Although it has merit, Polar’s contribution to our shortlist is the weakest link. It’s the most expensive per square metre, there are question marks about its durability, and it only comes in two colours. We’ve compared 5 litre plastic tubs against 0.5 litre metal tins, with the former providing far greater value for money.

While Crown markets its Sandtex range specifically for outdoor use, Polar promotes its masonry emulsion paint as equally suitable for internal walls and ceilings. That’s a massive advantage if you’re looking for consistency on either side of an external door, for instance. Remember, even the best exterior masonry paint suffers from improper application. Our guide to the best paint brushes in the UK helps you choose the right products for edging, detailing, corners and small surfaces. However, smaller containers can be advantageous in one respect — they create less waste. We explained in a recent guide how emulsion paint could go off in six months, and disposing of leftover paint is a real challenge. Councils won’t collect it; recycling centres won’t touch it; you can’t add it to your non-recyclable waste bin or even a skip. Any surplus will have to be thoroughly dried out or mixed with sand before it can be disposed of safely. So more oversized tubs with more leftovers make this job harder. Choosing between the Crown and Rustins offerings is harder. The latter is touch-dry within half an hour, which is highly impressive, especially for outside work in autumn or winter. However, it comes at the cost of acrylic composition, which may put off people who suffer from related allergies. Its dirt resistant properties also help to maintain the coating’s aesthetic features, and with the benefit of being rainproof in just 1 hour you can complete the job even if the weather forecast is not reliable.

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Crown claims this range’s flexible microseal coating makes it waterproof yet breathable while resisting flaking and dirt more strongly than comparable products.

You should invest in a paint roller for larger surfaces since blank gables and smooth render rarely benefit from the delicacy a hand-held brush imparts to a painted surface.Also, be aware of allergies before splashing out on certain products. Some masonry paints contain acrylates, which can trigger severe allergies. This blog post has plenty of information on why acrylates are harmful and how to avoid them. Sandtex® Microseal® masonry paint is microporous and provides sealing attributes that protect the coating against water ingress. This means that the coating allows the surface to breathe and moisture to evaporate whilst at the same time protecting the coated surface from water penetration. Pro Tip: This water-based one-coat masonry paint may benefit from a sealant if used on concrete. Pros Unless you have strong brand loyalty to the other manufacturers on this shortlist, it’s impossible to overlook the value provided by Crown’s Sandtex range of masonry paint.