Preserving the Buildings and Environment We Love
Flax plant-derived linseed oil paint and stain. Anti-mold with only trace elements of VOCs. Wicks moisture from wood. Prevents metal from rusting.
A Major Advantage: Unmatched Coverage
Goes further per gallon – High pigment concentration and thin-coat application provide up to 2–2.5 times the coverage of many modern paints.
Plastic-free finish – No acrylic binders or plastic films.
Only trace VOCs – A simple, low-emission coating system.
Allows timber to manage moisture naturally – Unlike modern paint which traps moisture.
Long service life – Designed to be maintained rather than repeatedly stripped and replaced.
Suitable for timber, iron, and historic buildings – Proven through centuries of use.
Modern lead-free formulation – Uses zinc and titanium white for durability and mold resistance.
Drying Time & Prep Essentials
Apply thin coats only – Linseed oil paint is designed to be applied sparingly; thick coats will slow drying.
Typically touch dry in around 24 hours – Under normal conditions of temperature, airflow, and humidity.
Allow each coat to dry fully before recoating – This ensures proper curing and long-term durability.
Good airflow helps drying – Fresh air is more important than heat when working with linseed oil paint.
Drying times vary with conditions – Temperature, humidity, colour, and substrate porosity can all influence cure time.
A well-prepared surface delivers the best result – Better adhesion, improved durability, and a more even finish.
We Harvest Our Own Flaxseed
By late spring, ripe flax seeds are pressed to extract raw linseed oil—the foundation of our linseed oil paint and stain. From this same high-grade oil, we also produce linseed oil soap, as well as both raw and boiled linseed oil. Purity is essential at every stage.
The flaxseed then makes its way to our workshop (nearby), where we process the oil, combine it with selected mineral pigments, and mill it using traditional triple-roll mills. This slow, deliberate process ensures the pigments are fully incorporated into the oil, creating a paint with exceptional depth, consistency, and durability. From field to finished can, every step is guided by a commitment to simple ingredients, traditional craftsmanship, and materials designed to stand the test of time.
Preservation in Practice
The training was created in response to a growing need for practical education in the traditional building arts. As knowledge of historic materials becomes increasingly difficult to access through conventional education pathways, the program was designed to provide reliable, experience-based instruction that can be applied directly to real-world preservation projects.
The Castle reflects a vision that Michiel Brouns has championed for many years: bringing together the worlds of academic preservation and practical craftsmanship. As part of the conception, planning, and execution of the program, Michiel helped create an environment where knowledge could be shared directly between experienced tradespeople, architects, conservators, and the next generation of preservation professionals. At its heart, the initiative seeks to address the growing shortage of skilled historic tradespeople by making traditional building knowledge accessible, practical, and relevant.