FAQS

We make things simple so you can concentrate on the important stuff. That is why we offer free delivery on all UK mainland orders. For non-UK mainland orders such as Northern Ireland and UK Islands, please get in touch with us for more information.

Colour cards are sent via Royal Mail on a 2nd class service, meaning you should receive your colour cards within 1-3 days.

All other items are sent via DPD on a next working day delivery service. We generally aim to dispatch all orders placed before 12pm on the same day, meaning the vast majority of orders placed before this time will arrive next working day between 9am and 6pm.

Deliveries are made within our courier’s standard operating hours which are Monday to Friday. No deliveries are made on weekends or Bank Holidays.

For more information regarding delivery, please read our delivery information.

We do offer a delivery service to Northern Ireland & UK islands (including Jersey, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Guernsey etc) upon request. These orders have a variable delivery fee depending on the size of the order and the postcode. Please email info@emperorpaint.co.uk for more information regarding delivery outside of the UK mainland and for instructions on how to place your order.

While Emperor Masonry Paint & Emperor Masonry Creme contain the same super hydrophobic nano-technology, both products offer a different finish.

Emperor Masonry Paint is a coloured masonry paint that can be applied to bare and previously painted exterior walls.

Emperor Masonry Creme on the other hand is a clear system for bare natural brickwork & masonry surfaces, such as brick, stone and concrete.

If you want a coloured finish, Emperor Masonry Paint is best suited for you. If you want to maintain the look of your natural masonry, apply Emperor Masonry Creme to provide invisible protection.

If you’d like to return unopened paint within 28 days of purchase for a full refund, then not a problem.

It is the customers responsibility to arrange the return of goods to us. Once we receive the items, we will issue a full refund within a 7-day period. Please note we cannot refund items that have damaged while in transit due to improper packaging.

Returns should be sent to; Unit 32, Peel Mills Industrial Estate, Bury, BL90LU.

To organise your return, please get in touch with us by calling 0161 509 9009 or by emailing info@emperorpaint.co.uk. Alternatively, read our full returns policy.

Yes! We know how important it is to see what you are buying for yourself before ordering, so we’ve created a number of options for you to choose from.

We offer samples pots of both Emperor Masonry Paint and Emperor Masonry Creme. These are great for doing brush outs and for seeing our premium formulation in person. In the case of Emperor Masonry Creme, sample pots are also ideal for testing the compatibility of the product with the surface you are applying it to, with a small, discrete test area.

If you don’t want to get your brush out, we’ve got you covered. We offer hand-painted colour cards featuring all of the colours in the Emperor Masonry Paint colour range. These are great for not only getting a perfect representation of each colour but also for seeing our Emperor super hydrophobic technology in the flesh. Simply put a few drops of water onto the colour card and see it form beads that simply fall off.

Standard masonry paints are acrylic based, which means they aren’t fully waterproof and have low breathability. Even mineral paints such as limewash while highly breathable have very low weather resistance, causing them to need reapplying on an annual basis.

When we developed Emperor Masonry Paint, we wanted to be able to offer both complete weather protection and high breathability. That’s why we created our innovation formulation which reduces water absorption by 96% while remaining highly breathable. We like to think of it as masonry paint without the compromise.

Applying Emperor Masonry Paint is easy and can be done by anyone. Emperor Masonry Paint can be applied using a brush, roller or airless spray machine. A full guide on how to prepare the surface before painting and how to apply the paint can be found on our guide to applying Emperor Masonry Paint.

Emperor Masonry Paint can be applied to any exterior walled surface, including brick, stone, cement or all types of render. This includes both lime render and silicone render, which cannot be painted using a standard masonry paint.

We know that saying it is one thing, backing it up with evidence is another. That is why we took our products to a UKAS accredited laboratory for independent testing. This testing involved measuring the water resistance, breathability, heat retention and durability of our Emperor Paint products. The results found that our products passed every test that was conducted.

This means Emperor Masonry Paint comes with the following Quality Standards;

- EAD 090062-00-0404 - 25 year hygrothermal performance

- EAD 040083-00-0404 - external thermal insulation composite system

- BS EN ISO 7783:2011 - high breathability

- BS EN ISO 12572 - water vapour resistance

Emperor Masonry Paint has a coverage of 5-6m2 per litre on smooth and semi-smooth surfaces. This coverage can be lowered to 3m2 per litre on heavily textured surfaces such as pebbledash.

