Anyone used Farrow & Ball Limewash ?

[Mark]

I ask because I've just bought some. I need a colour match to another wall which has lining paper and F&B emulsion on it.

My only other experience with limewash is making my own plain white. The F&B stuff seems very thick and gluupy by comparison. It looks as if it is going to dry to a texture like their ordinary emulsion rather than the chalky texture I was expecting. In the can it has a consistency nearer cream than milk. I think it must have something in it to thicken it or to stabilize the surface.

I dont think I like it.

Anyone else used it ? care to share experiences?

thanks

M

 

[Becka]

can't help with the limewash.. but has anyone had farrow and ball estate emulsion go off!? opened a can last night which had been barely used and it was all watery and didn't thicken significantly when stirred.. very odd

 

[Sue Wilkinson]

I've not used F&B lime wash, but the datasheet is available as a download PDF here http://www.farrow-ball.com/productadvice/advicesheets/Limewash.pdf

It claims to have only lime putty, water and pigment in it, I guess its just a strong solution. The data sheet advises you to water it down, so you are not intended to use it straight from the can by the sound of it.

They do however, claim that it is washable and wipeable once properly dry, which I wouldn't expect from limewash.

Sue

 

[Sue Wilkinson]

Becka, I've not had it go off, but the weather has just been very hot. Paint should be stored within a certain temperature range so perhaps it just cooked. Or it needed more stiring with a whisk implement to put the water back into the solution.

Sue

 

[Gervase]

I've used F&B limewash and yes, it does need diluting. I think it's designed to achieve a one-coat cover or something (which is daft in a limewash) as it's very thick with a huge amount of pigment. You're best off experimenting, but I found 1:1 with water and two coats (of a dark grey-green) seemed to cover pretty well.

(It wasn't my choice to use the stuff, BTW - it was foisted on us by the BBC who wanted a quick bit of set decorating. Home-made is far superior - and vastly cheaper)

 

[Mark]

Damn! Damn! Damn! :evil:

Thanks Sue, I did try a search on the F&B site and couldnt find anything - it brought up limewash but then wouldnt do anything else. The tin doesnt say anything about thinning.

I still think there is more in it than just lime putty, water and pigment. If I mixed lime putty in a thick solution it wouldnt be like this, and if it was this thick it would crack as it dried.

Ive just done one part of the wall so far, i'll thin it for the rest of the wall and the next coat.

 

[MDE]

Do you think it might have linseed oil in it to make it more waterproof?

 

[Gervase]

I don't think it's linseed oil - you'd smell it. It may have casein in it or (heaven forbid) some alkyd resin.

 

[biffvernon]

If it had casein in it wouldn't they have to advertise a shorter shelf-life?

 

[Mark]

Not sure - It is supplied to order, you cant just buy it in a shop.

How could I tell if it was casein ?

I agree with Gervaise, home made is nicer - I just needed a close colour match and didnt have time for any more faffing about.
kids are away this week so I can make a mess without them coming along and joining in, last time I tried painting with the children about I turned round to find that the 4 year old was finger painting pictures on the wall in the next room.

 

[Becka]

Hi sue, gave it a really good stir and still only as thick as milk.. quite odd.. I've had paint get thicker over time but never thinner! considering letting it settle again and then pouring off the and using that to colour limewash.. tho I'm not sure if that would work/be ok?

 

[thiambal]

Funnily enough, I had a similar problem with a tin a of Permoglaze MVP primer-undercoat this week. When I opened it there was an inch layer of watery material on the top - even after vigerous mixing it did not get much thicker and was like a wash when trying to apply. However, once I had used the first half inch or so the paint got thicker and became like regular paint to use.

When I opened a second tin of the same paint yessterday there was no watery layer on top.

Could it be the weather?

 

[Becka]

could well be.. it was over 30 degrees here for quite alot of the last 2 weeks and the paint was stored in a warm dark cupboard.. question is, whether it will go back to normal..? was a practically full tin so somewhat annoying..

 

[Ushy M]

Becka,

I've had a tin of F&B emulsion go off - similar thing, nearly full tin and when I re-opened not only had it separated and wouldn't thicken when stirred but it also smelt indescribably bad! I'm afraid I had to throw it away - a shame, particularly as it's quite expensive stuff ........

 

[Sue Wilkinson]

Becka, just take it back to the shop you bought it from and ask for a replacement. They don't have much of a leg to stand on seeing as how you have mixed it several times now.

I wouldn't use it for colouring limewash, you will end up with all the plastic and other chemical components in it after you have poured off the water, and ruin the wash.

Sue

 

[Becka]

worth a try.. had it for a while and looks very opened (is it just me are or farrow and ball's lids absolutely awful to get off and terrible to get back on?!) but maybe I can get a swappsees

 

[Sue Wilkinson]

Don't take this as trite, I don't mean it like that, but buy yourself a paint can opener. Its just a bit of metal a bit like an old bottle opener without the point. They cost very little and they open tins like a dream without damaging them. To get the lid back on, line it up and push a bit (usually goes in on one side only) then put a bit of paper over the lid and using your foot gently ease your weight up onto it, pressing all round. The lid goes on a treat and the paint keeps properly. (The paper on the lid is to stop you getting paint onto your shoe).

If you get colour mixed paint you will see the staff have these little things on their key rings. B&Q is where I got mine. A screw driver or spoon handle is nowhere near as good and invariably damages the lid.

Sue

 

[CHRIS]

I have used it once, it was the Cord colour and seemed a bit duff and very thick. I put 30% water in and made it a bit better but still did not like it as much as the stuff I used from Inglebys in Suffolk - it is also quite expensive compaired to normal limewash.

I have the same can floating in the cellar at the moment due to mains pipe burst!!!! have had no water for 2 days now with the prospect of having to lay a new pipe across 2 properties to get to me due to rusted out Galvanised pipe under the 2 houses - the joys of shared ownership!!!

 

[Mark]

Chris

you have my sympathy - you also remind me that my mains comes across a village green and three other properties to reach me, and I know for a fact (because I repaired it last time) that the old steel pipe is knackered and has a non-too brilliant repair in next doors outside loo. I have a better connector in the cupboard just waiting for it to be required.

At least I dont have a cellar to flood!