The Best Masonry Paints For Brick, Render & Other Exterior Surfaces

From weather resistance to aesthetic appeal, our recommended masonry paints are suitable for all exterior surfaces.
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Written & Tested By: Edward Bailey | Updated:
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Best Masonry Paint
Edward Bailey/DIY Works
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Masonry paint is best used to freshen up the exterior surfaces of your property as well as protect against weathering, dirt and pollution. Depending on your personal preferences, most brands offer a variety of colours that can completely transform your home (as shown in the above image) and many paints can also be used on a range of surfaces.

Due to the unpredictability of the British weather, you’ll want to keep track of the forecast for a nice day to begin painting. Once you’ve chosen a day, you’ll want to ensure it doesn’t rain so that you can apply multiple coats (if required) and the paint can dry.

To assist you in selecting a masonry paint, our handpicked selection lists top-performing paints, chosen based on our first-hand experience painting a range of masonry surfaces. Our testing and up-to-date research further ensure the quality of our recommendations.

Our Top Picks At A Glance:

Dulux Weathershield
Best Overall: Dulux Weathershield
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Leyland Granocryl Smooth Masonry
Best Value: Leyland Granocryl Smooth Masonry
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Sandtex Ultra Smooth Masonry Paint
Most Durable: Sandtex Ultra Smooth Masonry Paint
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HQC Smooth Masonry Paint
Best Colour Selection: HQC Smooth Masonry Paint
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Johnstone’s Weatherguard Smooth
Best All-Rounder: Johnstone’s Weatherguard Smooth
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Rustins Quick Dry Masonry Paint
Most Versatile: Rustins Quick Dry Masonry Paint
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How The DIY Works Team Tests & Rates The Masonry Paints

As we own a number of properties (rentals & Airbnb’s), we’ve used masonry paint on a number of occasions to improve the kerb appeal of certain properties.

Whether we are painting masonry paint on render, pebbledash, brick or any other outdoor surface, we have plenty of experience using a range of masonry paints.

An example of our experience and testing of masonry paint can be seen in a recent painting project as shown in the photos below.

best masonry paint for render

Edward Bailey/DIY Works
best exterior wall paint

Edward Bailey/DIY Works

To keep up our commitment to testing and reviewing the latest masonry paints (for this article), we’ve been painting a lot of outdoor exterior surfaces. For example, we recently used the Dulux Weathershield (as shown in the photo below) to transform a neglected pebbledash to a fresher white finish. As well as using the Dulux masonry paint, we also recently tested the Sandtex Ultra Smooth, which we applied with ease to render using a high-quality paint roller.

best exterior masonry paint

Edward Bailey/DIY Works
best outside wall paint

Edward Bailey/DIY Works

As well as our experience and testing of a range of masonry paints, we also based our recommendations on the latest research and a number of factors. Some of the factors that we took into consideration included the colour selection, durability, time it takes to dry, mould and algae resistance, finish, guarantee and value for the money.

The Best Masonry Paints

At DIY Works, our content is 100% independent and we would never recommend a product that we wouldn't use ourselves (read our editorial standards and how we test products).

1. Best Overall: Dulux Weathershield

(How We Review →)

Dulux is a highly reputable brand in the UK and their exterior masonry paint is a high-quality option to consider. This is because it provides total protection against all types of weather for up to 15 years (when applied correctly).

If you’ve had trouble with mould and algae in the past, this masonry paint is designed to protect against it. This is made possible by the inclusion of algicide and fungicide in the paint, which protects the finish against staining.

Pros
  • Smooth finish with 14 colours
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  • Formulated with a high performance acrylic resin
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  • Up to 15 years of protection that's UV resistant
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  • Flexible paint film
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  • Rainproof in 30 minutes
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  • Mould and algae resistant
Cons
  • Relatively expensive when compared to the alternatives

To conclude, Dulux’s masonry paint is an excellent all-round option that combines quality with value for the money. It’s a breathable paint that allows moisture to be released and is rainproof in just 30 minutes, which is ideal for the unpredictable British weather.

2. Best Value: Leyland Granocryl Smooth Masonry

(How We Review →)

The Leyland 303140 paint is a popular masonry option that’s available in 2.5 or 5 litre tins. In terms of its usage, the brand state that the paint is suitable for brickwork, concrete, roughcast, rendering, pebbledash and more. Leyland also states that regardless of the surface the masonry paint is used, it’ll provide up to 10 years of protection too.

