I've had good experiences with clay paints too, but have you found they hold up well in high-traffic areas or kitchens? I've noticed they can stain or mark a bit easier than conventional paints... Curious if you've run into that issue.
I've had similar experiences, honestly. A couple years back, we tried clay paint in a small cafe project—looked fantastic at first, but after a few months, the area near the espresso machine and prep counters started showing stains and scuffs pretty noticeably. It wasn't terrible, but definitely more upkeep than standard paint. Still, if you're committed to eco-friendly materials, it's manageable...just be prepared for a bit more touch-up work than usual.
Had a pretty similar experience myself, although mine was residential rather than commercial. We used clay paint in our kitchen remodel because we wanted to keep things eco-friendly and toxin-free. It looked amazing initially—rich, matte finish really made the space feel warm and inviting. But yeah...after about six months, areas around the sink and stove started to show some wear. Not terrible staining, but definitely noticeable enough that we had to do touch-ups more often than we'd anticipated.
In the end, we found a decent compromise by sealing high-traffic areas with a natural, low-VOC clear coat. It preserved that nice clay texture while making cleaning a lot easier. Might be worth considering something similar around your espresso machine area if you ever revisit it. It's not 100% as green as pure clay paint alone, but still way better than conventional paints loaded with chemicals.
"In the end, we found a decent compromise by sealing high-traffic areas with a natural, low-VOC clear coat."
That's a smart workaround. I've seen similar issues pop up in green builds—sometimes pure eco-friendly materials just need a little practical tweaking to hold up long-term. Glad you found something workable!
That's a pretty solid solution, especially for areas that get a lot of foot traffic. I've run into similar issues myself—clients love the idea of fully natural finishes, but durability can be a real headache down the line. We tried beeswax-based sealers once, and while they looked fantastic initially, maintenance became a nightmare after just a few months. Ended up switching to a low-VOC polyurethane blend, which wasn't ideal from a purely eco standpoint, but it saved us from constant callbacks.
Curious though, did you notice any significant difference in drying times or application methods with the natural clear coat compared to traditional sealers? I've found some of the eco-friendly products can be finicky with humidity and temperature...
