Limewash: What ratio?

[Roger H]

Hi all.

I was thinking of using limewash on my part studwork/gypsum/plaster skim, part original limewash on stone walls. Do you have to use shop-bought pre-mixed, or is there a recipe for making your own. Presumably hydrated lime (or putty?) plus water plus? What should it look like? How easy to mix? How many coats would be typical?

Thanks in anticipation,

Roger.

 

[Nemesis]

I think you might find that without adding stuff it won't stick to the gypsum skim etc. and might look rather uneven in texture even with additives.

Distemper might be better, it tends to cover more readily. Or clay paint. Not tried clay paint but others seem to think ot works - have had a recent thread about it?

 

[MdB]

I have been told that 50:50 putty / water is usual for lime wash. Milk powder is sometime added to help stop it rubbing off on clothes and linseed oil is sometimes added to help repel water when used externally. I've not actually made any myself yet but plan to.

 

[Nemesis]

The problem with milk is that it can attract mould. Adding linseed can help it stick, but some experimentation is required and the end effect might not be acceptable over a variety of surfaces.

http://www.spab.org.uk/html/advice/technical-qas/technical-qa-18-limewash/

 

[andrew gayton]

I mixed the following 100 litres of water, 50 kgs hydrated lime and 750 mls of raw linseed oil (always less tha 1% anyway).......... works fine, even on flint..................... some maths smarty pants will be able to work out the ratio i am sure.................

 

[Gervase]

Limewash with a bit of oil or casein should stick fine to gypsum plaster. The casein can be in the form of a pint of skimmed milk added to your mix or as casein powder whisked up with hot water and poured in.
With all limewash, the trick for best coverage is plenty of thin coats rather than one thick one - so you get recipes where the volume of putty to water is as little as 1:8. Damped the substrate first, and dampen each coat before applying the next one - allowing a day or so between each (and maybe two when it's cold or particularly damp).
For myself, I prefer a 2:1 water to lime ratio - using 25-litre tubs that's two tubs of water to one of lime, plus a cup of linseed oil, all whoosed up with a paddle mixer in a plastic dustbin. The best oil to use (and the cheapest) is the stuff from equestrian shops that is added to horse feed - it works out at a couple of quid a litre and is very pure. It also smells lovely.

 

[Nemesis]

Do you find the oil helps give an even covering over various surfaces? Or is the texture different? I know some people find that is the case, although eventually enough coats should help even things out.

 

[Gervase]

There are some surfaces (like smooth slate and shale) that seem naturally repellent to neat limewash. A bit of oil, however, and it will coat them. The chemical reaction in the limewash when you add oil or tallow is quite fascinating - what you're doing essentially is creating little soap-like molecules by saponifying the fat with alkali. These are double-ended beasties with one end that is attracted to water and the other to oils, which makes them bond to almost any substrate.

 

[Nemesis]

Blimey. I love it when chaps get all technical - makes me feel all warm inside...

(Or is that the Ardbeg?)

 

[Gervase]

At this time of day? :shock: Blimey, I haven't even unstoppered the Pernod yet (I know, it's a filthy habit, but it's a summer thing...)

 

[Nemesis]

Hmmmm. It's been a long and foul day here and having dealt with the flood I need sustenance. There are times when you do hanker after a building which doesn't spring surprises and leaks.

Is Pernod similar to absinthe? In which case iIve seen the painting and I am warned...

 

[Gervase]

No, nowhere near as good as absinthe (though my daughter might disagree, having turned the wall of her kitchen in Halls am odd shade with some serious projectile puking. "I'll never drink anything green again," was her verdict). It can give you a banging hangover, however.

 

[Nemesis]

Only green things?

I vow that I'll never drink anything of any hue again when I've been in that state!

(Last Friday evening/Saturday morning... )

Creme de Menthe. Avoid. Nasty nasty stuff. Green.

Simon of Springwatch was sitting outside the Ardbeg 'factory' last week. Historic buildings, we have to support (and a fiver off in Waitrose...)

Yes you cry we don't have a Waitrose! Well we do , newly arrived, and I admit to being rather taken with the alchofrolic special offers!

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Is Pernod similar to absinthe? In which case iIve seen the painting and I am warned...

It used to be the same, but with the banning of La Fee Verte in France in 1915, Messrs Ricard, Messrs Pernod and others had to produce something and took to making pastis instead...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastis

pass my smoking jacket...

 

[Nemesis]

Blimey Gareth - are you so hot???

xxx


http://www.seborabsinth.com/chronicles/celebrity-drinkers/default.asp

 

[Gervase]

Yes you cry we don't have a Waitrose! Well we do , newly arrived, and I admit to being rather taken with the alchofrolic special offers!

There's no need to rub it in. The John Lewis partnership has declared its intention to open a store in Cardiff, but no sign of a Waitrose this side of Offa's Dyke yet. *sigh*.

 

[Nemesis]

Oh it's so addictive - a trip to Aldi evens it all out though.

 

[NT]

50/50 putty and water works for me. Needs 2 coats, or on some surfaces 3. Gypsum & concrete have not been a problem so far.


NT

 

[andrew gayton]

Pastis, absinthe.............. who has been looking in my larder??

 

[Nemesis]

Yes, they are very useful as drinks stores I've found...