Lime Wash

Introduction

The beauty of Ocher is fully realized with the use of lime. Lime has a long history of use, serving both functional and decorative purposes. A limewash is a thin coating that serves as a protective layer but also lends itself wonderfully to artistic expression. When applied, the lime within the wash begins to react with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in a process called carbonation, gradually returning it to its original state—limestone.

As it reverts, the crystals within the lime expand and adhere to the surface below. In addition, these crystals offer an incredible light refraction that enhances the beauty of Ochers. The process of carbonation is critical for limewash to succeed. In this article we present the basic principles of preparing and applying limewash, introducing the foundational rules for achieving success.

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Choosing Lime

For the purposes of this article, lime powder refers to Hydrated Lime Type S. This is lime that has been industrially slaked and is ready for immediate use. All ratios in this instruction have been carefully calculated by weight using this lime powder to ensure proper proportions.

Not all lime is created equal. Be sure to purchase from a quality building supply store. The lime should not be more than 2 years of age and should be a striking white. Do not accept lime that is gray in color.

Lime washes have traditionally been made using lime putty, lime that has been slaked or soaked and comes in a paste form suspended under water to prevent carbonation. Before use in washes it must be sufficiently thinned to a suitable fluidity. Thus the water content when using lime putty can vary considerably. When following this article's weight ratio guidelines for pigments and additives, it is up to the end user to make the proper conversions to determine ratios when tinting washes made from putty.

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Choosing a Suitable Surface

For lime to properly adhere to a surface the two must be:

1. Chemically compatible
2. Mechanically compatible

When it is chemically compatible, lime will not adversely react with the surface, causing the two to separate, (the lime flakes or falls off). When mechanically compatible there is sufficient porosity and texture — referred to as "key" — to allow the lime crystals to expand, "lock" onto and penetrate the surface.

A limewash has more rigid requirements when it comes to suitability with a surface because it is a thin coating. As with lime plasters, the supporting surface must be able to withstand a pH of 12 or more.

Surfaces suitable for limewash without a primer:

• Lime
• Lime plaster and renders
• Lime and cement based mortars and renders that have proper tooth and porosity
• Previously lime washed supports
• Masonry supports such as, brick, stone, terra cotta (mud) and cement block

Surfaces that are unsuitable for limewash:

• Asbestos cement
• Dry wall
• Plaster block
• Hard troweled renders and plasters
• Plaster coating
• Painted interior surfaces
• Smooth surfaces
• Nonporous surfaces
• Wood (Too high in PH)

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Preparing Suitable Surfaces (Lime and Masonry)

The surface must be fully cured. Very smooth surfaces that don't have enough tooth (roughness) for the lime to bond with may require texturing with medium abrasives or a wire brush. Dust and loose debris should be removed by brushing or dusting, and then washing.

Next, the surface must be prewet (humidified) before each layer of wash is applied. Prewetting can easily be accomplished with a fine mist of water using such tools as a plastic spray bottle, pump sprayer or a garden hose with a suitable mist nozzle.

Prewetting the surface prevents it from absorbing water from the limewash itself, which could impair the critical carbonation process. A light dampness is desired — too much water on the surface will interfere with cling and coverage. Depending on the surface, humidity and temperature, it may be necessary to wait several hours (up to over-night) after you prewet before you begin the limewash application.
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Dealing with Unsuitable Surfaces

Each surface must be assessed for both chemical and mechanical suitability, and must be fully cured. The unnatural denseness of some modern coatings such as plasters, paints and cements can prove particularly difficult for traditional limewashes to adhere to because they can have both chemical and mechanical incompatibilities. Readymade primers specifically made for use with traditional limewash contain modern additives that alleviate some of these obstacles.

In addition to our readymade limewashes BADISOF FRENCH LIME WASH and BADISOF PLUS REINFORCED LIME WASH we also offer SOFIX, a high quality primer that makes it possible to use limewashes on otherwise unsuitable supports, including previously painted surfaces.
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Proper Atmospheric Conditions for Application

Conditions for application are the same as for lime renderings. Proper temperature and humidity are required for the carbonation process to be successful.

