2.5L
Covers
135–295 sq ft
1 coat, absorbent mineral
Best For
Single feature wall, vanity area, accent zone, or small bedroom.
CLAY PAINT · ART. 655
Clay paint for premium Indian interiors.
LEINOS 655 Clay Paint — a solvent-free mineral clay paint for interior walls and ceilings. Water-vapour-permeable; it supports the room’s humidity balance and sets in a matt earth-tone finish. VOC 1 g/l (EU Cat. a). Made in Germany by Reincke Naturfarben since 1985.
Clay + chalk mineral bodySupports indoor humidityWater-vapour-permeable · mattVOC 1 g/l · EU Cat. a
Mechanism & Use
How LEINOS 655 Clay Paint works.
The open-pore mineral surface stays water-vapour-permeable, which supports the room’s humidity balance. A starch-ester and cellulose binder holds the clay-and-chalk matrix to the substrate. Earth-tone mineral pigments live inside the matrix as substance, not as colourant suspended on a polymer film — no acrylic film between the room and the wall.
01
Supports the room’s humidity balance
On an absorbent wall the cured clay surface stays open-pore and water-vapour-permeable, working with the room’s daily and seasonal moisture cycle. The manufacturer describes it as supporting the humidity regulation of the living space — a supporting effect, not an active dehumidifier.
02
Water-vapour-permeable matt mineral surface
Open-pore once cured — water vapour passes freely, the substrate beneath breathes, and the matt mineral surface catches raking light with the depth synthetic emulsion cannot replicate.
03
Earth-tone pigment as substance, not coating
Iron-oxide red, ochre yellow, ochre havanna, kaolin white — mineral pigments held inside the clay matrix as part of the wall’s substance. Tinted on site with LEINOS 668 Pigment Concentrate.
04
Clay · chalk · titanium dioxide · plant binders
Composition per leinos.de: water, clay, chalk, titanium dioxide, a starch-ester polymer and cellulose binder, and isothiazolinone preservatives (which may cause allergic reactions — full hazard data in the SDS). No acrylic polymer film. Solvent-free. VOC 1 g/l (EU Cat. a).
Where It Lives
Where 655 Lives
Premium Mumbai + Bangalore + Delhi penthouse living rooms
Contemporary residential specifications where the feature wall is part of the architectural story, not a paint-colour decision. Iron-oxide red, ochre havanna, or off-white matt clay reads as a mineral surface — substance and depth that lime-coated heritage walls share. Two coats over 620 Deep Sealer (where the substrate is chalking or highly absorbent) on cured gypsum board, lime plaster, or cement plaster — finish-grade specifier-spec line.
Wellness studios, ayurvedic spas, yoga shalas, slow-living retreats
Health-led interior projects where the air-quality story is part of the brief. Solvent-free with low VOC (1 g/l, EU Cat. a). The water-vapour-permeable matt surface supports the room’s humidity balance and lets the wall breathe, with no acrylic polymer film between occupant and substrate. The chemistry register matches the wellness positioning.
Designer apartments, boutique hotel interiors, art galleries
Matt mineral finish with handcraft register — visible brush direction signals architect-specified work. Earth-tone palette (iron oxide, ochre, kaolin off-white) reads against contemporary furniture and art display lighting without the specular reflection of synthetic emulsion paint. Repaint cycle aligned with conventional interior wall-paint frequency; the matt clay surface mellows and deepens over the first year of use.
Bedrooms + study rooms where indoor humidity is part of the comfort story
Solvent-free. The water-vapour-permeable clay surface works with the room’s moisture cycle, so the room can feel a little less clammy in monsoon weeks and a little less arid in dry-AC winter weeks — a supporting effect, the quieter version of what limewash has done in Indian and European interiors for centuries. Paint Thursday, sleep in the room Friday once the coat dries (touch-dry approximately 6 to 12 hours at 23 °C / 50% relative humidity).
Drywall and wallpaper feature walls in contemporary fit-outs
On dry-construction (drywall) coatings and firmly-adhering ingrain wallpaper, 655 over 620 Deep Sealer reads as a unified matt mineral surface across a mixed substrate. The same canvas-evening 620 primer pattern also handles chalking lime plaster, patched repair zones, and bonded ingrain wallpaper feature walls in restored shell apartments.
