"paints and primers"

Crown Paints has achieved top marks for a prestigious school in the historic city of York. Bootham School, an independent day and boarding school for 3 to 18 year olds, has harnessed the expertise of Crown Trade to protect their historic building. The windows of Fox House, which is situated on Portland Street in the city centre, were in need of attention and the Crown Paints Specification Team were called in to help. After a site survey by the team, Crown Trade Stronghold Exterior Gloss and Crown Trade Stronghold Exterior Primer Undercoat were specified for the job.

Working with Bell Decorating Group, Crown Paints marked the launch of the first Bell Decorating Academy in Lincoln with a morning of workshops for the students of Lincoln College. Representatives from Bell Decorating Group and Crown Paints were on hand to answer any questions the students had. The event allowed 27 full-time learners from the college’s painting and decorating courses to learn more about how to choose colour and the factors that play into it. Students were also given a demonstration of the benefits of Crown Trade primers. Products were donated for the students to practice with after.

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.”

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.

The Old Grammar School House in Shrewsbury is a Grade II listed historic building, which was formerly part of the school and has been converted to an office space.KEIM were approached by Randle Building Solutions, who had used KEIM Mineral Paints on a previous project in Edgmond, Shropshire. The conventional painted stonework was flaking and blistering due to excess moisture trapped within the substrate. The painted brickwork on the front of the building was in good condition.Bryan Roe of KEIM Mineral Paints recommended stripping the paint off the stonework and the brickwork at the back of the building, using KEIM STS 7M, that was holding damp and flaking. The gloss paint on the stone windows surrounds were to be stripped as much as possible and sanded down to create a key for the mineral paint to bond to.KEIM Contact-Plus was diluted with KEM Soldalit Fixativ to equalise surface textures and fill hairline cracks. KEIM Soldalit, in a bespoke grey colour (KS01 0312) that was matched back to the original paint colour, was applied to create a breathable, long-lasting finish.KEIM Soldalit is fire resistant and A2-s1, d0 classified. The sol-silicate properties mean that it can be applied over unpainted and previously painted surfaces without the need of a primer.

Tudor Street in Cardiff has been transformed into a city centre of world class urban design. The shop frontages of these commercial premises have been upgraded to help regenerate Cardiff city centre. More can be read on the development scheme here.D&D Decorating & Property Maintenance Limited contacted Bryan Roe of KEIM Mineral Paints to visit the development plan on Tudor Street. There was a mix of new unpainted cementitious repairs and previously painted smooth render. 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 colours AG66, AG121, AG168, AG240, RB028 and CL017 were used to add these bold pops of colour to the shop frontages, which not only allow the surface to breathe, but won’t fade and will last for years to come. 

The Grade II listed building where 19th century novelist Jane Austen spent her last days, was restored to its former glory. The SC4 decorators used a host of Johnstone’s products to restore the property. In keeping to the original colour, the robust Johnstone’s Stormshield Smooth Masonry paint in County Cream was used for rendering. Stormshield Flexible Primer Undercoat, together with Flexible Gloss in French Lime achieved an impressive finish for the door of the house. Additionally, Johnstone’s Primer was used to freshen up window frames and sills. Lastly, Stormshield Flexible Gloss was applied for a premium finish.

Exeter, Blackburn and Cambridge Crown Decorating Centres have donated paint to community projects. Devon's Kingsway Meadow Centre refurbished it's interior with Crown Trade Full Undercoat and Crown Trade Matt Vinyl donated by Exeter Crown Decorating Centre. Brockholes Nature Reserve received a donation of Crown Trade Fastflow Quick Dry Primer Undercoat and Crown Trade Fastflow Quick Dry Satin paint for its restaurant refurbishment from Blackburn Crown Decorating Centre. Cambridge Crown Decorating Centre donated Crown Trade Clean Extreme and Crown Trade Eggshell paint to The C3 Church to refurbish the interior of a local resident’s home.

