Too late in the year for Limewash ?

[GideonCrawle]

Hello All,
We moved into our "project" about 6 months ago, a 16C Sussex Cottage which needs a bit of TLC. We've started on the work our survey uncovered, and have had part of the exterior wall re-plastered, properly, with lime plaster. I now need to think about painting this both inside and out.
My first question is, am I going to have any problems applying Limewash this late in the year? Although not too cold (15 degrees C today!) it has been rainy, wet and misty, and it looks set to stay damp and get colder. Although it's probably OK to apply the limewash inside, what about outside? Will it just wash off with the rain? Or am I better off waiting until spring ?
Secondly, other parts of the exterior and interior have been painted in the past, but I don't know what was used. Would it be OK to limewash over the top of this? Or would a product like "Pozilime" be better?
I'm sure Limewash is the answer where you have a "pure" unadulterated Lime Plaster wall, but this building has been mucked about with over the years, there are patches of cement plaster, and brick infill, and I've no idea what paint has been used both inside and out. What do you recommend to paint over this lot ?

Gideon

 

[formerly known as]

Too late in the year for external limewash.

varied internal substrate could be painted with clay paint.

 

[malcolm]

I would agree too late - they say in big letters in the instructions not to use it when there is a danger of frost within a few weeks. The end of September is considered a safe time to put your feet up for the winter. I've not quite finished my lime washing but it is being done at risk with hessian covers. Rain within a day is a bad thing too - wait until the forecast is good or shelter the wall from rain.

For my previously painted external walls (modern waterproof masonry paint where the paint couldn't be removed without damaging render) I used Pozilime for the first 2 coats then ordinary limewash on top of that. It doesn't help the wall breathe as the masonry paint is still there, but it seems to be holding well and looks nice. Where the masonry paint is on brick it can be stripped which will allow the walls to dry.

There is a delay in posts appearing for new members. Get 5 posts in and the delay goes away which makes the forum work better.

 

[steveb]

we used earthborn claypaint internally, very pleased with it - so pleased that we did the exterior with their silicate paint.

That may be an option for your exterior but you'd have to call them to check that it's not subject to the same weather constraints as limewash. My guess is that is it not as it dries/cures quite quickly, but I guess no paint handles frost well

It's properties are supposedly similar to limewash, so very breathable, but requires less maintenance

-Steve

 

[GideonCrawle]

Thanks for the advice and opinions.
I'm interested in the Earthborn Silicate paint, but oh! the price!. It looks like Limewash would be a lot cheaper and basically do the same thing. How often would I need to re-apply the limewash once it's on, each year? every two or three ? So would I be making a rod for my own back using Limewash rather than the Silicate paint?
I won't need any second bidding to put my feet up and wait until spring to do the painting, I don't think there will be any problem in leaving the panel bare plaster until then, will there ?
Anyway there's lots more to be getting on with inside rather than outside. I'm so glad I found this forum, it's great to be able to chat with likeminded people.

Gideon

 

[formerly known as]

no problem with leaving the plaster until the spring.

I limewashed my brick and fling house over 10 years ago, and it just about needs doing again. Limewash will stick to render much better than flint.

I think that the whole 'you have to limewash every 2 years' claim is rubbish (probably originated from the same person that stated 'it's only the front that is listed')

 

[malcolm]

A 10 year life is encouraging. The limewash suppliers (I mixed my own from a tub of putty but their instructions were useful) suggest a 5 year life which is a lot longer than the paint on the pub down the road which was painted last year in modern waterproof paint and is already going very mouldy because of the damp that waterproof paints cause within the structure. You can even see where their damp rotting and beetle infested timber frame is under their render.

I put my last coat of limewash on this morning. Though I'll stand by my suggestion it is too late in the year for this sort of nonsense. I have installed the hessian cover to protect the lime render which I applied too late as well, but 50mph winds tomorrow blowing the hessian around will likely cause surface damage to the limewash so a bit of patching up might be needed next year.

 

[Zebra]

All sounds very encouraging malcolm, well done for making such good progress!

 

[formerly known as]

'fling' is of course flint (my post above)

The limewash I used at that time was made up in a plastic barrel with screw down lid - 200 litres of tap water + 60 kilos of normal hydrated lime + 750 ml of raw linseed oil. I made similar about 5yrs ago in readiness for redoing, but that is sat in the shed maturing as it hasn't been needed.

I am surprised that it has lasted so long, as the suction on flint is of course very very limited.