Kitchens, corridors and plant rooms need a wall finish that can be scrubbed and stays glossy. Short answer: Nationalthane is a two-pack, colour-retentive polyurethane topcoat from National Paints. Mix base and hardener 4:1 by volume, use within 8 hours at 30°C, and apply two coats at least 12 hours apart. National lists it as the topcoat for its National Tile and Wall Rock systems, and as suitable for steel, GRP and wood.
Key facts
| Type | Two-pack polyurethane topcoat, high gloss, colour-retentive |
| Uses | Topcoat for National Tile and Wall Rock systems; steel, GRP and wood |
| Mixing ratio | 4 parts base to 1 part hardener, by volume |
| Pot life at 30°C | 8 hours |
| Drying at 30°C | Touch dry 2 to 3 hours; recoat after 12 hours minimum; fully cured in 7 days |
| Coats | Two |
| Film per coat | 30 to 40 microns dry |
| Spreading rate | 9 to 12 m² per litre (theoretical) |
| Application | Brush, roller or spray |
| Thinning | 5 to 15% with National Polyurethane Thinner |
| Shelf life | 18 months, sealed |
The system on masonry walls
- Primer, one coat: PVA Primer White for Masonry, National Tex Primer or Acrylic Primer (water-based).
- Texture, one coat: National Nutex spray texture. See the National Tex guide.
- Topcoat, two coats: Nationalthane, at least 12 hours apart.
For wet areas, compare it with the other options in our bathroom and kitchen wall systems guide. For metal, see the steel painting system.
How much to buy
For 100 m² of wall, two coats at 9 to 12 m² per litre need about 17 to 22 litres of mixed paint, by our calculation. Mix only what you can apply within the 8-hour pot life.
Frequently asked questions
Can I thin it with acrylic thinner?
No. The data sheet names National Polyurethane Thinner. See which National thinner to use.
When can the room be used?
National gives full cure as 7 days at 30°C. Avoid scrubbing or wetting the surface before then.
Nationalthane or Polyurethane Topcoat?
| Nationalthane | Polyurethane Topcoat | |
|---|---|---|
| Mix (by volume) | 4 : 1 | 4 : 1 |
| Pot life (30°C) | 8 hours | 6 hours |
| Recoat | 12 hours minimum | 10 hours minimum |
| Full cure | 7 days | 7 days |
| Dry film per coat | 30 to 40 µm | 40 µm |
| m² per litre | 9 to 12 | 13 |
| Listed over | Tile and Wall Rock systems; steel, GRP, wood; textures | Guard Primer for Cement and Interguard H.B. |
Step 1: prepare
- Masonry and textures: clean, dry and sound, per National’s surface preparation guide; the texture coat underneath should be fully dry (Nutex and Texo need 24 hours).
- Steel: degrease, then blast to Sa 2.5 or tool clean to St 2, and prime as the system lists.
What the numbers mean
| Area (2 coats) | Mixed litres (9 to 12 m²/L) | Base | Hardener |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m² | about 8.3 to 11 L | about 6.7 to 8.9 L | about 1.7 to 2.2 L |
| 150 m² | about 25 to 33 L | about 20 to 27 L | about 5 to 6.7 L |
| 400 m² (villa exterior) | about 67 to 89 L | about 53 to 71 L | about 13 to 18 L |
Mistakes to avoid
- Mixing more than you can use in 8 hours.
- Guessing the ratio. Measure 4:1 by volume.
- Thinning with anything but National Polyurethane Thinner.
- Second coat before 12 hours.
Buy Nationalthane in Sharjah and Dubai
Al Tashteb Al Saree is an authorised National Paints retailer. Message us on WhatsApp for Nationalthane, hardener and Polyurethane Thinner, or browse our National Acrylic Primer.
Sources
- Nationalthane Topcoat data sheet (PDF, via AEC Online)
- National Paints systems specifier (PDF, via AEC Online)
- National Paints surface preparation guide, Sec. A-2 (PDF)
Retrieved 3 November 2026. Quantities are our own calculations. The main image is illustrative.
