Limewash
Limewash
Here at PAINTALL LIMITED we have been hand producing Limewashes for over years creating bespoke colours for projects all over the UK. Our colours stand proud on many buildings in picturesque villages including Lavenham and Long Melford as well as many other historic properties across Suffolk and East Anglia.
From the very beginning, our focus has been on creating paints that are reliable, breathable, and suited to both historic and modern spaces.
Limewash, colourwash, whitewash and similar names for limewash, traditionally and today, is the coating applied over lime plaster/render, wattle and daub and clay lump surfaces that allows the building to continue to breathe, allowing vapour/moisture to pass out of the structure. Limewash today is also used on modern surfaces including brick, cement and gypsum plaster as well as broader uses including wooden fencing, garden walls, timber framing (which was traditionally limed for protection), green houses and factory roof lights.
Limewash is a basic dilution of mature lime putty with water plus any additives that may be needed to improve certain properties and finally colour if desired. Traditionally different areas (geographically) used different additives to improve these properties. Additives ran from Tallow (rendered beef fat), oil, salt, urine, copperas and casein to mention but a few and these could be used in many combinations.
Is Limewash easy to use?
Common Application Issues
Applying Limewash too thickly may cause mud cracking, adhesion failure, and brush marking issues, especially on interior surfaces.
Dilution Guidelines
Always apply Limewash by brush using thin coats and correct dilution ratios to ensure proper adhesion, durability, and performance.
Application Conditions
Avoid application in full sun, cold, damp conditions, always dampen surfaces, and read application labels and data sheets carefully.
Other than the pleasing traditional aesthetics of a Limewash finish Limewashes are fully breathable allowing the passage of water vapour in and out of traditionally rendered buildings. This is essential for old buildings to survive without serious damage to their structure. No passage of water vapour can result in rotting of timbers and sole plate.
Lime render is much softer than cementatious renders and breathes readily to allow vapour passage. Modern paints tend to be too strong and will pull the surface off the plaster and paint flaking can ensue. Add to the main fact that the breathability of paints varies greatly and detracts from the vapour movement required in old and historic buildings, keeping wet out and allowing the damp to escape again which can result in rotting of timbers and sole plate.
Aesthetically a Limewash gives a traditional matt mottled finish which is in keeping with old and historic buildings. A modern paint often gives a uniform plastic finish which traditionalists would argue is wrong for many reasons.
From a Health & Safety standpoint, limewash has no biocides or solvents but is alkali so gloves and goggles must be worn. For the environmentalists, lime absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reverts back to chalk from whence it came.
We offer four limewash foundations for different applications. For external use, we recommend Tallow Bound, Pozilime, or Pure & Simple Limewash. For internal use, we recommend Interlime or Pure & Simple Limewash.
In addition to limewash, PAINTALL LIMITED produces a wide range of traditional, specialist, and modern paints. Please contact us for advice on any paint requirements.
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