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That is the area your visitors will look at as they enter the house. And by distinguishing it from the rest of the exterior, you will make it the focal point. The easiest, not to mention cost-effective, way of giving your entryway a makeover is with the help of limewash bricks. So, when you are redoing your home, consider limewash as an alternative to paint.
Limewash verse paint on brick?
The resulting coating is porous in nature, just like the brick! This is significant because when the surface gets wet, it allows the brick to dry and breathe as if the limewash coating is not even there. Classico Limewash is formulated to be instantly distressed by the applicator, or left to wear slowly over years – but there will not be any mechanical failure. Because it doesn’t form a continuous plastic film, limewash also helps retain the original texture of the brick and typically has an extremely flat finish. People whose houses have siding get to change the paint color at whim, but a brick exterior can make you feel a bit stuck. It's limiting at best and dated at worst, especially if you don't like the color.
Prepping Your Brick for Limewash (Super Important!)

Limewash has a longer lifespan than paint and is also generally easier to reverse if you change your mind in the future. Glenda Taylor is a BobVila.com staff writer with a background in the residential remodeling, home building, and home improvement industries. I'm Sarah Lyall, I have a background in interior design and a lifelong love of all things home and garden, so it's no surprise that I ended up turning my passion into a career.
Limewash Color Ideas for Brick Wall
Chris Collaris Architects crowns Lime Wash House with oversized roof - Dezeen
Chris Collaris Architects crowns Lime Wash House with oversized roof.
Posted: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Honestly, after you apply the limewash the way you want it… that is essentially the entire process of limewashing a brick house! I recommend mixing that up a little bit first without adding water. Then, if you’re limewashing a house and not a smaller interior brick area, transfer some of the limewash to a separate container to start mixing. I have always loved the classic look of a limewashed or painted brick house. When my sister asked me to help transform her house earlier this year I was excited to hear that she wanted me to do it to hers! Of course I set out to research how to accomplish the look that she wanted with the best possible products.
What Is Limewash?
The lime solids have a tendency to settle to the bottom, so stir as you go (and thoroughly before reuse). Don’t be alarmed if you can see right through the mixture as you apply it—it will whiten as it dries. Cover all the bricks evenly, and then wait two to four days before applying the next coat. Three to four applications may be necessary to reach the desired opaqueness. This application produces a soft white façade that improves your home’s curb appeal while adding a measure of protection against the elements.
quick and easy DIY home improvements for a stylish space
And even though I didn’t FEEL super confident, I thought I basically knew what I was getting into. That’s all it takes to prepare your brick for limewash–but that’s DEFINITELY not all you should do before starting. Romabio’s limewash should be applied when it’s between degrees Fahrenheit. Romabio also specifies that rain will not affect the application after about 3-4 hours, but of course, it’s ideal if the forecast shows no rain for a day or so afterward. On the other hand, keep in mind that applying limewash is SO MESSY, so you would be wise to prep for that. Mainly the only thing you can do is place cardboard or something else on the ground to stop the limewash from getting everywhere.
Ranch Exterior Wash
This helped me make the biggest mistakes in areas that no one really will see. By the time I worked on the front, I finally a good technique down. I did my test area on a side of my house that almost no one sees. Then, when I went to tackle the whole house, I finished that side, went to the back, then the other side of the house … and then FINALLY went to the front. Give yourself time to perfect your strategy before working on the most visible areas of your house. Unfortunately, I didn’t nail this technique down until the THIRD side of my house–so I had to back to visible areas with that I’d missed with that tiny brush.
How much limewash do you need?
After the limewash is on the brick–one section at a time–it’s time to customize the look of your limewash! This is where it’s important for you to already have your technique figured out. Limewash paint must be applied on a damp surface, so use a hose and spray a section of your brick with water.
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If your brick exterior is really dirty, you will need to power wash the surface before the initial application. Right out of the box, the texture appears very wet-clay like because it is shipped undiluted as lime putty. And don’t let the labeled color fool you – we chose Nube Gray – a gorgeous putty color!
Classico Limewash is the perfect solution for stone surfaces as well. Use it to lighten a stone that is too dark, or even out the color tones for a more muted look. If you're working indoors, lay down a tarp or old towels to protect your flooring. Using your water hose or spray bottle (you want as continuous a stream of water you can get), wet the limewash until you see areas rinsing off or dripping.

I completed the whole task within 24 hours and was able to get the rate for their 1-day rental. It is best to apply limewash on a dry, sunny day with moderate temperatures and low humidity to ensure the best results. My plan is to touch this up with a little bit of left over limewash. I stopped adding water when my mixture was thicker than paint, but thinner than glue.
Mixing your own limewash saves money and gives you greater freedom to change the consistency of the limewash. Older homes combined with age and any of the issues listed above will show signs of foundation damage. If your home’s foundation was built incorrectly, without standard requirements, or shows signs of external damage, get an inspection as soon as possible. Serious foundation problems can decrease your home’s value, worsen over time, and threaten the structural integrity of your home.
This construction method saves builders from using more concrete to build up the crawl space walls. If these walls are not properly braced, the entire unit can collapse during periods of stress. Contractors can upgrade these cripple walls by nailing ½” plywood to the frame, giving it shear resistance (shear paneling). Project Gallery featuring our collection of lime paints and plasters.
If you have any especially dirty or grimy areas, spray them with an all-purpose cleaner, scrub them with a stiff nylon brush, and then rinse the area with a hose. Limewashing a house will not make it look like a dime a dozen; rather, it will make it stand out. Limewash bricks have been around for centuries and are used to help old buildings breathe. But it can also turn a modern homestead into a breathtaking piece of art. Ranch-style homes are known for their sprawling expanse and open concept. But even though the structures are usually just one story tall, they cover a lot of areas.
Whitewashing, commonly confused with limewash, is another type of paint—not a mineral finish at all. Whitewash is usually made by mixing chalk or lime with paint rather than with water for full coverage. The following method for mixing and applying limewash is simple and will produce good results. While other types of lime, quicklime, and lime putty are also available, quicklime is not hydrated (which is necessary for making limewash) and can cause severe burns. Lime putty is less dangerous to work with but requires aging before it can be made into limewash.
Just in case you face trouble finding hydrated lime in your region, you can use any alternative product like ROMABIO® Classico Limewash. To coat your entire house under normal conditions, you will need no more than two bags of lime powder. Make sure you’re starting with a wall that’s away from direct sunlight, though indirect is okay if you don’t have a wall out of the sunlight entirely.
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