What will lime wash stick to?

[Nigel Watts]

The stripping of the paint from the outside of my house shows every sign of becoming the 13th labour of Hercules. Two thick applications of Klingstrip has not done the job completely in all areas. There are some patches of hard-to-remove oil based paint residues, some polyfilled areas etc.

If I am going to use a lime wash on the render how clean does it need to be?

 

[Pford75]

I'm going through a similar stripping process as you Nigel (although ours is brickwork and flint).

The test patches show that small flecks of paint do not present a problem (we don't want to be too hard on the mortar around the flints, so some paint remains). I am told however, that the lime wash will take, but will weather much more quickly where the surface is not entirely mineral. So you run the risk that it would be ok to apply, but produce uneven weathering.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Is there a time in the autumn/winter after which I can't limewash my brick outbuilding? I know lime pointing can't be done when below a certain temperature, but does a similar rule apply to limewash?

Thanks.

 

[biffvernon]

Should be ok so long as there isn't a hard frost in the following few days. I wouldn't be too bothered about every last bit of paint. Limewash is pretty forgiving and if the remaining paint does fall off eventually taking bits of the new limewash with it then it's job done and ready for the re-coat.