Milk / Casein paint , Any thoughts?

[agbagb]

The other half been looking in to Milk Paint. Before we start some trials, has anyone tried making any or used some "off the shelf"? If not I'll report back.

 

[skier-hughes]

I've used rose of jericho casein distemper, excellent stuff.

 

[rebeccac]

Have you considered clay paints?Or are you painting wood?If its plastered walls I would think that clay paints would be far cheaper and easier to use especially if you mix your own from clay.flourpaste and sand.There are plenty of recipes online.

www.myabruzzohome.blogspot.com

 

[JoceAndChris]

I second the vote of approval for the quality and pigmentation of the Rose of Jericho paints, I've used both their casein distemper and ordinary distemper. I was looking for strong and specific colours- if you're doing the same, and decide to use RofJ, don't skimp on the sample pots as the made up colours when they arrive don't necessarily correlate with their charts. They warned me about this, they said the green might come out a bit differently as they were using a new recipe, and I should order a test pot, but I was too mean. The result is I expected an Eau de Nil and received a bright Arsenic green, so be careful.

Also the colours fade over time, which I like, but you might not. Give it 5 more years, it will be Eau de Nil!

Casein distemper is an arm achy experience as it goes on with a big floppy brush, but quite fun. If you're using a strong colour, you'll probably need to build up three coats. And I had to mist my very old, porous lime plaster with water in a plant sprayer very frequently before application.

 

[Carol]

I used casein distemper (F&B) on our cellar walls about seven years ago and it still looks quite good, it breathes, is very easy to apply and covers well and apart from a slight farmyard aroma much less smelly than other stuff. It is much nicer than the clay paint on our old walls.

But don't try and store and re-use any leftover, it has a 12 week use-by for a reason. (search on here for shelf life of casein distemper to find out why!)

 

[agbagb]

Thanks, I'll have a look at RoJ.

It'll be for use on the timber panneling that makes up most of the internal walls so it's likely to be different from the distemper. Sorry I should have pointed that out.

Carol, Point taken about the shelf life.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Agbagb, all those products mentioned above are excellent. You will find that RoJ are extremely helpful on the telephone with their technical advice and you would do well to talk to them about the correct finish for the timber panelling. Natural clay paints are also very good.

Judging by what I have seen on A's videos of houses viewed recently I think yours is going to be the most sympathetically finished, some of them are a mish mash!!!

 

[AMc]

I used http://www.littlegreene.com/paint/finish/ distemper on bare brick walls. Went on OK - a bit thinner than regular paint. Has covered well and is durable - no dusting on clothes etc. and has stabilised some softer bricks.

If you're looking at a lot of wood then worth a mention http://www.holkhamlinseedpaints.co.uk/ though I haven't used them myself.

 

[agbagb]

Thanks, we'll be looking at / talking to RoJ and looking in to clay paints as well.

We've got some bare brick that'll need paining as well so limewash, distemper, clay paints are all in the running. I'm thinking something that gives a "high build to soften the joints and give a many layers look. We can see some of it was originally painted before it was lime plastered then plaster boarded over.

AMC, the window and extorior woodwork are going to linseed, I've used Holkem before it's good stuff and covers well. I'm at the stripping and repairing stage at the moment with a couple having had a first coat of plain linseed. The other half is thinking about a "duck egg" blue that Holkem doesn't have so we're looking for another source.

Although my new sliding sashes at home are linseed on the inside I get the impression that it's not ideal for interior work. It's OK on the windows although it does seem hard to clean especially after a polishing the glass with vinegar and newspaper. The newsprint smudges on the frame and seems to soak into the surface.

Jocelyn, you're right about the state of most houses, I can see how it happens though. We've had a couple of roofers in for quotes, one suggested sorting the dormars with upvc cladding. I think well go with old timmer who imediately suggested lead, he also didnt blink when I asked for the chimney rebuild and detailing with lime mortar.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Old timmers always the best, that is re assuring to find somebody who understood the words, lead and lime mortar!!