External protective paint.

[tumbledown]

The bottom brick plinth of my gable end wall is coated with a black bitimen style paint (what ever it is, it doesn't seem breathable). I'd like to get it off, but as the wall is very close to the public highway, I'd like to protect it with something, and black is a very good colour as if its something light I'd be forever cleaning it! Does anyone know of a breathable alternative I could use?

 

[Gervase]

Bitumen was often used to protect the bottom of walls facing onto roads - splashes can wash out the pointing if you don't protect it with something. Bitumen when heated and mixed with sand is slightly breathable (according to Holmes & Wingate's Building with Lime) as is Stockholm Tar and sand. Why not use that instead of a paint - it's certainly the most authentic option?

 

[tumbledown]

Thanks for the suggestion. Why do you mix sand into it, and how much would you put in?

 

[tumbledown]

Someone suggested this stuff :

naturalbuildingproductscouk.ntitemp.com/pdfs/beeckosil.pdf

sounds like it would do the job, and it says its breathable. Anyone ever come across it?

 

[biffvernon]

That's a silicate paint. Excellent in its right place but I don't think it's what you need. I'd stick with the black sticky stuff and follow Gervase's advice for a plinth. The reduced breathability on the bottom of the wall is not going to be significant.