Range categories relevant to interiors
| Category | Application | Where it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Interior emulsions | Economy to luxury washable tiers | All internal walls |
| Exterior emulsions | Weather and fungal resistant coatings | Balconies, parapets |
| Wood coatings | Melamine, PU and water-based systems | Doors, frames, joinery |
| Metal and enamel | Enamels and protective systems | Grilles, gates, railings |
| Industrial coatings | Structural and equipment coatings | Commercial and industrial fit-outs |
| Waterproofing | Terrace and wall systems | Pre-decoration leak remediation |
| Undercoats | Putty, primers, sealers | Every system |
Market bands we observe in Mumbai
| Tier | Typical retail band per litre | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Economy interior emulsion | ₹105 – 195 | Ceilings, utility rooms |
| Standard interior emulsion | ₹210 – 330 | Bedrooms |
| Premium interior emulsion | ₹330 – 510 | General residential default |
| Luxury washable emulsion | ₹500 – 880 | Corridors and living rooms |
| Exterior emulsion | ₹290 – 720 | Balconies and external faces |
| Synthetic and PU enamels | ₹290 – 900 | Metalwork, depending on system |
| Wall putty | ₹20 – 38 per kg | Two coats, sanded |
These are market observations from buying in Mumbai, not the manufacturer’s published figures.
Where the coatings heritage is genuinely useful
On residential work this is irrelevant. On commercial fit-outs and on Mumbai metalwork it is not.
- Grilles, gates, MS railings and window frames within 2 km of the sea need a protective system, not decorative enamel. Surface preparation to remove mill scale and rust, a zinc-rich or epoxy primer and a polyurethane topcoat will hold for eight to ten years; ordinary enamel over a wire-brushed surface will not last three.
- Exposed structural steel in a double-height retail or warehouse conversion needs a specified coating system with a stated dry film thickness, not a paint choice.
- Where a landlord’s fit-out manual requires intumescent fire protection on steel, using one manufacturer for the protective and decorative systems simplifies the submittal.
- For MS furniture frames and partition frames, a powder coat is usually a better answer than any wet paint. We specify wet systems only where powder coating is impractical.
Specification notes for a Mumbai project
- Check the moisture content of every wall before priming. Below 12%, not by feel.
- Use an alkali-resistant primer on new cement plaster that has not cured fully.
- On metalwork, write the surface preparation into the BOQ — “wire brushed and degreased to remove all loose scale and rust” — because that is the step that gets skipped, and no coating survives it being skipped.
- Specify sheen per room and approve shades on the wall, not the card.
- Where a project mixes decorative and protective systems, keep both from one manufacturer so the primer and topcoat compatibility is not in question.
Wood coatings, and the choice clients get wrong
Melamine and PU are both offered for timber and they are not equivalent. Melamine is a lower-build, faster, cheaper system that dulls in three to four years and is hard to revive. Two-pack PU builds a tougher film, holds sheen for the best part of a decade and can be re-coated in place. On a main door or a veneered wardrobe front the difference is worth the money; inside a cupboard it is not.
- Melamine over veneer: roughly ₹90–140 per sq ft applied. Acceptable on internals and low-touch panelling.
- Two-pack PU over veneer: roughly ₹150–220 per sq ft applied. Our default for anything visible.
- Exterior timber, such as a balcony door, needs an exterior-grade system with UV protection; interior PU chalks outdoors within two summers.
Our independence
Greenbox is an independent design and build studio. We have no dealership, franchise, applicator agreement or other commercial arrangement with Kansai Nerolac or with any paint manufacturer, and we do not accept incentives that influence specification. We buy through Mumbai dealers on the open market and pass through the supplier invoice where we procure on a client’s behalf.
Specification summary
| Element | Specification |
|---|---|
| Interior walls | Two coats putty, primer, two coats emulsion at stated tier |
| Metalwork near the coast | Prepared surface, epoxy or zinc-rich primer, PU topcoat |
| Structural steel | System with stated dry film thickness |
| Moisture | Below 12% before priming, recorded |
| Sheen and shade | Approved on the wall before bulk work |
| Compatibility | Primer and topcoat from one manufacturer |
| Repaint cycle | 5 – 7 years internal; 3 – 5 external in Mumbai |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nerolac good for interior walls?+
Yes — at premium and luxury tiers it competes directly with the other large Indian manufacturers, and the finished result is determined mainly by preparation and coat count. Choose the tier deliberately and the brand by shade availability and dealer service.
What should I use on window grilles in a sea-facing flat?+
A protective coating system: proper surface preparation, an epoxy or zinc-rich primer, then a polyurethane topcoat. Decorative synthetic enamel over a lightly brushed grille will show rust bleeding through within two to three monsoons in Worli or Juhu.
Is Greenbox connected to Nerolac?+
No. We hold no dealership, applicator agreement or commercial arrangement with Nerolac or with any other paint company. We specify on merit and buy on the open market, passing through invoices where we procure.
Can I use different brands for walls and metalwork?+
You can, but keep the primer and topcoat within one manufacturer’s system on each element. Mixing a primer from one maker with a topcoat from another is where adhesion failures come from, and it is not a saving worth making.
How much does a full 2BHK repaint cost in Mumbai?+
Typically ₹55,000–1,10,000 ex-GST for 650 sq ft of carpet area, depending on tier, whether putty is included and how much preparation the walls need. Quotations that come in far below that band are usually assuming one coat over existing paint with no putty.