Architect-specified accent walls — earth-tone palette
Tinted on site with LEINOS 668 Pigment Concentrate (compatible mineral pigment range). The brand-canon palette runs iron-oxide red, ochre yellow, ochre havanna, kaolin off-white. The matt clay surface holds saturated earth-tone shades with mineral depth that emulsion paint cannot reach. For project-specific shades — designer-specified accent colours, muted contemporary tones, paired wall-and-trim spec — Get Expert Advice above; we will route the brief to a tinted-sample workflow for architect approval before the full pail is mixed.
Compliance · Natural Ingredients · EU
Documented mineral chemistry. Cat. a VOC. No synthetic acrylic polymer.
Three anchors that let architects and designers specify 655 for premium residential and wellness interiors without the acrylic-polymer disclosure.
EU Compliance
VOC 1 g/l
EU limit 30 g/l · Cat. a interior matt walls (water-borne) · Directive 2004/42/EC.
Institutional Pledge
InVeNa Member
Reincke Naturfarben — full-ingredient-disclosure pledge for natural building products.
The TDS is downloadable below; the marketing brochure (12-page PRO deck — chemistry, tinting, system context, specifier reference) is downloadable next to it. The SDS is supplied on request from LEINOS India for the full hazard register and the trace-functional-additive disclosure. Where you need a written specification packet — full ingredient declaration, VOC compliance letter for an architect’s submittal, substrate-compatibility statement for a mixed-substrate contemporary fit-out, or a low-emission performance brief for a wellness or premium residential interior — it is available to architects and designers on request. Use Get Expert Advice above.
Read The Full TDSStep by Step
How to Apply
Substrate inspection — wall must be dry, sound, absorbent, clean, dust-free. Mineral plaster (lime, cement) cured 2-3 weeks. Gypsum board and bonded ingrain wallpaper: firmly adhering, free of grease, dust, loose particles. Test absorbency with a damp brush stroke. Test coat in an inconspicuous corner if substrate behaviour is in doubt.
Prime highly or differently absorbent substrates with LEINOS 620 Deep Sealer — chalking lime, very porous cement, patched repair zones, gypsum board, bonded ingrain wallpaper. For sound, evenly absorbent cured mineral plaster older than 3 weeks, 620 is optional — apply 655 directly. The primer evens the absorbency canvas so the clay paint goes on at uniform thickness.
Always stir well before use and during application (leinos.de canon). Open the pail and stir the clay suspension thoroughly until the clay and mineral pigments are fully dispersed and the colour reads uniform. Clay paint settles faster than synthetic emulsion; consistent stirring keeps colour register even. Supplied ready-to-use; no dilution required.
Apply evenly — spread in all directions (leinos.de canon). Brush, roller, or flat brush. On roller, finish with light cross-strokes to even the stipple; on flat brush, accept the faint visible brush direction — part of the matt clay register that signals hand-applied work. Ambient and surface temperature above 10 °C. Ventilate well.
One coat is the canon — leinos.de: “As a rule, 1 coat is sufficient.” The clay-cellulose matrix reaches its full matt mineral surface in a single even coat over a properly primed substrate. Touch dry approximately 6 to 12 hours at 23 °C / 50% RH — longer at higher humidity or lower temperature. Coverage approx. 150 ml/m² per coat (54-118 sq ft per litre). 10 L pack covers approx. 710 sq ft per coat.
Optional second coat for highly absorbent substrates or a deeper colour register. Apply the same way as the first once the first is touch-dry. Brings the wall to its full uniform mineral depth. Clean tools immediately after use with water (LEINOS 930 Plant Soap optional for stubborn residues).
Application Conditions
- Substrate must be dry, sound, absorbent, clean, and dust-free.
- Mineral plasters (lime, cement) must be at least 2 to 3 weeks cured.
- Ambient and substrate temperature above 10 °C (TDS minimum).
- Ensure good ventilation during application and the first 24 hours of drying.
Coats & Recoating
- 1 coat typical per leinos.de canon ("As a rule, 1 coat is sufficient").
- Optional 2nd coat for highly absorbent substrates or a deeper earth-tone register.
- Recoatable after sufficient drying — touch-dry approx. 6–12 h at 23 °C / 50 % RH.
Cleaning & Storage
- Clean tools immediately after use with water. LEINOS 930 Plant Soap optional for stubborn residues.
- Store cool, dry, and frost-free. Keep container tightly closed. Shelf life: see packaging (unopened).
