Types of Paint

Type	Finish	Ingredients	Uses	Features
soft distemper	very matt	ground chalk is dissolved in size and pigment added	damp or dry plaster	not washable water permeable also called 'size colour' or 'builders finish' dries quickly, washed off before redecoration very useful for fresh plaster
oil-bound distemper	very matt	pigment is dissolved in size with linseed oil added	damp or dry plaster	not washable water permeable can be wiped lightly
limewash	very matt	burnt limestone, slaked in water	damp plaster; dry plaster should be moistened before application	water permeable takes a long time to dry
oil eggshell	slight sheen	white lead mixed with linseed oil, turpentine and thinners	internal woodwork	impermeable washable tends to yellow because of linseed oil content
flat oil	very flat	oil paint	internal woodwork dry plaster	impermeable
emulsion - permeable	matt	modern emulsion	plaster	permeable
emulsion	vinyl matt or matt	modern emulsion	plaster	impermeable
acrylic	very flat		internal woodwork	apply only to bare wood; remove any oil-based finishes

Water paint was used extensively during the early part of the 20th century. It was outmoded by modern emulsion paint in the 1940s and 1950s, although it was itself a true emulsion, being a mixture of oil and water. The most popular brand was 'Walpamur', known to the old decorators as 'Wallop'.

You should not use impermeable paints for damp plaster or plaster on walls with no damp course or where it is not effective; you will seal the damp into the wall. Above all, avoid textured wall coatings; if you suffer from damp problems, these paints are prohibitively expensive to remove. Typically they have a bonding coat and a paint layer. Whilst chemicals can remove both layers, in some cases the bonding layer can only be removed by chipping it off, resurfacing the bricks and repointing.

Linseed oil-based paints are traditional and long-lasting but are difficult to apply. Make sure you mix the paint regularly. Be prepared for the paint to take a long time to dry.