In order to avoid several coats, this paint has been specifically designed to provide the ideal covering power. Therefore, this makes it perfect for painting exterior surfaces in those “awkward-to-reach” locations.

Pros
  • Choice of 13 different colours
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  • Smooth or textured finish
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  • Mould resistant formula
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  • 10 years of protection
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  • Durability in all weather conditions
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  • Available in 2.5 or 5 litre containers
Cons
  • Protection guarantee is only 10 years (as opposed to 15 years from the more expensive alternatives)

Overall, the Leyland masonry paint is an easy-to-use option that ticks all the boxes. This is because it provides plenty of coverage, a long-lasting finish and also great value for the money, which is always a great bonus.

3. Most Durable: Sandtex Ultra Smooth Masonry Paint

(How We Review →)

The Sandtex masonry paint is another highly-rated option that’s dirt resistant, breathable and weatherproof. This is made possible thanks to the brand’s “microseal” technology, which is rainproof in just 1 hour.

With regards to the surfaces that this masonry paint is suitable for, it can be used upon render, roughcast, pebbledash, concrete, bricks and previously painted surfaces.

Pros
  • Choice of 23 different colours
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  • Backed by a 15 year guarantee protection
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  • Multiple container sizes to choose from
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  • Rainproof in just 1 hour
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  • Dirt resistant, breathable and waterproof
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  • 3 to 4 hours drying time
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  • Resists peeling and flaking
Cons
  • During our testing, we found that it required two coats for the best finish

Overall, the Sandtex masonry paint is a great option to consider if you require a durable paint that’s backed by a long guarantee. During testing, we were very impressed with its finish and the paint itself is thick and of good quality.

4. Best Colour Selection: HQC Smooth Masonry Paint

(How We Review →)

The HQC exterior masonry paint is a premium option that’s formulated with an acrylic resin. The benefit of this type of resin is that it provides the best possible protection as well as great resistance to peeling, cracking and flaking.

According to the brand, it’s an environmentally friendly masonry paint that’s suitable for painting concrete, plaster, pebble-dash, brick and stone walls.

Pros
  • Acrylic resin based
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  • 27 different colour options
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  • Total protection against all weather conditions
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  • Long lasting and repels water
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  • High scrub resistance
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  • Touch to dry in 2 hours
Cons
  • Most expensive paint per litre within our roundup

Although this masonry paint is fairly expensive per litre, it’s a worthwhile investment that you won’t regret. It provides excellent coverage that’s easy to apply and it’ll leave behind a high-quality smooth finish.

5. Best All-Rounder: Johnstone’s Weatherguard Smooth

(How We Review →)

Johnstone’s is a well-known brand in the UK and they produce a variety of paints for all surfaces. Their exterior masonry paint is a high-quality option that’s available in 9 different colours to best suit your requirements.

According to the brand, their masonry paint provides up to 10 years of protection for exterior surfaces such as brickwork, stone, concrete, pebbledash, roughcast rendering and other similar surfaces.

Pros
  • 10 years of protection
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  • Desirable smooth finish
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  • Choice of 9 colours
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  • Large 5 litre container
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  • Weather resistant to prevent dirt accumulation
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  • Flexible finish that prevents flaking
Cons
  • Relatively expensive when compared to the alternatives

Overall, Johnstone’s Weatherguard masonry paint is an excellent all-round option that’s suitable for most exterior surfaces. It’s easy to apply and due to the unique formulation, a little bit goes a long way.

6. Most Versatile: Rustins Quick Dry Masonry Paint

(How We Review →)

The Rustins masonry paint is a fast-drying option that’s suitable for both interior and exterior use.

In terms of painting surfaces, it’s touch dry within 30 minutes and a second coat can be applied within just 4 hours, which is perfect for those that want to complete a job quickly.

Pros
  • Choice of four colours
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  • Suitable for interior and exterior surfaces
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  • Easy brush application
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  • 14m2 coverage per litre
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  • Low odour output during application
Cons
  • Only available in small 250 or 500 ml tins

Overall, it’s a fast drying and highly rated masonry paint that offers great value for the money. Although it’s only available in small tins, it does have the benefit of being cheaper to use when tackling touch up repairs.

Conclusion

In order to avoid cracking or peeling of paint on exterior surfaces, you’ll want to use a dedicated masonry paint. Unlike other paints, they are designed to protect the surface against all weather conditions as well as pollution and dirt. Most brands will offer both smooth or textured finishes and a variety of colours to best suit your requirements.

If you require further information regarding any of our masonry paint recommendations, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.

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