Crown Paints has donated a selection of its most popular paint products to create a vibrant learning hub as part of a community make-over project organised by national contractor, Novus Property Solutions. The project involved refurbishing a dilapidated prefab building for Bromley Pensnett Primary School in Birmingham, to create the new Novus Learning Hub which will become a valuable resource for the wider community as well as school pupils and staff. Crown Decorating Centres delivered the products needed; Crown Trade Acrylic Eggshell; Crown Trade Vinyl Matt; Crown Trade’s Fastflow Quick Dry Primer Undercoat and Gloss and Sadolin Superdec.

A Midlands-based housing association turned to Crown Trade Fastflow to deliver a splash of colour, with a low odour application and fast-drying times for the comfort and convenience of residents. Lyng Community Association, a not-for-profit organisation, brought in Crown Paints to specify the pioneering water-based system for the redecoration of corridors in three blocks of flats in West Bromwich. Doors, window sills and skirting boards were decorated with Crown Trade Fastflow Quick Dry Gloss, over Crown Trade Fastflow Quick Dry Primer Undercoat. The work was carried out by Hankinson Painting Contractors from their West Bromwich site.

Project detailsParadise Wildlife Park, situated in Hertfordshire originally contacted Watco for advice on a floor paint suitable for their lion enclosure. "The product needs to be ultra hard-wearing to withstand the wear and tear of the area, whilst also having the ability to tolerate lion urine."Our solution Our Expert Advisor's recommended Chemi-Coat Acid Strength as it is extremely tolerant to chemicals and strong enough to withstand 95% sulphuric acid. An ordinary floor paint would fail, but the chemical resistant properties of Chemi-Coat make it ideal for this type of environment. Chemi-Coat Acid Strength is a virtually solvent free, 100% solids epoxy formula, which means it's extremely heavy duty and will last for years. Due to the porosity of the surface our Advisors also recommended they prime the surface using our 4 Hour Epoxy Primer.Click here to see a short timelapse video of Paradise Wildlife Park applying the products.

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.”

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.

The Rowe is a new architecturally designed office space in Whitechapel London, where tradition meets innovation. With outside space on every level, the building sets a sustainable benchmark for new office space in central London. The new elements mimics the horizontal banding of the 1960s concrete building as well as contrasting with a steel structure and dark metal palette.The architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, had used KEIM previously. They contacted KEIM as they wanted a sustainable product in keeping with their core values. Samples were carried out, as shown in the photo below, to determine the most suitable colour.First off, KEIM Concrete Repair Mortar (KEIM Concretal-MR 2.0) was used for large repairs within the concrete. KEIM Fine Finishing Mortar (KEIM Concretal-FSP 0.2) was then used for levelling repairs as it is a much finer aggregate mix.KEIM Soldalit CL018, a light grey colour, was chosen to compliment the steel structure and due to its characteristics, was applied onto the previously painted surface without the need for a primer. It is fire resistant – A2-s1, d0 classified and Cradle to Cradle certified.The Rowe has been shortlisted for an AJ Retrofit Award 2023 in the Workspace (£10m and over) category. It was also awarded BREEAM ‘Excellent’, WELL ‘Platinum’ and received SmartScore certification.

