To white or not to white, that is the question!

[jimjim999]

Hi Everyone,

Just looking for a general opinion here - we have a 17thC barn (mill) with 19C-added cartsheds attached which was limewashed in the past but has worn off considerably as the years have gone by. Just the one end remains really where you can see the old layers of limewash flaking away to the touch. Over the mill part of the building, we have a heavy stone roof.

Purely on aesthetics, what does everyone think?...Should we paint the house white (i was thinking using breathable Earthbound stuff for longevity) or leave it as it is? :?:

Thanks for all your opinions!!...

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Welcome!
Pictures would help (just thought I'd get that in first, everyone else will be along shortly to say the same).
In general I'm in favour of reinstating painted and rendered finishes which have been lost, but on vernacular buildings I think they tend to look better if they aren't over-maintained or repainted every 5 years. If it was limewash before, there's then no reason to shell out for something more long-lived, just put limewash back.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Welcome jimjim999 - I'm amazed that there were 998 orther jimjims on the forum aready.

I'm sure no one else will be rude enough to ask, but we relly like to see pictures of people's houses on here..... :wink:

Earthborn paint is pretty pricey and you'll be renewing it regularly. If limewash was good enough originally, I'm sure it'll do again.

I like to see buildings limewashed, but the stonework being reaired/rebuilt n some of my barns is so beautiful I'm thinking of leaving it - at least for a few years.

 

[Jellyfire]

Welcome jimjim I'd be all for limewashing too, presuming you're not listed, conservation area etc and changing the colour doesn't need permissions there are also lots of colours available in limewash too. It's cheaper, easier and personally I think looks great. I'd you think the white is a bit too white you could always go for a more cream colour?

 

[JohnB]

I like to see buildings limewashed, but the stonework being reaired/rebuilt n some of my barns is so beautiful I'm thinking of leaving it - at least for a few years.

I like to see buildings limewashed, and the stonework that's been rebuilt in parts of my house is so appalling I'm planning to limewash it!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Welcome jimjim I'd be all for limewashing too, presuming you're not listed, conservation area etc and changing the colour doesn't need permissions there are also lots of colours available in limewash too. It's cheaper, easier and personally I think looks great. I'd you think the white is a bit too white you could always go for a more cream colour?

It's cheap, easy and fun to make too.

http://www.mikewye.co.uk/mikeprices.htm
http://www.earthpigments.com/lime/lime-wash.cfm
http://www.rusticgirls.com/how-to/how-to-lime-wash/

(other listing magazines are available :wink: )

If experimenting with making your own pigmented limewash, then you'll want to make up enough in a batch to ensure you have enough for colour matching.

 

[jimjim999]

thanks for all your comments so far!

 

[MatthewC]

we have a 17thC barn (mill) with 19C-added cartsheds attached which was limewashed in the past but has worn off considerably as the years have gone by. Just the one end remains really where you can see the old layers of limewash flaking away to the touch.

If it's flaking off, are you sure it's limewash? It might be"whitewash" or distemper. Whatever it is, you might have a problem with the adhesion of something else over it, or are you planning on removing it all (somehow)?

 

[Penners]

Welcome!
Pictures would help (just thought I'd get that in first, everyone else will be along shortly to say the same).

Welcome!
Pictures would help.

Seriously - they would. It would also be useful to know what part of the country you're in, and whether limewashing is usual there.

 

[Penners]

I'm amazed that there were 998 orther jimjims on the forum aready.

Yes... I'm having trouble thinking of them all.

There's jim-jiminy, and there's jimjim-jeree... :?