decorating a WET lime plastered wall

[fieldfare]

Hi folks, we have a wet lime plastered internal wall that we would like to decorate with white (or light) 'paint'until we get rid of the source of the water. I've tried limewash and it just doesn't work- it's just too damp so no setting is taking place even after several weeks. Would any other breathable wall covering work? Clay paint? Distemper? Would we then be able to limewash over it when the wall dries? Or am I fighting a losing battle?

many thanks

 

[Gervase]

It's a losing battle, I'm afraid. You need to remove the source of the water before even limewashing the wall. Limewash will carbonate when damp, but if it's actually permanently wet, forget it!

 

[andrew gayton]

agreed.

 

[fieldfare]

Mmmm. Thought so Thanks for the quick replies.

 

[NT]

Hydraulic lime will set in wet conditions, so you might try paint made with that. It wont store of course. I've not tried doing this, but expect it would be fairly likely to work.

NT

 

[Nemesis]

But then moisture in the plaster won't be able to easily escape?

I'd leave it to dry naturally, and stop trying to decorate.

 

[fieldfare]

Thanks folks- yes, I think on balance we need to crack on with fixing the source of the water and just live with with the wet wall- I guess one could view it as a 'feature' :?

 

[Mark]

tell people its your fresco practice wall.

they're painted onto wet plaster.

 

[Penners]

It's a losing battle, I'm afraid.

I believe Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni managed it without too much trouble.

Unfortunately he doesn't contribute to this forum.

 

[MDE]

How about hydraulic lime paint?

 

[Nemesis]

I'm gettin that feeling of deja vu...

 

[Gervase]

I suspect that even Signor Buonarotti's plaster eventually dried. You can't paint effectively onto wet plaster that stays wet. Fresco is work on wet plaster that dries and thus seals in the pigment. This sounds like plaster that doesn't dry.
Hydraulic lime paint would certainly form a skin over the wet plaster, but to what effect? The bottom line is, get rid of the water and then paint. Anything else is rather pointless.

 

[Gervase]

I suspect that even Signor Buonarotti's plaster eventually dried. You can't paint effectively onto wet plaster that stays wet. Fresco is work on wet plaster that dries and thus seals in the pigment. This sounds like plaster that doesn't dry.
Hydraulic lime paint would certainly form a skin over the wet plaster, but to what effect? The bottom line is, get rid of the water and then paint. Anything else is rather pointless.

Heavens, I'm sounding as tolerant as NT here!

 

[Gervase]

B*gger - meant to edit rather than quote. Blame the wine!

 

[Nemesis]

Yup - fresh plaster and fresh egg, but not on a wet background.

The wet walls need dealing with asap.

 

[NT]

There may also be other ways to do it if you want.

Eg point a fan at the wall, and if a patch dries, paint it with lime, put the fan back on for a few days. Move to new patch, repeat.

Temporary use of dehumidifier might also work, etc


NT

 

[Penners]

I'm gettin that feeling of deja vu...

I bet you've had that before, haven't you?

 

[Nemesis]

I have!

But re the wet wall - if water is getting in nothing much is going to help, except stopping the water getting in! The lime may carbonate but it will still then draw in the moisture from the damp wall.

 

[NT]

ie wont make any difference to the damp, but will get the wall painted.

NT