A blog written by Farrow & Ball

Estate Emulsion is the chalky, flat matt paint finish from Farrow & Ball that brings the brand’s signature look to walls and ceilings in all kinds of properties. But did you know that Estate Emulsion’s superior breathability means it’s also ideally suited to new-build projects?

In this post, find out more about this luxurious finish from Farrow & Ball Technical Sales Executive Wayne Armstrong, who recommends Estate Emulsion for use on new plaster or plasterboard.

“Estate Emulsion is carefully crafted to have this very flat, chalky finish, and the result is a 2% sheen that responds extraordinarily to light,” says Wayne. “It’s a sophisticated choice for interior walls and ceilings, and it’s also perfectly suited to being used on new-build plasterboard, plaster, and plaster-skimmed substrates.”

“If your plaster or plasterboard is new, non-powdery and in sound condition,” he goes on to say, “you can simply add a diluted coat of your chosen Farrow & Ball colour as a primer or mist coat.”

Using Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion on New Plaster or Plasterboard

For new plaster, British Standard 6150 recommends a typical drying time of seven days for every 5mm of thickness, with a shorter drying time for dry-lined walls.

For new work, a diluted first coat – also known as a mist coat – is essential, as this allows the paint to sink into the surface and bind to it. Wayne recommends a mist coat of Estate Emulsion (or of a compatible Farrow & Ball priming product such as Wall & Ceiling Primer & Undercoat) followed by two full, undiluted coats to finish.

Applying an undiluted coat of paint to these surfaces can cause issues with adhesion, as well as flaking and delaminating. This is because the paint sits on the surface and forms a skin, rather than soaking in and providing a bond for the following full coats.

Estate Emulsion Fact Sheet

Estate Emulsion is available in the full range of Farrow & Ball shades, including the core collection of 132 colours, an Archive of 114 colours, and the Colour by Nature collection, created in collaboration with the Natural History Museum. Like all Farrow & Ball finishes, it’s made with an eco-friendly water base, resulting in a child-safe finish with low levels of VOCs and hardly any odour.

Coverage
Up to 14 sq. metres per litre
Drying time
2 hours
Recoat time
2 hours

Estate Emulsion is tested to the following criteria:

Water Vapour Permeability according to DIN EN ISO 7783 2 (Sd [m]):

0.010 (Class I, limit <0.14) – this is the resistance of the paint film to water vapour expressed as the equivalent thickness of air in metres. The lower the Sd value, the more breathable the paint film.

Paint Breathability Class Rating (I–III):

Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion achieves the highest rating of breathability, Class I (High).

Safety of Toys Part 3: Migration of certain elements (EN 71 3:2013+A3:2018)