What the decorative range covers
| Category | What it is for | Where we use it |
|---|---|---|
| Interior emulsion, economy tier | Basic washable wall finish | Rental flats, utility rooms, ceilings |
| Interior emulsion, premium tier | Better opacity, scrub resistance and sheen control | Bedrooms, living rooms |
| Interior emulsion, luxury tier | High scrub resistance, low odour, richer depth of colour | Main living spaces, dark shades |
| Exterior emulsion | UV and rain resistant, anti-fungal additives | Balconies, external walls, parapets |
| Enamels and wood finishes | Solvent and water-based enamels, melamine and PU systems | Grilles, doors, timber joinery |
| Primers and putty | Wall putty, alkali-resistant and water-based primers | Under every paint system |
| Waterproofing products | Membrane and coating systems for terraces and walls | Leak remediation before decoration |
| Texture and designer finishes | Trowelled and roller-applied decorative coatings | Feature walls |
Tiers and the market bands we observe
| Tier | Typical retail band per litre | Scrub resistance | Sensible use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distemper / economy | ₹110 – 200 | Low | Ceilings, store rooms, short-lease flats |
| Standard interior emulsion | ₹220 – 340 | Moderate | Bedrooms in a rental or resale fit-out |
| Premium interior emulsion | ₹340 – 520 | Good | Most rooms in an owner-occupied flat |
| Luxury interior emulsion | ₹520 – 900 | High | Living rooms, corridors, dark and saturated shades |
| Exterior emulsion | ₹300 – 750 | Weather rated | Balconies and external faces |
| Wall putty | ₹22 – 40 per kg | — | Two coats under every system |
These are open-market observations, not the manufacturer’s price list. Discount structures vary by dealer and quantity.
Coverage and the arithmetic of a quotation
Most painting disputes are arithmetic, not colour. Work out the numbers before accepting a rate.
- Measure the paintable area: wall length × height, less openings over about 1 sqm. For a 10 × 12 ft bedroom with a 10 ft ceiling, that is roughly 400 sq ft of wall.
- At 130 sq ft per litre per coat, two coats of that room need about 6.2 litres. A 4-litre and a 1-litre pack, plus a little, is the real purchase.
- Putty is sold by weight and covers roughly 18–22 sq ft per kg for two coats. That bedroom needs 20–25 kg.
- Labour in Mumbai runs ₹12–25 per sq ft for a repaint over a sound surface, and ₹30–60 per sq ft for a full system including putty, sanding and primer on new plaster.
- A full-system repaint of a 650 sq ft 2BHK typically lands at ₹55,000–1,05,000 in Mumbai, ex-GST, depending on tier and preparation.
Mumbai conditions and the choices they force
- Monsoon damp. Painting a wall with a moisture content above about 12% traps water behind the film, and it peels within a year. Use a moisture meter, not a thumb. On a known damp wall, fix the source, wait a season, and use an alkali-resistant primer.
- Fungal growth. North-facing and shaded external walls in Mumbai grow algae. Wash down with a fungicidal solution before repainting, or the growth returns through the new coat.
- Salt air. In sea-facing flats, exterior coatings weather faster. Expect a shorter repaint cycle on the balcony face than on internal walls.
- Washability matters more here. Corridors and switch surrounds in a Mumbai flat get marked quickly in the humid months. A washable tier in circulation areas and a standard tier in bedrooms is a sensible split.
- Low-odour paints are worth specifying in an occupied flat, particularly where an elderly resident or a small child will be in the house during the work.
Our position, and how we price paint
Greenbox is an independent design and build studio. We are not a dealer, franchisee, applicator partner or channel partner of Asian Paints or of any other paint manufacturer, and we take no brand-linked incentive. We specify tier and system on the merits of the job, buy through Mumbai dealers, and pass through material invoices where we procure. Prices quoted here are our market observations, not official figures from the company.
BOQ wording and specification summary
- “Internal walls: two coats of wall putty, sanded; one coat water-based primer; two coats premium interior emulsion in approved shade, matt sheen.”
- “Moisture content of all surfaces to be verified below 12% before priming; readings to be recorded.”
- “Shade approval on a 2 × 2 ft painted sample on the actual wall, viewed in daylight and at night, before bulk application.”
| Element | Specification |
|---|---|
| Putty | Two coats, sanded flat |
| Primer | Water-based interior; alkali-resistant on new or damp-prone plaster |
| Topcoat | Two coats minimum; three on strong colours over white |
| Coverage assumption | 120 – 140 sq ft per litre per coat |
| Labour rate | ₹12 – 60 per sq ft depending on scope |
| Sample | Approved on the wall, not on a card |
| Repaint cycle | 5 – 7 years internal, 3 – 5 years on a Mumbai balcony |
Frequently asked questions
Which tier of emulsion should I use at home?+
Premium interior emulsion in bedrooms and a washable luxury tier in corridors, living rooms and anywhere with light switches and children. Economy emulsion is fine on ceilings. Spreading a single mid tier across the whole flat is the commonest and least efficient specification.
Does the paint brand matter much?+
Less than clients expect. All the major Indian manufacturers make competent products at every tier. What changes the result is preparation, the number of coats, the moisture content of the wall and the skill of the painter. Choose the tier carefully and the brand by availability and shade.
Is Greenbox an Asian Paints partner or dealer?+
No. We are an independent studio with no dealership, franchise or applicator arrangement with any paint company. We specify on merit, buy through the open market and pass through invoices where we procure for clients.
How many coats should a quotation include?+
Two coats of topcoat over a primed and puttied surface, and three when a strong or dark shade is going over white. If a quotation does not state the coat count, it is not a specification — it is a price. Insist on the number in writing.
How often should a Mumbai flat be repainted?+
Internally, every five to seven years, sooner in corridors. Externally and on balconies, every three to five, and sooner in a sea-facing flat. Fungal growth on shaded external walls is usually the trigger, and washing it down properly before repainting is what makes the new coat last.