Flour paint

Flour paint / Swedish paint

Flour paint is particularly well suited to old untreated wood. Reinforced with linseed oil, flour paint is so resistant to weathering and temperature variations on exterior joinery. It is commonly known as Swedish paint.

It is suitable for all surfaces: bare or previously painted wood, concrete, brick, plaster or various types of render. However, vertical rather than horizontal supports are preferable for exterior use.

Ingredients: 700g flour to 1l water, 2kg pigments, 200g iron sulphate, 1l linseed oil.

Tools: container, saucepan, soft brush

Substrates: wood, walls

Composition: Flours with a high gluten content are the most effective.

Recipe: Dissolve 700g of flour in 1l of water. Bring this white sauce to the boil, gradually adding 7l of water. Pigment with 2kg of ochre and add 200g of iron sulphate. Heat the mixture for 15 minutes.

Add 1l linseed oil. Cook again for a quarter of an hour, stirring constantly. Add 10cl of black soap to help emulsify the paint.

Once cooled, the paint is ready. Adjust the consistency if necessary with a little water.

Recommendations: For new wood, apply one coat of paint diluted with 10-20% water and wait 24 hours before applying the second undiluted coat for the finish. It is not necessary to add iron sulphate for interior painting.

Peintures recettes maison de Marie Vanesse, Editions du Bec en l’air

La peinture suédoise de Nathalie Boisseau, Editions Alternatives

Ocres et terres recettes et applications, Editions Edisud