Perhaps you've moved into an older home with limewashed walls or are restoring a historic building and are faced with the challenge of updating its appearance. The good news is that you can paint over limewash, but it requires a specific technique to ensure that the finish is long-lasting.
Yes! Limewash doesn't add any texture to your walls, and you can easily repaint them in the future. Just make sure to use a water-based primer first.
Old powdery limewash should come off with warm soapy water a stiff bristle brush (not wire brush) and a large helping of elbow grease (it is bloody hard work). As you have found to your cost any aggressive mechanical stripping or strong chemical agents will probably just ruin the bricks.
There are also 3 limitations and disadvantages of the lime-wash: The very rigid demands to weather, temperature and moisture-conditions during the application, the strict demands to experienced craftsmanship and the demands to a perfect, un-defect, dry and "cement-less" ground.
Find an affordable acrylic primer, or check if your limewash paint brands carry one. I have used the primer Color Atelier, and it is a little expensive but worth it considering the low VOCs.
Without the sealer, it is just another layer or two of Bauwerk Limewash Paint on top of your previous application, which is very quick and does not produce any fumes. They can be added on a need-to basis. There may be instances where a sealant is necessary or you prefer it that way.
Most paint found at your local store just won't be suitable for lime plasters. 'Normal paints' contain plastics and chemicals, which form an impermeable layer that water vapour just can't get through. Avoid at all costs.
Limewash is making a huge comeback as organic and natural home design takes center stage. The art of limewashing has become more DIY-friendly, but it can be tricky.
Simply wipe the wall with a damp cloth. Do not scrub, as this will take the Limewash off the wall. Simply touch up with more Bauwerk Limewash Paint. Brush back any powdery areas and do a quick reapplication of limewash straight over previously painted layers... the surface will just get better with age.
Salt was often added to exterior limewash to make it more durable and dry slower, producing a better finish. Salt probably came from local salt works. Limewash could also be colored if the opaque white lime color was not desirable.
Preferred PRO Tip: If your brick is quickly absorbing the limewash, add 50% cleaning vinegar to the water to help with limewash removal.
Limewash can be reversed, but it depends on how deep the lime has penetrated your bricks. This means five coats of limewash will be harder to remove than if you had only applied one coat. Older brick walls with limewash will also prove more challenging to reverse.
Lime's high pH level means microorganisms can't survive, which adds a hypoallergenic quality. Proponents also argue that limewash has a chemical makeup that removes odors (and harmful CO2), improving interior air quality.
Lime wash will be very hard to remove from brick because brick is porous. Washing or sanding will get it off the surface but the small crevices will be difficult to rid of limewash.
If the paint has fully dried and you want to fully remove it or change the look, use a pressure washer to remove the paint. If you are not happy with how much you wash off, it is easy to reapply and touch up at any time as the paint finish is very flat. If it is difficult to remove, use a diluted muriatic acid mixture.
Paint over the whitewash with a brush or use an aerosol can of oil-based paint. Allow the paint to dry. Sand the wood lightly with a folded piece of 220-grit sandpaper. Apply another coat of paint to finish.
Perhaps you've moved into an older home with limewashed walls or are restoring a historic building and are faced with the challenge of updating its appearance. The good news is that you can paint over limewash, but it requires a specific technique to ensure that the finish is long-lasting.
Like cement mortars, it can be very slowly dissolved with an acidic cleaner like Aciclean but the process is extremely time-consuming, as the product has to be continually re-applied. Removal is therefore only practicable if the limewash is very thin.
Limewash calcifies to the brick, and the product will patina or age over time. Areas like chimneys and exposed walls will wear down more quickly, but areas under cover, such as soffits etc. remain as you painted them for many years. “If you are open to limewash aging, then it's a finish for decades.
Expect limewash paint application to cost more than regular paint as it is a more labour-intensive process.
Apply with a stain brush or block: You can't apply limewash paint with a roller or spray. Instead, both van Os and Davis recommend using a four to six-inch block or stain brush to define the perfect texture. Consider coverage: Limewash has a more translucent finish, so the underlying surface may affect the final color.
Generally, the rule would be to allow for 4 weeks for every 5mm of thickness that is applied but in poor drying conditions it can take longer. For clay paint you would expct to wait from 4-6weeks and for silicate paints yo can expect to wait 6-8weeks before painting.
Firstly, the process of applying the lime plaster takes longer and is more involved meaning higher labour costs, although most plasterers will still just charge a standard day rate. The second reason is that lime products tend to be more expensive to buy than cement.
Unlike lime paint or lime wash, which has a flat or matte sheen, lime plaster develops a slight sheen just from the act of being troweled on (the steel trowel blade “burnishes” the plaster). You'll often see lime plaster used on an accent feature, such as a fireplace or range hood.