Airless Spray
Airless: Nozzles 0.38–0.58 mm. Spray angle approx. 40°–50°. Filter approx. 100–50 mesh. Per leinos.de official specification.
First time with Clay Paint? Our technical team runs complimentary on-site walkthroughs for contractors — full application protocol, start to finish.
System & Substrates
The mineral clay paint for premium interior walls.
One coat of 655 over sound mineral plaster, dry-construction (drywall) coatings, or firmly-adhering wallpaper — with 620 Deep Sealer first for chalking, highly absorbent, mixed-substrate, or drywall surfaces. Hand-applied specifier-grade register; earth-tone palette via 668 Pigment Concentrate.
The Coating System
Primer plus topcoat — the full chain.
Clay Paint Topcoat655Clay Paint
Tinting On Site
Mix your own custom shade at the site with LEINOS pigments.
Substrate Fit
655 works on — and what it doesn’t.
Suitable
Recommended substrates
- Clay plaster (heritage and contemporary clay-substrate walls)
- Lime plaster (modern + restored shell apartments, cured 2–3 weeks)
- Cement plaster + cement render (residential, commercial, after 2–3 week cure)
- Gypsum plaster + gypsum board / drywall (over 620 Deep Sealer)
- Bonded ingrain wallpaper (Raufaser, firmly adhered, over 620 Deep Sealer)
Honest Limits
Where to use a different product
- Permanently wet or submerged areas — bathroom shower stalls, basement walls below waterline, swimming-pool surrounds. Use a dedicated wet-room coating.
- Continuously damp environments with active mould risk — clay paint supports the room’s humidity balance but does not provide a mould-hostile surface. For those rooms specify the high-alkaline-pH lime paint instead. Use LEINOS 665 Lime Paint
- Non-absorbent or sealed surfaces — glazed ceramic tile, glossy lacquer, intact vinyl wallpaper. Strip back to absorbent mineral substrate, or mechanically key (sand) and prime with LEINOS 620 Deep Sealer
- Exterior applications — use LEINOS exterior facade paints.
- Wood substrates — use the LEINOS wood-finish line, e.g. LEINOS 290 Premium Hardwax Oil
Use With Care
Working safely with 655
- Store away from children. Keep the pail closed and out of reach when not actively in use.
- Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Wash any splashes with plenty of water and soap immediately. Use standard painter’s gloves and eyewear during application.
- Ensure adequate ventilation during application and the first 24 hours of drying — open windows and run room fans on low if the room has no cross-ventilation.
- Avoid release to the environment. Do not pour wet-paint residues to drains, soil, or watercourses.
- Dispose of dried product residues with household waste; dispose of liquid residues per local hazardous-waste regulations. Disposal code: EAK/EWC 08 01 12. Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is available on request from LEINOS India for the full hazard register and the trace-functional-additive disclosure.
Coverage & Pack Sizes
One coat per wall · 710 sq ft per 10 L pack.
Coverage varies with substrate absorbency. Chalking lime plaster and stipple-finished gypsum consume more than smooth skim plaster. One coat is the canonical specification per leinos.de; optional second coat for highly absorbent substrates or deeper earth-tone register.
10L
Covers
540–1180 sq ft
1 coat, absorbent mineral
Best For
Full room, full apartment, or multi-room project.
sq ft
Enter your area to see how much material — and the most efficient pack mix — you’ll need for 1 coat.
Related Work
Mineral surface projects from our portfolio
Documented mineral surface projects. Captions show which LEINOS finish was used.
Full Declaration
Composition
Every ingredient declared on the label. The Trust Hub explains what each one does and the standards behind it.
Clay (Kaolin + Mineral Body)
The mineral body of the paint — an open-pore clay surface that stays water-vapour-permeable once cured and holds earth-tone mineral pigment within the matrix as substance. Inert, REACH-compliant.
Chalk (Calcium Carbonate Filler)
Mineral filler — provides matt opacity and the chalky surface depth characteristic of cured clay surfaces. Compatible with the binder and the clay matrix. Inert, REACH-compliant.
Titanium Dioxide
Mineral white pigment for opacity and brightness. The cured paint film is safe and not classified hazardous; standard handling applies to the wet product.
Starch-Ester Polymer + Cellulose Binder
The binder system named on the leinos.de datasheet — a starch-ester polymer together with cellulose holds the clay-and-chalk mineral matrix to the substrate as the water phase evaporates. No synthetic acrylic polymer; distinct from the natural-resin emulsion binder of 660 / 650 and from the lime carbonation cure of 665.
