Choosing wall paint comes down to three questions: where the wall is, how hard it gets used and how long you want the finish to last. A 20 L tin of PVA, a washable low-sheen acrylic and a premium exterior coat look alike on the shelf but behave very differently on the wall. This page sets out the types of wall paint, the grades and sheens, and how to work out how much you need. Send one free request and paint shops and suppliers near you will quote you directly, with no obligation to buy.
Types of wall paint: PVA and acrylic
Most wall paint sold in South Africa is water-based. The families you will see on the shelf are:
- PVA: a matt, budget paint for ceilings, spare rooms and walls that are rarely touched. It is easy to apply and touch up, but marks do not wash off well and it is not made for outside.
- Acrylic: a tougher binder that resists washing, damp air and sun. Interior acrylics come in matt, low sheen and sheen; exterior acrylics add UV and mould resistance.
- Specialist coats: elastomeric, textured and waterproofing coatings for cracked plaster, rough walls and parapets.
For doors, trims and steel, painters use enamel rather than wall paint.
Contractor grade or premium?
Grades differ mainly in volume solids: the share of the tin that stays on the wall once the water evaporates. A contractor grade PVA is thin and cheap. It is fine for a ceiling or a quick rental refresh, but it may need an extra coat to hide a colour change. A premium acrylic carries more binder and pigment, so it hides better, spreads further and survives scrubbing. Compare the spread rate and the washability claim on the data sheet, not only the price on the tin. Our paint prices page shows how to compare cost per square metre.
Sheens and where to use them
- Matt or flat: hides bumps in old plaster; best for ceilings, lounges and bedrooms.
- Low sheen: a soft glow that wipes clean; the usual choice for passages, children's rooms and family rooms.
- Sheen: scrubbable, for kitchens, bathrooms and laundries where steam and grease build up.
- Gloss: for doors, trims and burglar bars, not whole walls, because it shows every flaw.
Glossier finishes show patching and roller marks, so the wall must be well prepared. See interior paint for room by room advice and exterior paint for outside walls.
How much wall paint do you need?
Measure each wall's length times its height, add them up and take off big doors and windows. A 4 m by 4 m bedroom with a 2.7 m ceiling has about 39 m² of wall once the door and window are out. Data sheets give about 8 to 12 m² per litre per coat for interior wall paint, and two coats is normal, so that room needs roughly 7 to 10 litres. Rough or porous plaster drinks more. Bare plaster also needs a primer first, which is a separate tin. The quote form does this sum for you from the m² and the coats.
What to include in your request
- Area in m² and number of coats
- Inside or outside, and which rooms
- Finish: matt, low sheen or sheen
- Colour, or white straight from the tin
- Tin sizes wanted and delivery address
Wall Paint for different clients
- Homeowners: a fresh coat for the lounge, bedrooms and passages, often in washable low sheen
- Landlords and sellers: a durable neutral white or grey that touches up easily between tenants
- Body corporates and estates: matching colours across units and common areas, bought in bulk 20 L tins
- Shops, offices and restaurants: scrubbable walls in shops, offices and restaurants that take daily knocks and wiping
- Factories, farms and mines: bright, washable walls in workshops, canteens, offices and ablution blocks on site
- Builders and developers: primer and two coats on new plaster, ordered per house or per phase
- Schools, churches and public buildings: hard-wearing washable paint for classrooms, passages, halls and clinic walls
- Painters and contractors: contractor and premium grades in 20 L tins, tinted and ready for collection
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between PVA and acrylic wall paint?
What is the best wall paint for kitchens and bathrooms?
Can I paint over old paint without a primer?
Does WallPaint.co.za sell wall paint?
Wall Paint by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg