Keim Paint: Apply Again in 100 years

Keim Paint: Apply Again in 100 years

Keim is one of those sleeper products. It’s been around for over 125 years but is more widely known in Europe than elsewhere. It is a mineral silicate paint that develops a long lasting, chemical microcrystalline bond with raw mineral based surfaces, like brick, render and concrete. Not really applicable to timber, metal or plastic surfaces though. All the colours are derived from natural earth oxide colour pigments, which limits the choice more than standard paints types but there is still a goodly selection to ponder. A water based paint it is free of solvents. Being odourless, they do not emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which contribute to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), so buildings painted with it can be reoccupied on the same day as application. A town hall in Switzerland has not been repainted (aside from touch-ups) since it was done, over 113 years ago. Now, is that durability or what? More modern uses include this stunning trompe l'oeil (trick of the eye) mural in NY by Albany Mural. Unfortunately, because Keim ‘breathes’ (a good thing) it is not very graffiti-proof. In the UK daub ::here and the US brush ::here.