Black whitewash?

[DaveBrigg]

Our farmhouse has a black and white colour scheme on the outside which we wish to retain. The white is no problem and has provided hours of pleasure with a large bucket of limewash. However, the limestone window ledges are painted in black gloss at the moment, which is flaking badly, and there is some external woodwork which is so old and textured that gloss black seems inappropriate.
I've been told that adding black pigment to limewash will only produce shades of grey. Is there any way of producing black limewash? If not, is there a recommended paint for limestone?

 

[Gervase]

Just a thought - for the sills and ledges, what about stove polish or boot polish?

 

[Anne]

You can get black pretty black maybe not completely but really close. I'd just add black pigment to limewash and keep adding you can use a lot more then is recommended to get the colour and it won't hurt the limewash.

 

[CHRIS]

5E Clockhouse Farm Estate
Cavendish Lane
Glemsford
Sudbury C010 7PZ

Phone: 01787 280864
Fax/voice mail: 01787 280886
Email: ingilby.mariner@virgin.net

These lads have made a really good black limewash, I saw a sample last month - very black for use on the lower part of walls in Suffolk as a detail

 

[Penners]

They also make the matt black linseed oil barn paint that I've used on my garage weatherboarding. Smashing stuff. I think you can use it on stone as well as wood, but best ask them.

 

[michael]

For the black woodwork you could try "Pitch"a viscous resin liquid, derived from plants or petroleum. I live at the seaside and it is commonly used around here for sealing and waterproofing, old boats, weatherboarding, barns etc. Depends I suppose if breathability is an issue because whilst this stuff is a very old traditional method of protecting wood, I dont know if its breathable.

 

[DaveBrigg]

Thanks for all the advice. I tried stove black in one corner, but it started to shine, so I may well try the company suggested.

 

[NT]

I think Japan black and bitumen/tar type paints were relatively popular in the 1800s.

Tar: http://www.puuvene.net/phuhta/artikkelit/tar.html
Japan black: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Black


NT

 

[Gervase]

Bitumen or pitch was often mixed with sand and painted on the bottom 18 inches of walls to protect them from spattering and watersplashes.