Limewashing a smoke stained chimney wall

[JanJonWestWales]

Hi, having limewashed other walls in our house, with great success, I am now having trouble with a chimney wall where the lime doesnt seem to want to dry white. The wall looks as if it has some smoke staining. Ive scrubbed off what I can, dubbed in the deeper holes, and given it two layers of limewash. One corner semes to dry as i would expect, but the rest is stubborly remaining dirty brown.
Shold I just keep adding more layers?
Any ideas??

thanks J&J
http://blaencwmbychan.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[MatthewC]

I think it will always come through lime plaster, never mind limewash. I think one way is to use some plastic and stainless steel mesh, and plaster over that. Would clay paint do better than limewash?

 

[Zebra]

How bad is the dirty brown colour. Got any pics? I'm just wondering whether it would be an idea to abandon the idea of white for that wall, and buy some limewash pigment of a beigy colour?

 

[JanJonWestWales]

Not a bad idea zebra...if all else fails, than that might be our option.

I dont think the staining is particularly bad (There is a photo here...scrolldown a bit...April 27th Post)
http://blaencwmbychan.blogspot.co.uk/

In the bottom right hand corner it is fine

 

[Zebra]

Well it has a beauty all of its own in some ways, and tells a story too. Might you learn to live with it?
A few more layers of limewash certainly couldn't hurt, and may tone it down to the point where it's OK. Otherwise, the pigment is an option. I've used yellow-pigmented limewash internally.

 

[JanJonWestWales]

thanks...i am certainly going to keep trying, and adding layers (the other rooms have upward of 10 layers to get the soft finish I like).
If after 10 layers it still isnt acceptable (and you right...a little yellowing would be fine) this is absolutely not a "perfect" house.

 

[paulb33]

Personally, I'd limewash it a few times. Then, I'd get a roaring fire burning constantly in the grate below for a few weeks. Choose a damp timber spewing out acrid thick smoke.

The stack willl look lovely all sooted up. Especially with that gorgeous colour you're using.

 

[JanJonWestWales]

hmmmm...ingeneous solution...but I think the wife might have something to say about that... :shock:

 

[paulb33]

Off topic, but I'm sure you're familiar with Under The Thatch, if you're renovating a cottage in that area. The architectural historian Greg Stevenson is proprietor and famous for so many stunning, authentic Welsh cottage restorations.

A ton of inspirational photographs here:

https://www.facebook.com/underthethatch/photos_albums
www.underthethatch.co.uk

 

[JanJonWestWales]

yes know them well...ive stayed in a few of their cottages, and they are all inspirational as you say !

 

[paulb33]

yes know them well...ive stayed in a few of their cottages, and they are all inspirational as you say !

Anyone undertaking a restoration should stay in at least one of his places. It should be mandatory. Part of LBC.

Lovely limewashing on your place, BTW.

 

[Keithj]

The option, if you want white and there's no damp, is to use Classidur. It's not cheap, but it does cover a multitude of sins (as several churches of my acquaintance bear out).

 

[JanJonWestWales]

thanks Keith..i will research it...I assume it doesnt breath then ?

 

[worms]

thanks Keith..i will research it...I assume it doesnt breath then ?

Perhaps though, if there is enough tar in the wall to leach through several layers of limewash, the wall isn't breathing much anyway?

 

[Keithj]

Our DAC-approved architect reckons Classidur is breatheable (and excellent). I used it on some oak tannin stains on our interior lime wall. It covered it well until the rain came in

I know a couple of churches who have used it and reckon it's good stuff.

 

[JanJonWestWales]

thanks keith...
To Worms point...Ive raked out as much of the mortar in the stained area as possible and pointed with fresh lime, so hopefully the wall is still breathable. So I definately want to keep it so. I dont think the staining is very bad, just enough to muddy the limewash...i will try several layers first to see if it dilutes enough.
If that fails, then I will certainly consider the Classidur.

appreciate your advice...

http://blaencwmbychan.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[JanJonWestWales]

wondering if its really smoke damage...