Owatrol Oil is a product that wears many hats; it is a rust inhibitor, a paint conditioner and it also helps adhesion of finishes.Owatrol Oil is a versatile, highly penetrating air drying oil and when used as a rust inhibitor, it provides a tough, flexible finish, driving out excess moisture and air; displacing it from rusted metal, stopping rust from doing any more damage.Using Owatrol Oil as a rust inhibitorOwatrol Oil penetrates deep, through the rusted metal to the good metal underneath, isolating it and protecting it from further rusting.As it is a penetrating oil it can be used directly on the rusted surfaces. However, be sure to remove any loose flaking rust, paint, grease or any other contaminants before applying Owatrol Oil.ApplicationUsing Owatrol Oil on new clean steelFirst prime new steel with a mix of 1 part Owatrol Oil to 3 parts primer. Then follow with normal paint system adding Owatrol Oil to subsequent coats as directed under ‘Mixing instructions’ on the Owatrol Oil product page.Using Owatrol Oil on lightly rusted surfacesFirst prime the surface with a mix of 1 part Owatrol Oil to 2 parts primer. Then follow with normal paint system adding Owatrol Oil to subsequent coats as directed under ‘Mixing instructions’ on the Owatrol Oil product page.Using Owatrol Oil on new unpainted rusty steelFirst prime the surface with a mix of 1 part Owatrol Oil to 1 part Primer. Then follow with normal paint system adding Owatrol Oil to subsequent coats as directed under ‘Mixing instructions’ on the Owatrol Oil product page.Using Owatrol Oil on old, severely rusted or previously coated surfacesApply wet on wet applications of Owatrol Oil to all exposed rust until fully saturated and allow it to dry.Saturation is indicated by a uniform glossy appearance to the surface when Owatrol Oil is dry.Before Owatrol Oil has hardened, check the surfaces and remove rust scale and old paint loosened by the above. If needed, touch up these areas.Allow to dry.Next, apply a mix of 1 part Owatrol Oil to 2 parts primer and allow to dry. Then follow with normal paint system adding Owatrol Oil to subsequent coats as directed under ‘Mixing instructions’ on the Owatrol Oil product page.Note: Owatrol Oil will not lift well bonded paint.

Project details Charles de Gaulle International Airport is the second largest airport in Europe after London Heathrow. It is located just outside Paris and handles over 50 million passengers every year. For this reason it can be difficult to find the time for maintenance and repairs. "The airports floors have to withstand constant heavy traffic from passengers, staff and maintenance workers. It was therefore important that their repair and paint products were quick to apply, cure and hard wearing." The work that needed to be carried out was at the entrance to Terminal 3 which is the main public transport hub for Charles de Gaulle. For this reason the work needed to be carried out and finished between the hours of 9.30pm and 6.30am. After this time heavy traffic would resume. Our solution The first job was to clean the concrete floor slabs with Watco Concroff to remove all surface contaminants including oil and fats. Watco Concroff contains no solvents or other chemicals that are dangerous for the environment and penetrates even the thickest deposits of grease. The floor was then primed with Tack Coat, an epoxy resin adhesive primer which guarantees excellent grip on the key surface. As Charles de Gaulle is subjected to such heavy constant traffic a standard mortar would not be sufficient to withstand this, for this reason they choose Watco Concrex® Carbon Fibre. As it is as strong as granite it could be smoothed to a thickness of only 3mm, making the surface both waterproof and slip resistant. The Concrex® was subsequently painted with Safety Coat. Safety Coat is roller applied and contains fine, traction enhancing particles embedded in an epoxy resin coating so this coating was ideal for providing a non slip surface for added security.

With steelwork being brought to life as a feature of the building, SteelMaster intumescent paint can be applied to offer excellent levels of fire protection without the need for boxing in or using less aesthetically pleasing coverings. As a leading global manufacturer of coatings, Jotun is the single source for primer, intumescent coatings and top coats. With thousands of colour choices of topcoat, with different gloss levels and finishes, Jotun provides comprehensive and effective solutions to meet the demands of your project.

A partnership between Crown Paints, Mitie Property Services and Enfield Council has led to a special presentation for residents. For the last two years, the three organisations have been working together on redecoration works across Enfield Council’s property portfolio. To mark the milestone, a bench made from recycled paint containers has been given to the community by Crown Paints. Some 4,000 litres of products including Crown Trade Stronghold Smooth Masonry, Crown Trade Protective Coatings, Sadolin Superdec and Crown Trade Timonox Flame Retardant Coatings have all been used on the council’s social housing schemes.

