For one Restorate customer, years of decorating listed properties taught her that the right paint can be about more than colour and finish. Her experience led her to understand just how important breathability can be when choosing paint for traditionally constructed walls - and why the term ‘breathable’ needs to be backed up by actual performance.
“I've chosen Farrow & Ball for years for its reputation - but I lost faith," she says. "It was thin to put on, so it often required three coats. Then, despite the estate emulsion being described as breathable, it really wasn’t and any slight change in humidity behind the paint caused it to bubble and flake off with horrible regularity.”
So what was causing these problems? Why is it important for paint to be 'breathable'? And what should homeowners and decorators look for in a suitable product?
As our customer says: “Owning a 16th century property really taught me to understand the properties of solid wall construction and how important breathability of the plaster and indeed the paint is.” Many traditional buildings were constructed with solid masonry walls, lime mortar, and lime plaster - which behave differently from the modern cavity-wall construction found in newer homes.
In these buildings, moisture vapour needs to be able to move through the building fabric. If a coating restricts that movement, moisture can become trapped behind the paint, resulting in blistering, peeling - and even deterioration of the plaster. This is why breathable paint matters. It's not simply a preference for traditional decorating, it's vital to ensure it stays looking as intended.
What exactly is breathable paint?
Breathable paint is specially formulated to create a coating that's permeable to vapour, allowing moisture to move through the paint rather than becoming trapped beneath it. On traditionally constructed walls, this helps the paint work with the building’s natural moisture movement instead of restricting it.
Traditional limewash paint is highly vapour-permeable thanks to its mineral composition, while some modern paints are specifically designed to offer breathability alongside a more durable decorative finish. However, as our customer discovered, not all breathable paint is created equal and it's important to ensure the product is suitable for the property.
Furniture, doors, skirting boards, and other joinery don't usually require breathable paint. The priorities here are different: a finish that complements the period character, delivers the right colour and depth, and offers enough durability to withstand everyday wear.
Limewash vs modern breathable paint
Limewash paint is the traditional fall-back for many historic decorating projects. Made from lime and water, it offers an authentic period appearance and excellent vapour permeability, making it suitable for many older buildings.
However, that traditional finish comes with practical compromises. Limewash can be chalky and fragile, particularly if it’s applied incorrectly or to an unsuitable surface. It can brush off, scuff easily, and leave marks on clothing or hands. It also cannot be washed or wiped clean, making it difficult to live with in a busy home. Application can be tricky, too. Many decorators insist that walls be sanded before applying limewash, while its formulation often requires careful cross-hatching to avoid noticeable streaks.
Modern breathable paints aim to provide the vapour permeability required for suitable traditional surfaces, while offering a more durable and practical finish than traditional limewash paint.
What to look for in modern breathable paint
The trick is finding one that works for the building, but also looks right in the setting. As our customer puts it: “It’s so important that no matter what colour I choose, it feels period. By which I mean the complexity of the pigment, the depth of colour, the chalkiness of the paint - the period feel.”
One example that hits this mark (and we’re proud to stock) is Mylands Marble Matt Emulsion. It’s genuinely breathable, so it can be used on appropriate traditionally constructed walls, but it also gives you the sort of finish you want in a period interior. The pigmentation provides depth and complexity to the colour, with a soft matt finish that feels at home in an older property.
It has all the attractiveness of limewash, without the fragility - with Class 1 scuff resistance that is also washable and wipeable, so the homeowner won’t have to worry about every mark on the wall. It’s also a dream to apply, with unrivalled coverage. We’ve spoken to decorators who used it for its breathable properties on a period property and now won’t use anything else, even in modern homes. It’s a paint that genuinely doesn’t compromise practicality for appearance.
Understanding your options
When a traditional breathable finish is required, you don’t need to automatically reach for limewash paint. While it remains a period-correct option for suitable historic applications, a modern breathable paint can offer a more manageable combination of breathability, appearance, and practicality.
The important thing is to choose a paint that is genuinely breathable – don’t just assume that a premium price or well-known brand guarantees it – and that can withstand the demands of modern living.
Whilst limewash has its place, we’d recommend Mylands Marble Matt Emulsion for interior walls in both period and modern properties. It combines genuine breathability with a classic heritage look, but is much easier to apply, maintain, and live with than traditional limewash. Its hardwearing, washable finish makes it a practical choice for the demands of a modern home without losing the depth and character expected from a heritage paint.
