Auro 524 paint on lime plaster: anyone any experience?

[MikeG]

It's a while since we talked about painting lime plaster. I'm shortly going to be plastering my upstairs rooms in the old part of my house (300 year old oak framed building). I'll be using Thermalime from Anglia Lime, and I've started looking into possible paints. Bearing in mind one of the rooms is a bathroom, I was wondering if anyone had any experience of Auro 524, a micro-porous "eco-emulsion"?

I'm aware that Earthborne do an eco-emulsion (god, I hate terms like that), so anyone with experience of that might like to comment.

 

[88v8]

No, but I see it's a vegan paint.
Thinking about vegans attacking dairy farmers. does this mean that those of us who use traditional paints are in danger?
God give me strength........

As a matter of interest, what makes you eschew clay paint?

Ivor

 

[MikeG]

......As a matter of interest, what makes you eschew clay paint?

Ivor

I'll almost certainly use clay paint in the bedroom, but it isn't suitable for bathrooms, particularly where it would get regularly splashed. I don't particularly like tiles, so avoid tiling around the bath, for instance, but any wall in a bathroom is liable to be splashed, and clay paint will absorb the soap/ shampoo etc and stain. The manufacturer's themselves don't recommend it in that situation, although they have a product called "Wall Glaze" which would make the clay paint suitable, but it adds a sheen and a whole other layer of cost.

 

[livias]

limewash?
Cheap breathable wipeable
Whats not to like
I use it everywhere

 

[MikeG]

Wipeable? In a bathroom? I'll be talking to Ted Ingleby soon about that, but I remain somewhat sceptical.

 

[steveb]

We used clay paint in the bathroom, 6 years in and still good. We do have MVHR though so any excess water dries out pretty quickly and doesn't seem to stain, although I guess if you knocked any coloured fluid over it, it will

What's to lose - another coat of paint if it doesn't work out?

 

[Flyfisher]

Wipeable? In a bathroom? I'll be talking to Ted Ingleby soon about that, but I remain somewhat sceptical.

Had many a chat with Ted - lovely chap Also good that his sons are carrying on the business.

As well as their 'pure & simple' limewash they also have a version with tallow. I've not used either in a bathroom but have been using three coats of 'pure & simple' followed by two coats of the tallow limewash as an external finish and the tallow certainly increases the water-shedding properties of the limewash. I accept that's not really the same as 'wipeable' though, but I always associate that property with acrylic (ie plastic) emulsions.

I've been a recent convert to clay paints and although I've not yet tried it in a bathroom I have plans to do so and am hoping to replicate steveb's experience.

 

[MikeG]

.........What's to lose - another coat of paint if it doesn't work out?

Paint that costs roughly the same as gold leaf........ :lol:

 

[JBean]

We used Earthborn paint in a little bathroom. I had a chat with one of the firm's 'paint consultants' who rather unhelpfully said that any of their paints could work (he must have hoped we'd go for steveb's idea of multiple coats of different, expensive formulations). It's a tricky attic bathroom with a low sloping ceiling right above the shower, so lots of scope for splashing, damp, mould etc.

Anyway, we plumped for the Earthborn Lifestyle emulsion. So far (6 months) it's been fine. At first there were a few streaks above the shower which I worried was the paint running from all the steam, but it easily wiped clean and now seems to be fine.

Not sure that helps you much Mike, but I post in case others are considering this particular paint for a steamy little room.

 

[MikeG]

The guys at Earthborne told me that their Lifestyle emulsion has the exact same vapour permeability as your typical modern vinyl emulsion. In other words, if you need a vapour-open wall surface, then it isn't the paint for you.

 

[GPHouse]

I had the same advice from Earthborn - which was a shame, I have their clay paint elsewhere.

I could do with a solution for the same thing if anyone can help!

 

[JBean]

Sounds like I got duff advice then from Earthborn...

 

[Kearn]

......As a matter of interest, what makes you eschew clay paint?

Ivor

I'll almost certainly use clay paint in the bedroom, but it isn't suitable for bathrooms, particularly where it would get regularly splashed. I don't particularly like tiles, so avoid tiling around the bath, for instance, but any wall in a bathroom is liable to be splashed, and clay paint will absorb the soap/ shampoo etc and stain. The manufacturer's themselves don't recommend it in that situation, although they have a product called "Wall Glaze" which would make the clay paint suitable, but it adds a sheen and a whole other layer of cost.

We've had standard Earthborn clay on our bathroom walls for a couple of years now with no protective finish. Had zero issues with staining where splashes occur around the bath / sink / clumsy spraying of the walls with the shower head! And splashes definitely do happen reguarly, but so far the paint has just dried and left no trace. Recently these splashes have been from a very hairy puppy who doesn't like being bathed, so not always clean water without any additions!

It's not a steamy bathroom though, as it's a bath with shower attachment rather than shower room, with limited usage. However, windows are leaded single glaze prone to condensation.

 

[Kearn]

.........What's to lose - another coat of paint if it doesn't work out?

Paint that costs roughly the same as gold leaf........ :lol:

Would agree with that! More so that only yesterday I collected a 5L tin, popped it in the rear footwell, first roundabout it fell and it sounded ominous. Instinctively I put my hand behind my seat, only to withdraw a dripping Trilby grey hand as the lid had just popped off! To be fair, where I purchased it from gave me a free 2.5L tin, which was more than I had poured into the car, but still... Check lids!

That was a rather frustrating hour of cleaning that I won't be getting back, but I'm very glad it wasn't a modern chemical based paint otherwise I might not find it so funny today!

 

[MikeG]

We've had standard Earthborn clay on our bathroom walls for a couple of years now with no protective finish. Had zero issues with staining where splashes occur around the bath / sink / clumsy spraying of the walls with the shower head!.......

That's encouraging. Maybe the manufacturers are being over cautious.