Description

Mike Wye Limewash is traditional blend of our own superior matured lime putty, water and linseed oil. Limewash is naturally white, alternatively earth pigments can be added to produce a fantastic range of colours.

Limewash is a very ancient paint made from limestone which has been crushed, burnt and slaked with water to make lime putty. The lime putty is matured for several months before being thinned with water to make limewash.

Limewash is naturally white and forms a complex crystalline matrix which has a matt, slightly chalky appearance. It is coloured with pigments and can be used internally or externally where it works best on porous surfaces such as a traditional lime plaster, lime render, stone and brick. Unlike modern barrier paints, limewash works by sinking into the surface. It hardens by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to form crystals of calcium carbonate which give the limewash its deep matt appearance and protective qualities. When used on porous surfaces, the colour will deepen if there is any dampness in the background material, hence its attractive shading.

Tallow (animal fat) or raw linseed oil are traditional additives which help to improve its water-shedding qualities when used externally (we use linseed oil as standard).
As it is a water-based paint, limewash isn’t easily absorbed into less porous surfaces such as cement renders or hard gypsum plasters, and therefore it won’t wear nearly as well on these. Additives such as casein (skimmed milk) can be added to help it bond to these less porous materials.

Coverage

1 litre covers 3 – 6 m² per coat, depending on the porosity and texture of the surface.

Use a minimum of 4 coats of limewash on new external lime render, and 3 coats on new internal lime plaster.

Colours

Our Limewash Colour Chart shows the range of 54 fabulous colours at affordable prices including natural white. A colour matching service is also available for a fee of £40+VAT.

The online colour chart is intended for guidance only. Limewash can appear different depending on the substrate, moisture content and environment. We strongly recommend you request dry sample swatches or 100 ml sample tins before committing to larger orders.

Limewash Colour Chart pdf.

*Note: The colours marked with an asterisk contain a blue pigment which is not lime-fast. It is therefore advised that they be used immediately when mixed or the colour will fade.