• Temperature should not be below 41 ºF (46 ºF for dark colors) at any time during the application or carbonation process. Do not allow freezing to occur.
• In temperatures above 86 ºF or in very low humidity, surface and subsequent coatings must be misted with water.
• Exterior coatings should be protected from wind and sun to protect from drying too quickly an opaque covering such as damp canvas or burlap works particularly well.
• Surfaces must not have a surface temperature below 41 ºF (46 ºF for dark colors) and must not be excessively hot or excessively wet.
• The most critical period of carbonation is the first two to three days.

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Limewash Effects

The limewash effect (visual appearance) is determined by the water to lime volume ratio, and can be divided into four distinct types. Each type corresponds to a unique recipe:

• Liming Coat — a thicker application with a more opaque look
• Wash — partially transparent, but with a strong coloring
• Tempera — medium-transparent, with the surface effect of tempera paint
• Patina — strongly transparent with an aged look

Water to Lime Ratios by Volume:

Ingredients	Liming Coat	Wash	Tempera	Patina
Lime Powder	1	1	1	1
Water	1	2-3	4-6	10-20

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Coloring Limewashes with Pigments

Pigments have traditionally been added to lime coatings according to local availability. Today, artists and decorators have a huge palette to choose from. Ochers and earths produce warm shades and are unaffected by UV radiation. Oxides produce cool shades and are often used in small quantities with Ochers to expand the range of colors. Many of these enhanced colors are already available in our Mineral Pigment line, (which are 90% Ocher based).

For limewash, pigments are added after the water and lime are thoroughly mixed. Slake (wet) the pigment in an equal amount of water to form a paste. This paste can be left to soak overnight if desired. Add the pigment paste to the limewash and stir — an electric paint paddle is recommended for complete dispersion. How much pigment you add depends upon individual pigment density, intensity of color desired, and chosen recipe.

Here when referring to a maximum percentage of pigment, we mean the saturation limit. Beyond this percentage, the pigment no longer adds intensity of color but instead begins to thicken the mixture, increasing the load that is to be fixed by the lime. Therefore, too high a percentage of pigment will result in mechanical failure of the limewash. The chart below lists limits for Earths, Ochers and Oxides. Note that as the volume of water in your limewash increases so can the weight of pigment before saturation occurs. Use this as a guide — these are upper limits; you can use less than indicated.

Maximum percentage for Earths/Ochers/Mineral Pigment in relation to lime powder by weight (For Natural Yellow, Natural black and Natural red use instead the maximum percentages shown for Oxides.)

Liming Coat	Wash	Tempera	Patina
10%	22%	65%	95%

Maximum percentage for Oxides in relation to lime powder by weight

Liming Coat	Wash	Tempera	Patina
5%	15%	35%	55%

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Additive Binders for Enhanced Adherence

Additives have traditionally been used with limewash to enhance its adhesion to the support surface. They generally fall within three categories:

1. Resins such as linseed oil
2. Glues such as casein or methyl cellulose
3. Modern binders like PVA, (polyvinyl acetate)

Linseed Oil is inexpensive and natural but it will alter the matt (flat) quality of a limewash, (it will also yellow over time).

Casein is inexpensive, natural and will not alter the matt quality of the coating. Prepare by soaking in hot water at a ratio of 2.5 pounds casein per gallon of water. Allow mixture to stand overnight.

Methyl Cellulose is a plant-based glue. It is inexpensive, and has the additional benefit of enhancing water retention. This slowing of the drying process is especially important in dry, hot or windy conditions where drying too quickly in the first two or three days can interfere with the important carbonation process. Do not use in wet conditions or on overly wet supports. Preparation: 20 grams per gallon of water. Allow mixture to stand overnight. It is the weakest of the binder additives, and really serves more to extend the "open time" of the limewash so that it does not dry too quickly in dry or hot conditions.

PVA, (polyvinyl acetate) is strong and inexpensive. We recommend our Acrylic Resin - a superior product that, unlike other PVA products, dries crystal clear. Dilute the proper amount with some of the water used from the chosen recipe then add to the remaining limewash mixture.