Crown Paints has secured a prestigious agreement with Bournemouth University which will see products from across the Crown Trade range used for future new build and refurbishment projects. As the University’s sole supplier of paints and specialist coatings, Crown’s has worked closely with the Bournemouth University’s facilities department to devise a bespoke paint package and colour scheme to provide long term cost benefits. Crown Trade’s high performance Clean Extreme Stain Resistant Scrubbable Matt and Acrylic Eggshell, and water-based Fastflow Quick Dry Gloss and will now form part of the University’s official Design Standards Manual.

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.

A Suffolk-based local authority turned to Crown Paints Specification Services to transform the tallest building in the most easterly settlement of the UK. St. Peter’s Court – in the coastal town of Lowestoft, Suffolk – was in need of re-decoration and Waveney District Council wanted a product that would last for the long-term. Crown Paints came out to the site, which comprises of 90 flats over 15 floors, and after an extensive inspection and review of requirements, specified 3,600 litres of Sandtex Trade 365 All Weather Masonry Paint for the project.

As the summer season arrives and projects move outdoors, Sandtex Trade is issuing a timely reminder of its series of videos, produced to give specifiers the complete picture on exterior painting. ‘This Is Sandtex Trade’ is a series of five videos, presented by Crown Paints Product Trainer Kevin O’Donnell, which take viewers through a variety of subjects associated with painting outdoors. All five videos have been designed to meet the individual needs of specification professionals and build on the content already provided on Sandtex Trade’s website

AN ABERDEEN-based specialist school has received a recycled bench from Crown Paints as a lasting legacy of the relationship built up with the city’s council. The bench, which is made from recycled paint containers, was presented to students at Orchard Brae School to celebrate the ongoing work between Crown Paints and Aberdeen City Council. Caroline Stirton is the Executive Head Teacher at Orchard Brae School, which caters for children affected by severe and complex needs. She said: “We’re really impressed with our new bench and it provides the ideal spot for the children to relax.”

Crown’s earthbalance scheme sets out the company’s commitment to being more sustainable and less wasteful as well as helping customers and staff make responsible decisions. The earthbalance scheme covers all aspects of Crown’s business and applies to all staff and operations at Crown’s two UK manufacturing plants and network of Crown Decorating Centres. Crown has reduced its overall electricity consumption by 15 per cent, reduced packaging waste by approximately 15 per cent, recycled more than 800 tonnes of paint cans and donated 112 benches made using recycled paint cans through social enterprise NIMTECH.

The Caledonian in Inverness is a 19th Century, Grade A Listed Public House. The sandstone surfaces were previously painted with approximately 8-10 layers of paint – some areas had been stripped and in other areas existing paint coatings remained. For the deep repairs to the sandstone, we recommended using KEIM Restauro Grund and for the finishing layer over the repairs, we advised using KEIM Restauro Top, which was dress back in a manner to suit the surrounding stonework. To give an opaque matt finish, we specified KEIM Soldalit in the same colour as the KEIM Restauro Top.

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

Crown Paints has launched three core colour trends to shape interior design schemes for the first half of 2019 and beyond. Crown’s aim is to give people the confidence to experiment with colour which is why it invests in developing its new colour trends. The panel creates a distinct identity for each trend as well as highlighting the hero shades and complementing tones within the three colour schemes, which this year have been identified as ‘Redefined’, ‘Movement’ and ‘Immersed’. Crown Paints’ Colour Services team is on hand to offer expert assistance and advice on all aspects of colour specification.

Crown Paints has donated a bench to Morfa Cadfan, a sheltered housing scheme in Tywyn, Gwynedd. Part of Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG), North Wales’ largest housing association, the communal areas have been redecorated in conjunction with the Tywyn Project. The Crown Paints Specification Team visited the site at the end of last year to scope out colour schemes and the best products for the job. Novus Property Solutions carried out the work, which saw Crown Trade Timonox Acrylic Eggshell being applied to the walls of all the corridors and stairwells as well as the reception and lounge.

