and passion for colour to produce a stunning visual compilation.

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. 

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.

Woolton House stands as a testament to the architectural prowess of the past. Constructed during the 18th century and remodelled in the 1930s, this magnificent estate exudes an air of elegance and grandeur. Reading-based Herridge Decorators undertook removal and reinstatement of areas of deterioration, replacing failed cement render with lime render. One of the key advantages of lime render is its breathability, allowing moisture to evaporate from the building's walls and preventing the accumulation of dampness and subsequent damage. The use of lime render in conjunction with the vapour permeability of KEIM Mineral Paints ensures restored areas remain structurally sound and free from the detrimental effects of trapped moisture. The application of impermeable acrylic-bound coatings over historic limewash had contributed to delamination and required removal back to a sound edge prior to redecoration. Surface breathability cannot be restored unless impermeable coatings are removed, however if sound and well adhered to the underlying substrate, redecoration using KEIM Mineral Paints remains possible. KEIM Mineral Paints chemically bond to bare mineral substrates and chemically bond to sound existing paints, providing surface protection and UV stable pigment. Following recent wet weather, organic growth has become more apparent on surfaces retaining moisture which are unable to dry out. Green algae can cultivate on any exterior surface retaining moisture, including elevations of a property and particularly at lower levels. Fortunately, removal is straightforward using a mild detergent and reoccurrence can be prevented by treating surfaces with fungicidal primer, KEIM Algicid, 24 hours prior to paint application.  Polymer and acrylic-based repair materials are unsuitable for use with mineral paints, therefore minor cracking and repair work was completed using KEIM Spachtel, a ready-mixed and easy-to-use paste filler with mineral fibres. Patch repairs were blended with the surrounding substrate using KEIM Contact Plus, a lightly aggregated paint also suitable for disguising surface imperfections and filling hairline cracks. Application of KEIM Contact Plus is suitable onto isolated areas up to a natural breakline or over entire elevations. The high porosity of lime render needs to be equalised without compromising breathability before painting. Also suitable for consolidating previously limewashed substrates, KEIM Soldalit Fixativ, a potassium silicate primer, was applied to prepare surfaces where required. Redecoration was completed in bespoke colours to match the historic scheme using two coats of KEIM Soldalit-ME, with added protection against airborne contaminants typical of rural locations, in addition to the reduction of toxic gasses and A2-s1, d0 fire certification. David Herridge of Herridge Decorators commented; “We've been using KEIM products for many years and knew how suitable they would be for a project of this nature and scale. The products were easy to apply and the colour consistency over large areas is very impressive. The client was really happy with the colour choices and finishes.” Preserving our heritage buildings is a responsibility we should all embrace. By entrusting the restoration work to professionals like Herridge Decorators, we can ensure that these architectural treasures continue to stand tall for generations to come.