Sandtex for interior

[aylsham]

Hi, we live in a stone (granite) farmhouse and I have the kitchen painted white (with F & B Bone units/cupboards and antique pine dresser, butcher's block). So quite happy to stay with white white rather than a shaded white (never in other rooms). Some of the paint on one wall has flaked - where many moons ago it would have ben an exterior wall. We think the ordinary white matt emulsion wasn't getting a key on this wall (kitchen painted 3 years ago). OH has just tried some Sandtex exterior (not the one with bits in) as an experiment and it looks good. I'm thinking it would be much more dog-proof/easier to keep clean than an ordinary emulsion so thinking of doing all the kitchen walls in it. Is there a reason why it can't be used inside the house as it's stone, just like the outside masonry Sandtex was intended for. Any views/knowledge welcome. Thanks

[PigletJohn]

if it was painted 40 years ago or more, it might have distemper on the plaster. This does not accept paint well and causes flaking. (it is made of ground chalk mixed with a glue from boiled-up horses hooves). As it sounds like you have an old house that is a possible cause. It tends to be greyish-white and have old drips and runs in it. It washes off in hot water but not in cold.

I've used masonry paint in the garage as it is hard-wearing and withstands being washed down with water.

[PigletJohn]

p.s. if the wall was formerly painted in silk emusion, matt will not stick to it reliably unless rubbed flat, that is another possible cause. Yet another is that kitchens tend to have a film of greasy dirt on all surfaces from the fried bacon and roast beef smoke.

[aylsham]

No PJ, there was no distemper nor Silk finish. But your response is helpful. Are you saying there's no reason why you can't put it on interior walls - is it just because it's expensive that people don't generally do it? thanks

[PigletJohn]

I don't know any reason not to use it, except it works out expensive and goes on thick. As you say, it is easy to wash clean. There are not many colours, but the available colour range changs every few years (except white).

It is helpful, (on bare brick, concrete or plaster) to thin the first one or two coats so that they sink into the surface. This is called a Mist Coat and kills the suction of an absorbent surface. You will know you have done it when the wall no longer sucks the moisture from your brush. This mist coating causes the finish paint to adhere well to the wall.

[aylsham]

Thanks PJ. That's very helpful - all passed on to the my painter/decorator (otherwise known as OH or Director of Infrastructure!!!!!!).