Elastomeric Paint – flexible paint for porous surfaces

Posted on January 23, 2022

What is elastomeric paint?

Elastomeric paint is a coating that forms a barrier against moisture and is flexible.

It’s used to protect masonry surfaces, and while it’s applied just like regular liquid paint, it dries to a flexible and watertight coating.

This is a paint that can stretch and return to its original form – it’s the yoga pants of paint!

Why use elastomeric paint?

Watertight:

Close up of Beige Stucco condominium in the Boston area
If a stucco building inevitably shifts in the harsh Boston climate, the elastomeric paint will flex and not easily crack like ordinary paint.

Elastomeric paint is watertight, creates a barrier that moisture cannot penetrate, and works exceptionally well on porous surfaces like masonry bricks, poured concrete, and stucco.

Durability:

Elastomeric paint lasts a long time – longer than ordinary paints.  It’s perfect for the extreme temperature shifts in the Boston area and because it’s also flexible, cracks in the paint will not occur nearly as often as with ordinary paint.

Flexible:

Elastomeric paint is stretchy, making it flex when the structure inevitably shifts. This helps prevent it from cracking like ordinary paint does, especially during extreme temperatures.

Great coverage:

Elastomeric paint is about 7x thicker than ordinary paint so coverage is fantastic.

Concrete block building being built in the Boston area
Elastomeric paint works well on concrete block because it’s watertight and flexible.

Porous surfaces need protection:

Concrete block, stucco, and brick are all porous and need protection from an elastomeric paint coating.

Our harsh Boston Climate:

Ordinary paint will crack during the temperature extremes of the Boston area.  Elastomeric paint is flexible so it’s much less likely to crack and become damaged by the driving rain, snow and ice our coastal area experiences.

Drawbacks to Using Elastomeric Paint:

Cost: 

Elastomeric paint is about 50% more expensive than regular paint. But because it’s so much more durable, you will save in the long run by using it.

Weight:

If you already have several coats of paint on your stucco or masonry, since elastomeric paint is heavy, it could cause the undercoats of paint to start peeling off with the elastomeric paint layer as well.

Not easy to apply:

It’s not as easy to apply elastomeric paint as it is to apply regular paint. A DIYer can handle this project, but only by following the manufacturer’s instructions carefully – otherwise, you could end up with a “lumpy” paint job.

Questions about using elastomeric paint?  We can help!

If you have any questions about elastomeric paint, just email [email protected] – we’re happy to answer your questions even if you’re doing the painting yourself.

If you need a quote from our Commercial Team who applies elastomeric paint across New England, call us at (781) 422-1018 or email Dave at [email protected] to set up a time to talk.

 

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Written by: Paige NeJame – Franchise Owner

Meredith “Paige” NeJame is a 1988 graduate of Boston College and is still surprised by how much she enjoys running a painting business. “It’s always fun to surprise customers with great service. They don’t expect it from a contractor”

License Info: Massachusetts 146872