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.

We have collaborated with the “Smile for Africa” Foundation to transform a classroom wall into a writable wall with ESCREO whiteboard paint for the first time in Africa. The charity foundation is a wonderful initiative for a better life filled with smiles for children from different regions of Africa. Thanks to them, children can now feel the special magic that whiteboard paint can bring to them. Daniel Delibashev, founder of the Foundation, shares that they were used to improvised chalkboard walls, i.e. black-painted concrete, which were not as hygienic as one can imagine. However, children now write on a white writable wall with markers which attracts their attention and concentration better and contributes to better learning. Daniel shares that both children and teachers are very excited to see and use a different method than traditional blackboards. It is an “archaic” method which is widely used in Africa and is quite inconvenient because over time the boards start turning white and it is difficult to distinguish what is written on them.  Other issues that whiteboard paint now solves include the often need for the chalkboard walls to be repainted, which used to create a lot of difficulties and additional costs. It has proven to be quite uncomfortable, because the dust used to stick to the hands and clothes of the children and to enter the eyes, damaging their vision. Both students and teachers now want to replace all the blackboards with walls painted with whiteboard paint, because the convenience and joy they bring are indisputable.

The Exterior Colour Book has been created by the Crown Paints Colour Service to provide guidance and inspiration for exterior decoration projects. It includes details on Sandtex Trade, Crown Paints’ external substrate decoration and protection brand, as well as superior wood protection brand Sadolin. When selecting a colour for exterior projects, personal preference is sometimes secondary to concerns such as impact on the local context and the relevant planning regulations. That’s why Crown’s Exterior Colour Book provides information about the built environment, covering topics such as historical styles, geology and local materials, regional colours and colour application.

Crown Paints’ colour experts have unveiled three new colour trends; ‘Saturated’, ‘Washed’ and ‘Midnight Garden’, which are set to influence colour schemes for the next season. Each with its own distinctive look, the three trends include a palette of signature colours and supporting accent tones together with more neutral hues. Crown Paints’ Colour Services team is on hand to offer expert assistance and advice on all aspects of colour specification. As well as providing bespoke colour cards and a colour library the team can also guide specifiers through the process of creating individual colour schemes, tailored to clients’ requirements.

Newtown Primary School has been given an exterior makeover to freshen up its student areas using Crown Paints, as part of the local council’s schools’ decoration programme.

Crown Paints has kicked-off its support for Hull UK City of Culture 2017 with a large scale outdoor art project, which puts colour, history and a passion for the city firmly on the map. The UK paint manufacturer, which has a heritage stretching back hundreds of years in Hull, is helping to create a bright future for the area after signing-up as a Hull 2017 Business Club partner. (Image copyright Chris Pepper)

Architects and designers looking to get up to speed with inspired, eye-catching colour schemes for their projects will find help at hand with Crown Paints’ latest trends. Colour Influences 2017 is Crown Paints’ way of celebrating its love of colour - and the programme gives specification professionals useful insight into the shades which will shape environments in spring and summer this year. The Influences are produced by an expert panel, assembled by Crown, who join forces to pinpoint the latest colour trends. The team used its knowledge and passion for colour to produce three palettes, ‘Stillness,’ ‘Fusion’ and ‘Free Spirit.’

Think Forward uses whiteboard paint to redesign a classroom for digital creators. Writable walls improve creativity, engagement and communication, following the main trend in school architecture, which aims to design the most flexible, open and communicative spaces that create school communities. ESCREO dry erase paint gives everyone the freedom to rediscover the white wall and the childish feeling of creating without limits beyond the fixed literal and metaphorical frames of an A4 format. It is no coincidence that ESCREO is also in Think Forward’s office. You can read more about this project in the interview with our partners where they also share why they use ESCREO not only in educational projects but also in private residential and office spaces.