Additives are added after the initial mixing of the lime and water at a ratio of 1 to 10% of the volume of prepared limewash, before adding pigment. These additives can enhance binding strength and thus help to overcome less than perfect surface and application conditions. They can also assist in stabilizing the pigments within the limewash mixture. Since these are positive effects, their use is fairly common. However, these additives will also affect the porosity of the final lime coating, and a decision on whether to use them or not should take this fact into account.

One important rule: always add the same ratio of additive binder for each successive coat. Also, never exceed this 10% volume ratio as your limewash will no longer be a lime coating, but will primarily become a distemper paint.
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Application Techniques

It is best to test your mixture to be sure ratios are correct and that, when dry, the desired color and effect has been achieved. Dry color will be lighter than when wet. Limewashes also will dry to be more opaque than when wet, so do not make the mistake of applying too much in one coating.

Several thin coats are the key to limewash success — never apply too thick. For exteriors, 5 coats is recommended. For interiors, 3 coats should suffice. Lime is hard on brushes so choose a longhair masonry brush, (or sponges for patina applications). For mixing, the use of an electric paint-mixing paddle is recommended, along with rubber buckets, rubber gloves and eye protection. Mix only the amount of limewash to be used in one day.

Secco or "dry application" for cured surfaces: prewet the porous surface and allow it to sit several hours or overnight. When applying, do not spread the wash out as you might do with paint — apply with an even stroke and pressure to work the wash into the surface. Stir the wash between strokes. Water can be added to dilute the thick layer of wash that will be found at the bottom of the bucket as the wash is used. Apply your strokes vertically, then horizontally, finishing with a vertical stroke. When applying successive layers, allow the limewash to dry for 1 to 3 days between coats. Mist the surface with water and use slightly higher ratios of water with each successive coat — this ensures good adhesion and carbonation.

Fresco or "wet application" for partially cured, damp lime plasters and renders: in the Fresco technique, limewash is painted onto fresh, wet plaster using similar application techniques as with Secco. However for Fresco, use the lime powder-to-water dilution for Tempera — 1 part lime to 4 to 6 parts water. This technique requires that the surface must have carbonated (hardened) enough so as not to deteriorate as it is being brushed, but not be excessively dry as to inhibit proper adhesion of pigments with the lime in the surface. Technique and climatic conditions play a major factor in application time and success.
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Recipe Guidelines

Liming Coat
A thicker limewash is often used as a maintenance coat on interior or exterior masonry. Since it is thicker and more opaque than a wash, brush strokes will be apparent. Be cautious about using this recipe — although at first it may seem to cover better and be successful without all the work of several thinner coats, liming coats can easily be applied too thick which will result in failure due to poor application technique.

• 1 part water
• 1 part lime powder
• Additive binder at a ratio to the total volume of limewash mixture at no more than 10%
• Pigment by weight (ratio to lime powder) of no more than 10% Ochers, 5% Oxides maximum

Wash
A wash has less texture than a liming coat, but still masks the surface. To obtain the best result, stir between every stroke.

• 2 part water
• 1 parts lime powder
• Additive binder at a ratio to the total volume of limewash mixture of 1-10%
• Pigment by weight (ratio to lime powder) of no more than 22% Ochers, 15% Oxides maximum

Tempera
Lime Tempera is like a watercolor in its color intensity, utilizing both round and flat brushes. It is applied in both dry and fresco techniques.

• 4-6 part water
• 1 parts lime powder
• Additive binder at a ratio to the total volume of limewash mixture of 1-10%
• Pigment by weight (ratio to lime powder) of no more than 65% Ochers, 35% Oxides maximum

Patina
Patina coats give great transparency that will enhance the texture of a surface using either brush or a sponge. Used with both the dry and fresco techniques, it also acts to even out areas.

• 20 part water
• 1 parts lime powder
• Additive binder at a ratio to the total volume of limewash mixture of 1-10%
• Pigment by weight (ratio to lime powder) of no more than 95% Ochers, 55% Oxides maximum

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Final thoughts

The subject of lime coatings is more extensive than is presented in this short article but we hope this information will help you understand the basics. Application techniques, variations in lime types and the many visual effects possible make limewash a fascinating topic for further research and experimentation.
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More Lime Coatings Recipes:

• Lime Plasters & Renders
• Color Mixing Guide

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