Dispersion / silicate paint equivalent?

Hello everyone,

I have purchased a new condominium under construction from the developer. Silicate paint was agreed upon for the interior paint in the construction description. The developer now wants to use a dispersion paint (Brillux Dolomit ELF 900) instead of silicate paint, which according to the developer is equivalent.

- Is silicate paint so much better that I should insist on it?
- How much cheaper would the dispersion paint have to be (/sqm)?

Best regards
Schniggl

There can basically be no question of equivalence because they are completely different types of paint. They may be of equally high quality for their respective purposes, but they are not comparable in their basic construction. Incidentally, you do not necessarily need a silicate paint for the interior. It is preferred – on a suitable substrate – as a very high-quality, durable, and vapor-permeable facade paint. However, it may be that a dispersion-silicate paint or a sol-silicate paint for interior use has been offered to you. That would make sense and would be – also on a suitable, predominantly mineral substrate – a very high-quality, building-biological coating. The dispersion paint is likely to be about one-third cheaper in material cost than the silicate paint.

Thank you for the answers already!

The plaster is a lime-gypsum plaster, trowelled. (In bathrooms lime-cement plaster) What is recommended for this?

We have had Sol-Silicate coatings applied over lime-cement everywhere. Whether you can really notice the breathability, I do not know.

The offered ELF 900 seems to be just as vapor-permeable as a silicate dispersion. However, due to its alkaline property, I would still choose the silicate dispersion. But be aware that you might have more difficulty with (darker) shades!