We’re extremely proud of our paint, but as with any paint it can only do its job if the conditions when it is applied are suitable.

Firstly, the temperature must be above 5°C upon application and for the duration of the drying time. If the temperature is below 5°C when applying or drops below this before fully dry, it will not be able to cure to the surface.

Secondly, the surface must be dry. Ensure the surface is dry to the touch and that there is no visible moisture within the surface. If the surface isn’t dry, the paint will not be able to dry and cure to the wall. Relative humidity should not exceed 65%.

A. Emperor Masonry Paint will be touch dry in 1-2 hours, however you must allow approximately 8 hours at 20°C between coats. The drying time will be extended if temperatures are below 20°C. For full details, visit the Emperor Masonry Paint product datasheet.

Like most masonry paints, Emperor Masonry Paint leaves a matt finish. It is also a smooth masonry paint, so will not change the texture of the surface in any way.

Yes, absolutely. It can be applied to all previously painted walls except those painted with an elastomeric coating. Don’t worry, in 99% of cases this isn’t the case and you can overcoat previous paint with Emperor Masonry Paint no problem.

A question we are often asked is what happens if this previous paint isn’t breathable? Due to the fact that Emperor Masonry Paint repels water and prevents water ingress, the reduced level of saturation within the wall places less pressure on breathability. While the previous paint may have lower breathability, any water vapour will eventually breathe out, this will simply be at a slower rate than if only Emperor Masonry Paint was on the surface.

In short, it depends. Primers are only designed to be applied to bare, unpainted walls before painting, to help adhesion and to prevent the first-coat of paint soaking into the porous masonry. We designed our Emperor Masonry Primer with the same super hydrophobic and highly breathable formulation as our paint, making it perfect for preparing bare surfaces before painting. You do not need to apply primer if the surface you are painting has been painted before or if it is a pre-coloured silicone render.

Emperor Masonry Paint has been independently tested to withstand harsh weather conditions for 25 years without showing any deterioration in performance or appearance. Due to this, we are so confident it will far exceed this 25 year performance that we offer a lifetime guarantee. This guarantee ensures the paint will never peel or flake when applied correctly. If you experience any issues with flaking or peeling, we will provide a replacement of the goods to remedy the area where the product has failed. Read our guide to the lifetime guarantee.

We understand that not everyone wants a painted finish on their exterior walls. Natural masonry surfaces are beautiful, but they are prone to weathering when left exposed to the elements.

That is why we developed Emperor Masonry Creme which offers invisible protection to bare, unpainted masonry surfaces such as brick, stone, concrete and sandstone. It achieves this by absorbing into the masonry much like a moisturiser, providing the masonry with super hydrophobic properties while remaining highly breathable. This keeps the masonry warm, dry and protected from damage, helping to keep it looking and performing at its best for decades to come.

While they both are designed to waterproof bare masonry surfaces, a masonry cream and a sealer and very different. Emperor Masonry Creme is a masonry cream which absorbs into the masonry and lines the pores rather than sealing these pores. This means it does not impact the breathability of the surface.

A sealer on the other hand creates a film on the surface of the pores, meaning the breathability of the masonry is significantly impacted. This results in problems such as damage and damage, eventually leading to the sealer failing after a matter of years, or in some cases months.

You don’t apply Emperor Masonry Creme in exactly the same way as a paint. It can be applied via brush, roller or airless spray application. It is applied by laying the product onto the masonry at a coverage of 3-5m2 per litre. Don’t try and brush it into the masonry like a paint, simply lay it on the surface and leave it to absorb in. After a couple of hours it will have absorbed completely into the wall, leaving invisible weather protection. Read our full guide to applying Emperor Masonry Creme.

Emperor Masonry Creme is suitable for any bare, mineral surface, including brick, stone, concrete and sandstone. It is not suitable for previously painted surfaces or those treated with other products such as a sealer.

It is important to ensure the right conditions are present before you apply Emperor Masonry Creme in order for it to do its job.

Firstly, the temperature must be above 5°C upon application and for the during of the drying time. If the temperature is below 5°C when applying or drops below this before fully dry, it will not be able to fully cure to the surface. Relative humidity should also not exceed 80%.