Preservatives (Isothiazolinones)
In-can preservatives (BIT plus a CIT/MIT blend) keep the water-borne pail stable through shelf life. The datasheet notes they may cause allergic reactions; full hazard data is in the SDS, supplied on request from LEINOS India. We disclose them in line with our full-ingredient pledge.
Got Questions?
Frequently Asked
Quick answers on formulation, application and Indian-climate suitability. Pulled from our full FAQ and TDS library.
- Many decorative finishes are wipe-clean once fully cured. Check the specific product for wet abrasion class rating.
- 1 coat typical per leinos.de canon ("As a rule, 1 coat is sufficient"). Optional 2nd coat for highly absorbent substrates or a deeper earth-tone register. Recoatable after sufficient drying — touch-dry approx. 6–12 h at 23 °C / 50 % RH.
- LEINOS decorative finishes have minimal odour from natural ingredients. The room can typically be used within 24 hours after application.
- Two differences. First, the binder: conventional emulsion uses synthetic acrylic polymer; 655 uses a starch-ester polymer with cellulose to hold a clay-and-chalk mineral matrix to the substrate — no acrylic polymer film between the room and the wall. Second, the open-pore mineral surface stays water-vapour-permeable, which supports the room’s humidity balance — the manufacturer describes it as supporting the humidity regulation of the living space. Conventional emulsion seals the wall behind a film; clay paint keeps it open-pore.
- Different chemistry, different use cases. 655 is contemporary decorative — premium living rooms, designer apartments, wellness studios where the matt clay finish and earth-tone palette read as architectural specification. 665 Lime Paint is the canonical mineral spec for heritage walls and mould-prone humid rooms — its high alkaline pH makes the surface antibacterial and well suited to mould prevention and remediation. 655 supports the room’s humidity balance through its open-pore mineral surface; 665 is the choice where mould risk is the problem.
- Register and chemistry split. 660 and 650 are the natural-resin emulsion paints — washable Class 3 + vapour-permeable Class 1 — for everyday residential and commercial fit-outs (the architect’s alternative to acrylic emulsion). 655 is the decorative clay paint for premium architect-specified work — earth-tone palette, hand-applied matt register, and support for the room’s humidity balance. Same canon, different audiences: 660 / 650 for the fit-out spec line, 655 for the feature wall and wellness register.
- Conditional. Clay paint needs an absorbent substrate for pore-network interlock. If the existing emulsion is sound, firmly adhering, matt-finish, absorbent — clean + dust-free + mild abrasion + prime with 620 + apply 655. If glossy, lacquered, intact vinyl, or flaking, mechanically key the wall and prime with 620, or strip to mineral substrate. Polymer-sealed walls and intact glossy emulsion are outside the substrate range.
- Yes. Gypsum board and bonded ingrain wallpaper (Raufaser) both take 655 over a coat of LEINOS 620 Deep Sealer, which evens the absorbency canvas so the clay paint goes on at uniform thickness. Vinyl or plastic-coated wallpaper is NOT a suitable substrate — strip it or apply a dedicated wallpaper-replacement coat first.
- Subtle and cumulative — the wall is not advertising itself. The open-pore mineral surface works with the room’s moisture cycle, so a clay-painted room can feel a little less clammy in monsoon weeks and a little less arid in dry-AC winter weeks. The manufacturer frames this as supporting the humidity regulation of the living space — a supporting effect, not a dehumidifier and not a medical claim. It is the quieter version of what limewash and clay plaster have done for centuries.
- Yes. 655 ships natural off-white and is tintable on site with LEINOS 668 Pigment Concentrate (lime-fast and clay-fast mineral pigments). The brand-canon palette runs iron-oxide red, ochre yellow, ochre havanna, kaolin off-white. The matt clay surface holds saturated earth-tone shades with mineral depth synthetic emulsion cannot reach. For project-specific shades, use Get Expert Advice above — we route to a tinted-sample workflow for architect approval.
For Architects & Specifiers
Downloads
Technical and safety documents — citable in project specifications.
Need a Recommendation?
Talk to LEINOS
Four ways to reach our India team — pick the one that fits how you work.
Written by the LEINOS India technical team, in collaboration with
Reincke Naturfarben R&D, Lower Saxony.
Last updated
Want to represent LEINOS in your city?
Become a Dealer