Atlas Salta Silicone Masonry Paint — Base White 10 l | Self-Cleaning Facade Paint

Product Overview

Atlas Salta Base White is a 10-litre silicone masonry paint engineered for exterior facade protection and decoration, delivering a self-cleaning, hydrophobic matt finish across rendered, plastered, and previously painted mineral surfaces. Part of the silicone masonry paints collection at Renders World, this ready-mixed paint covers between 40 and 80 m² per coat depending on substrate type, making a single 10-litre bucket sufficient for the typical front elevation of a UK semi-detached house. The silicone-dispersion binder combines the vapour permeability of a silicate paint with the elasticity and weather resistance of a polymer dispersion, so the coating breathes freely while keeping driven rain on the surface where it sheets off and carries dirt particles with it.

Atlas Salta is formulated with a VOC content of just 39.9 g/l — at the lower boundary of EU limits — and uses only natural fillers, making it one of the more environmentally considered facade paints available. The paint applies directly to fresh thin-coat mineral renders after just five days of curing without a separate primer coat, saving a full work stage on new-build and over-render projects. A palette of 400 colours within the Atlas SAH Colour Scheme provides extensive design flexibility, and specialist primers are available for highly absorbent or challenging substrates where additional preparation delivers the best long-term result.

Key Benefits

• Self-cleaning Pearl Effect technology: The microscopically smooth silicone surface minimises dirt adhesion, so rainwater lifts and flushes away dust, algae spores, and atmospheric pollutants naturally — keeping the facade looking freshly painted for years without manual washing.
• Built-in Bio Protection: Low water absorption combined with an acid-alkaline surface reaction creates conditions that discourage fungi and algae colonisation, a significant advantage on north-facing and sheltered elevations across the UK where biological growth is most persistent.
• No primer required on fresh renders: The first coat acts as its own primer on freshly cured mineral thin-coat renders (from five days), eliminating a full application stage and the associated material cost — particularly valuable on large-area new-build or renovation projects.
• Vapour-permeable breathing structure: With an Sd value below 0.14 m and a V2 water-vapour permeability rating, the paint allows moisture to escape freely from the masonry behind, protecting against interstitial condensation while still achieving a W3 low water-permeability classification on the exterior face.
• Elastic and crack-resistant film: The flexible silicone-polymer binder absorbs thermal movement between substrate layers, maintaining a continuous protective coating through the seasonal temperature swings that cause rigid paints to micro-crack and admit water.
• 400-colour SAH palette: Every shade in the Atlas SAH Colour Scheme for Renders and Paints is available, allowing precise colour matching to existing facades, planning requirements, or architectural specifications without custom mixing.
• Low-temperature application with Atlas Eskimo: Adding the Atlas Eskimo accelerator extends the working window down to 0 °C and humidity above 80%, keeping winter painting programmes on schedule when standard facade paints would need to wait for warmer conditions.

Technical Specifications

Property	Value
Binder type	Modified silicone-polymer dispersion (silicone resin + siloxanes)
Pack size	10 litres (approx. 15 kg)
Colour base	White (tintable to 400 SAH colours)
Density	Approx. 1.45 kg/dm³
VOC content	39.9 g/l (EU limit: 40 g/l)
Gloss level (EN 1062-1)	G3 — matt
Dry film thickness (EN 1062-1)	E3 — 100 to 200 µm
Grain size (EN 1062-1)	S1 — fine (< 100 µm)
Water vapour permeability (EN 1062-1)	V2 — medium (Sd < 0.14 m)
Water permeability (EN 1062-1)	W3 — low (< 0.1 kg/m²·h⁰·⁵)
Coverage — mineral renders (e.g. Cermit SN)	Approx. 0.25 l/m² (≈ 4.0 m²/l) per coat
Coverage — dispersion renders (e.g. SAH)	Approx. 0.20 l/m² (≈ 5.0 m²/l) per coat
Coverage — traditional plasters	Approx. 0.15 l/m² (≈ 7.0–8.0 m²/l) per coat
Application temperature	+5 °C to +30 °C (from 0 °C with Atlas Eskimo)
Recoat time	Approx. 6 hours at +20 °C / 50% RH
Drying time	2 to 6 hours at +20 °C / 50% RH
Application method	Roller, brush, or spray
Shelf life	12 months from production date (sealed, +5 °C to +30 °C)
Standard	EN 1062-1:2004
System approvals	ATLAS ETA 06/0081, ATLAS ROKER ETA 06/0173, ATLAS ETICS FPC-ITB-0562/Z

Application and Compatibility

Atlas Salta Base White works best as the finishing coat on mineral thin-coat renders, traditional cement-lime plasters, and previously painted masonry surfaces where the existing coating is sound and well bonded. The paint is delivered ready to use and requires only brief mechanical mixing before application with a roller, brush, or airless spray unit.

• Fresh thin-coat mineral renders: Apply directly without a primer from five days after render application, provided curing conditions have remained above +5 °C. The first coat, diluted with a maximum of 0.20 l water per 10 l of paint, acts as a combined primer and base layer.
• Dispersion and silicone renders: Apply undiluted for the finishing coat over cured acrylic, silicone, or silicate-silicone renders after a minimum seven-day cure period, achieving approximately 5.0 m² per litre per coat.
• Traditional cement-lime plasters: Allow two to four weeks of full curing before painting. Coverage on smoother traditional plasters reaches 7.0–8.0 m² per litre, so a single 10-litre bucket can cover up to 80 m² in one coat on this substrate.
• Highly absorbent or older substrates: Priming with Atlas Uni-Grunt or Atlas Ultragrunt consolidates chalky or porous surfaces before painting, ensuring consistent colour development and adhesion across the full elevation.
• ETICS and EWI system integration: Atlas Salta is approved within the Atlas, Atlas Roker, and Atlas ETICS thermal insulation systems, making it a specification-compliant finishing option for external wall insulation projects where system certification matters for Building Control sign-off.

