Limewash is a mineral wall finish made from slaked lime, water and natural pigment. Unlike paint, which dries into a plastic film on top of the wall, limewash soaks into a porous surface and hardens as the lime reacts with carbon dioxide in the air. The result is a matte, softly clouded color.
What is limewash made from?
Limewash starts as slaked lime mixed with water and, usually, mineral pigment. Traditional limewash has no acrylic resin binder. Once it is brushed on, the lime reacts with carbon dioxide over the following weeks and turns into calcium carbonate, the same compound as limestone. That process is called carbonation.
Fresh limewash looks chalky and uneven. It settles into its final color as it cures.
How is limewash different from regular paint?
Paint dries into a film. Limewash cures and bonds into the surface. The practical differences follow from that:
- Paint gives a flat, even color coat after coat. Limewash shows clouding and brush texture, even within one batch.
- Paint forms a plastic layer on the wall. Limewash is porous, so the wall can breathe through it.
- Paint can go over most primed surfaces. Limewash needs a mineral surface, or a mineral primer over existing paint.
Breathability matters in Arizona because stucco, block and plaster all move with the temperature and hold a little moisture.
Where does limewash work in a Phoenix home?
Limewash goes on mineral surfaces such as stucco, plaster, brick and block, inside and out. It also works on drywall once the wall is primed correctly. Indoors, the most common requests are living room feature walls, bedrooms and fireplace surrounds. Outdoors, owners choose it for whole houses or a single front elevation, especially on stucco, which covers most Phoenix homes.
What does it look like on the wall?
Expect soft clouding, not a flat color. Brush marks stay visible in raking light near a window or a lamp. The color seems to shift through the day as the light changes. If you need a perfectly uniform paint-store color match, regular paint is a better fit.
What does the job involve?
Limewash is applied with natural bristle brushes, not rollers, because rollers flatten the brush texture that defines the finish. The lime is mixed with water and pigment to suit the wall, and two to three thin coats are common. Each coat needs time to dry before the next, so the job takes longer than a same-size paint job and costs more up front. We do not publish price ranges because every wall is different. Request a free estimate and we will quote your actual walls.
Is limewash right for you?
Limewash suits people who want depth and texture and are comfortable with a finish that shows its brushwork and ages visibly. If you want a flat, uniform wall, paint does that better.
To see how limewash stacks up against other specialty finishes, read our limewash, Roman clay and Venetian plaster comparison. For examples of finished work around Phoenix, see our interior limewash page and exterior limewash page, or call or text (602) 835-0140.
Sources
- Whitewash (limewash), Wikipedia: limewash cures through a reaction with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to form calcium carbonate.