Paint peeling off external stone and brick work

Older buildings were made from a mixture of stone and brick with a lime mortar. The Radyr stone and the bricks used in these structures are breathable, i.e. they let water vapour pass through them. However, the conventional masonry paints that we now use to cover these surfaces when they are starting to look a bit tired (or just for aesthetics) are not breathable. This means that any moisture within the stone and brickwork is effectively sealed in. Hydraulic pressure is a very powerful force and so when water needs to escape from the stone or brick it will do so and this is done at the expense of your paintwork.

Remedy

Leave the stone or brickwork free from any paintwork. If you do wish to have a painted finish to help protect the structure, use a breathable masonry paint. earthBorn produce a silicate paint that is breathable and extremely hard wearing.