National makes several textured finishes, and the names can be confusing. Short answer: National Paints’ specifier lists five Tex finishes on one emulsion-based textured system: Tex Heavy and Tex W.O.M.C. for heavy texture, Fine Tex in light, medium or heavy, and Swiss Sandtex and Mini Tex for light texture. Each goes over a primer and National Tex Primer.
The Tex range
| Product | Texture | Coats |
|---|---|---|
| National Tex | Heavy | 1 |
| National Tex (W.O.M.C.) | Heavy | 2 |
| National Swiss Sandtex | Light | 1 |
| National Fine Tex | Light, medium or heavy | 1 |
| National Mini Tex | Light | 2 |
The system
- Primer, one coat: National PVA Primer Sealer for Masonry or National Acrylic Primer (water-based).
- National Tex Primer, one coat.
- Texture: one of the five finishes above, in the number of coats shown.
Other National textures
- National Nutex spray texture: the texture coat in the Nationaltile, Acrylic Rock and Eco systems, under a hard topcoat. See bathroom and kitchen wall systems and Acrylic Rock Top Coat.
- National Graffio Decor: a trowel-applied quartz texture for a grooved finish. See our Graffio Decor guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much texture do I need per square metre?
Coverage depends on the product and texture level. The specifier does not list it, so ask us for the product’s data sheet or send us your wall area for a quote.
Can I topcoat a Tex finish?
The textured-finish system in the specifier ends with the Tex coat. Systems with a topcoat over texture use Nutex instead, as listed above.
Every National texture at a glance
| Texture | Look | m² per litre | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minitex | Light, matt | About 3 | See guide |
| Diffatex | Medium, matt | About 2.5 | Brush, roller or spray |
| Shield Tex Silk | Fine, silk | About 2.5 | Roller or spray |
| Shield Fine Silk | Fine, silk | About 2 | Roller or spray |
| Swiss Sandtex | Light, matt | About 2 | See guide |
| Marbert | Decorative, satin | 2 to 3 | Sponge, comb, gun or patterned roller |
| Shield Ultra Silk | Adjustable, silk | 1 to 3 | Roller |
| Nutex | Light to heavy, matt | 1.3 to 2.6 | Spray gun or roller |
| Super Finetex | Light to heavy, satin, no aggregate | 1 to 2 | Roller |
| Texo Compound | Light to heavy, matt | 1 to 2 | Spray gun |
| Graffio Decor | Grooved, matt | 0.6 to 0.7 | Trowel |
| Synplast | Heavy plaster | 0.5 to 0.7 | Trowel or spray |
How to choose
- Light texture, most coverage: Minitex, Diffatex or a Shield silk.
- Adjustable build from one product: Super Finetex, Shield Ultra Silk, Nutex or Texo.
- Heavy, hand-finished look: Graffio Decor or Synplast. Budget far more litres per m².
- Silk or satin sheen without a topcoat: Shield silks, Super Finetex or Marbert (Marbert’s system still lists two topcoats).
Before any texture
National’s surface preparation guide calls for high-pressure water washing (2200 psi minimum) on exteriors, a dry and sound surface, and removal of laitance and efflorescence. Then prime with the primer the texture’s sheet names, and do a sample panel to agree the pattern.
Buy National Tex in Sharjah and Dubai
Al Tashteb Al Saree is an authorised National Paints retailer. Shop National Acrylic Primer 18 L, or message us on WhatsApp for Tex Primer and Tex finishes.
Sources
- National Paints systems specifier (PDF, via AEC Online)
- National Graffio Decor data sheet (PDF, via AEC Online)
- National Paints surface preparation guide, Sec. A-2 (PDF)
Retrieved 3 November 2026. The main image is illustrative.