Secondly, the masonry must be dry. Ensure the surface is dry to the touch and that there is no visible moisture within the surface. If the surface isn’t dry, it will not be able to soak in and cure within the wall.

Emperor Masonry Creme takes 1-2 hours at 20°C to fully dry, however the temperature and porosity of the surface can cause this to vary slightly. You will know when it is fully dry as it will turn from white to completely invisible.

We are extremely proud that Emperor Masonry Creme has been independently tested by a UKAS accredited laboratory. This testing involved measuring the water resistance, breathability, heat retention and durability. The results found that our products passed every test that was conducted.

This means Emperor Masonry Creme comes with the following Quality Standards;

- EAD 090062-00-0404 - 25 year hygrothermal performance

- EAD 040083-00-0404 - external thermal insulation composite system

- BS EN ISO 7783:2011 - high breathability

- BS EN ISO 12572 - water vapour resistance

Emperor Masonry Creme has a coverage of 3-5m2, which varies depending on the porosity of the masonry you are applying it to.

Emperor Masonry Creme is a one-coat system, so it couldn’t be simpler to apply.

Due to the fact it absorbs into masonry instead of creating a film, Emperor Masonry Creme does not alter the appearance of masonry in any way. That is why it is perfect for maintaining the natural beauty of bare masonry surfaces while providing full weather protection.

No, unfortunately Emperor Masonry Creme is not suitable for previously painted walls. The paint will prevent it from soaking through into the masonry when it is applied, meaning it should only be applied to untreated, bare masonry. If you are looking to fully protect painted masonry, use Emperor Masonry Paint which contains the same super hydrophobic technology but in a coloured paint.

A. Emperor Masonry Creme has been independently tested to withstand harsh weather conditions for 25 years without showing any deterioration in performance or appearance. Due to this, we are so confident it will far exceed this 25 year performance that we offer a lifetime guarantee on Emperor Masonry Creme, ensuring its performance in any weather conditions for years to come. This guarantee ensures that it will never fail and will continue to prevent water from absorbing into the masonry. If you do experience problems relating to water absorption, we will provide a replacement product for you to rectify to issue.

Emperor Wood Waterproofer is a unique product as it creates a super hydrophobic surface on exterior wood, helping to prevent water absorption, rotting and extending the lifespan of the timber.

Other wood treatments are generally designed with aesthetic purposes in mind, to enhance the beauty of exterior wood. These treatments generally aren’t fully waterproof, meaning moisture can get into the wood, causing it to rot and leading to damage over-time. Emperor Wood Waterproofer is solely designed to protect the wood from weathering and ensure it looks and performs at its best for years to come.

Emperor Wood Waterproofer can be applied via brush, roller or pump spray application. Simply apply one-coat to the wood at a coverage of 5m2 per litre and allow to fully absorb into the wood. For a complete step-by-step walkthrough of the application process, read our full guide to applying Emperor Wood Waterproofer.

Emperor Wood Waterproofer can be applied to any bare exterior wood. This includes wooden beams, log cabins, benches, decking, cladding and fencing. The treatment cannot be applied to previously painted or treated wood as it is designed for bare wooden surfaces.

Just like our masonry products, we took Emperor Wood Waterproofer to a UKAS accredited laboratory to be independently tested in a 25 year accelerating weathering process. This subjected the waterproofer to harsh weather conditions to see how long it would perform before failing.

The results found that after the 25 years of weathering were completed, Emperor Wood Waterproofer showed no signs of deterioration in performance or appearance in any way. This is why we offer a Emperor Wood Waterproofer is a unique product as it creates a super hydrophobic surface on exterior wood, helping to prevent water absorption, rotting and 10 year guarantee on Emperor Wood Waterproofer, ensuring its performance in any weather conditions for years to come.

Emperor Wood Waterproofer has a coverage of 5m2 per litre, with can vary slightly depending on the porosity of the surface.

Emperor Wood Waterproofer is a one-coat application system, so it couldn’t be easier to apply.

Emperor Wood Waterproofer leaves a completely invisible finish that doesn’t alter timber in any way. This means no change in colour and no sheen, leaving the wood completely natural.

The 10 year guarantee ensures Emperor Wood Waterproofer will not fail within a 10 year period minimum. If you experience any issues with flaking, peeling or significant water absorption when applied correctly, we will provide a replacement to rectify the affected area.