Installation Notes

For the cleanest, most uniform finish, apply the paint in thin, even coats using a medium-pile roller or airless spray, working wet-on-wet across each elevation and planning technological breaks at natural building lines such as corners, downpipe runs, and colour transitions. The second coat follows after approximately six hours and runs perpendicular to the first, which ensures full coverage of any texture valleys in the substrate. A step worth getting right is protecting the freshly painted surface from direct sunlight, wind, and rain during application and for at least 24 hours afterwards — on scaffold-clad projects this means keeping protective sheeting in place until the final coat has fully cured. When painting old renders or plasters, allowing at least 48 hours of dry weather after the last rainfall before starting ensures the substrate moisture content is low enough for the silicone binder to key properly. For winter projects, adding Atlas Eskimo extends the safe application range down to 0 °C and above 80% relative humidity, keeping the programme on track through the colder months. Mixing all buckets intended for a single elevation together before starting guarantees colour homogeneity across the surface, avoiding the subtle batch-to-batch shade variation that can become visible on large, unbroken wall areas.

Trade Insight — Installer's Note

I always calculate coverage based on the rougher end of the substrate spectrum — 4.0 m² per litre on a 1.5 mm grain silicone render rather than the optimistic 5.0 m² the spec sheet suggests for smooth dispersion finishes. That way, a 10-litre bucket gives me a reliable 40 m² per coat and I order enough for two coats from the start. The self-priming claim holds up well on fresh renders that have had a proper five-day cure in decent conditions, but on older substrates I prime every time — the extra half-day is worth it for a consistent, streak-free finish. Colour-wise, I photograph the SAH code label on each bucket before opening so there is a permanent record for the client, and I mark the elevation plan with the batch number. For the full application process and roller technique, the step-by-step guide covers everything from dilution ratios to weather windows.

Is This Product Right for Your Project?

• Ideal for your project if: You are painting a rendered or plastered exterior facade and want a self-cleaning, vapour-permeable silicone finish in a white base that can be tinted to any of 400 SAH colours — particularly suited to new-build ETICS systems where primer-free application on fresh renders saves a full work stage.
• Need a grey base for deeper or darker colours? The Atlas Salta Base Grey 10 l in the same silicone masonry paint range provides better pigment depth and opacity when tinting to mid-tone and darker shades, reducing the number of coats needed to achieve full colour saturation on charcoal, slate, and deep earth tones.
• Considering an acrylic masonry paint instead? The silicone paint vs acrylic comparison guide sets out the performance differences across breathability, self-cleaning behaviour, and long-term durability, helping you decide which technology suits your project's exposure and maintenance expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many litres of Atlas Salta Base White do I need for a typical UK house facade?

Coverage depends on substrate type and texture depth. On a standard 1.5 mm grain silicone render, one litre covers approximately 4.0 m² per coat, so a 10-litre bucket covers around 40 m² in a single pass. Most facades require two coats for full opacity and uniform colour, meaning a 60 m² front elevation needs approximately 30 litres (three buckets) in total. Ordering one extra litre per 40 m² accounts for waste, cutting-in around windows, and any localised touch-ups — a more efficient approach than running short mid-elevation and having to stop for delivery.

Is Atlas Salta Base White an environmentally responsible choice for exterior painting?

The formulation uses only natural fillers and achieves a VOC content of 39.9 g/l, sitting at the lower edge of the EU regulatory limit and well below many conventional exterior masonry paints. The self-cleaning Pearl Effect surface means the facade stays cleaner for longer without the need for chemical wash treatments, and the Bio Protection technology discourages algae and fungal growth without relying on added biocides. Choosing a lighter white or off-white shade also reflects more solar radiation, reducing thermal gain on the building envelope — a measurable contribution to lowering cooling loads in summer and supporting the energy-performance targets set out in current UK Building Regulations.

What happens if rain falls shortly after applying Atlas Salta?

The paint forms a crust within approximately two hours under standard conditions (+20 °C, 50% RH), and reaches full water resistance after six hours. Protecting the freshly painted surface with scaffold sheeting during application and for at least 24 hours afterwards ensures the silicone binder cures without water disruption. On covered scaffold, most UK rain events pass without affecting the finish. For the best planning approach, checking a three-day weather forecast before starting each elevation and timing the first coat for early morning allows the full six-hour recoat window to pass in daylight, with the overnight hours providing additional undisturbed curing time.

Can I apply Atlas Salta in winter or cold weather?

Standard application requires a minimum substrate and air temperature of +5 °C. Adding Atlas Eskimo accelerator extends the working range down to 0 °C and relative humidity above 80%, which covers the majority of UK winter working days outside of frost events. The modified curing chemistry means paint applied in the morning at 3–5 °C reaches a handleable state by mid-afternoon, keeping multi-coat programmes moving without the week-long delays that conventional paints require in cold weather. For a detailed breakdown of seasonal application windows, the silicone masonry paint application guide maps temperature and humidity thresholds to practical UK site conditions month by month.