Paints for lime putty render over cob

[phillc]

Hello,

Come about April we'll have nicely cured lime putty render over our cob house in Devon (yes, I have been doing it now - apart from a brief spell in early Jan, plenty warm enough where we are with some insulating blankets at the ready! Cure is slower but no bad thing ...)

Anyone have strong views on:

Outside - limewash or one of the hugely expensive breathable silicate paints? I know limewash means get the ladder out every other year. I am fine with that. And I like the patina/blotchiness of it. I need colour not white (conservation area) so I will buy premix rather than on site so as to ensure consistency (and I am too lazy anyway). I assume suppliers that add linseed oil are to be avoided (appears to count out Mike Wye). Any suggestions for good suppliers - Ty Mawr? Or, is this a rod for my own back so expensive silicate it is?

Inside - casein distemper, clay paint, or limewash? Living rooms so I assume limewash will be a pain. So, I am thinking casein distemper. Good suppliers - Ingleby?

Many thanks!

 

[jamest]

I'll give a shout out to Ingleby's pozilime exterior limewash. I used this in black (ish) about 5 or 6 years ago and it's still as good (well near enough) as it was when I put in on and if black wears off, you know it. Not too expensive either, about the same as something like Sandtex. I'll definitely be using it again. It does have a very slightly grainy finish, but it's hardly noticeable.

 

[Kearn]

Annual updating of external limewash isn’t really a truth… if you get it on properly, ideally before the lime has fully cured to get a better bond with the plaster. That would be my choice externally, many of the silica styled coverings aren’t what they seem and damn expensive for plastic and chemical additives.

Internally, again, limewash isn’t a no go - it will only be flaking/dusty if inappropriately applied. Mix it yourself from putty, save a fortune and if you want colour, buy decent artist grade natural pigments and add them when you mix. Simple. Again, no need to wait to do this, it will bind with the line better before it’s cured as it’s just a thin lime top coat. Not sure about Ty Mwar and MW, I tend to avoid them for line let alone paints. I believe the Ingilby lime wash is still not fully diluted, so some mixing required - get putty and don’t pay to ship water!

Soft distemper is the one to avoid internally, except for ceiling or decorative elements. It isn’t durable.
But RoJ do a genuine casein distemper, Ingilbys version has some oil in it also. Both are great to work with, manage moisture brilliantly (we have many leaks and it dries back to base colour fine), both will colour match. Ingilby is cheaper…so has become my choice for no other reason.

Claypaint is a scam. Nothing historic about it, just expensive vinyl based paints with a smudge of clay added. Avoid.

 

[skierhughes]

I'm with Kearn on the limewash for outside.

I have had nothing but good experience with Ty-Mawr and their lime products. Our lime plasterer used them and I learnt from her and carry on using their ready mixed products.

Inside I have used Rose of Jericho's casein distemper. It comes in a whole host of colours, they'll even mix some for you. As it is proper casein it is made to order and has a short shelf life, so order what you need and can use within 4 weeks ideally, though I have had no trouble with mine at 8 weeks. Not had any longer than that. I used Casein as some of of our new internal walls are plasterboard and the distemper covers that better and gives an identical colour. RoJ recommended it over limewash for that reason. I have not used limewash so cannot comment on whether it would give similar and as long lasting results. 14 years on, I need to repaint the kitchen which obviously has the most differential wear with steam, heat etc. The bedroom above, that I did at the same time, is still as good as the day I did it.

 

[Kearn]

Not through design, but I’ve used some residual leftovers from both RoJ and Ingilby, now over a year old. Wasn’t expecting a hope…!

 

[skierhughes]

Following caring for my father, then my father in law, so taking a big break from work on our house, I've just restarted my 5 year project, 22 years in!!

I have just been using some pre-mixed base coat with synthetic hair that I bought 4 years ago and has sat outside undercover all that time. I've been doing some infilling to straighten the wall up and it went on fine and has started to set well with zero failure yet. I'll give it a few weeks to see how it ends up and then if all is good, I'll begin plastering with it.

 

[phillc]

Thanks everyone for the replies - very useful.

I am not too worried about clay paint being modern. Not trying to build a museum (I'm not about to rip out those other modern concoctions - central heating, hot and cold water shower, ... - for example). I just want the product to work in my context. However, I think my mind is being turned to casein distemper internally anyway.

@Kearn - Intrigued as to why the antipathy towards Ty Mawr and Mike Wye? No affiliation to either of them but thought they were generally well regarded?

FWIW, I'm 6 years into a 1 year renovation project here ...

 

[Kearn]

Thanks everyone for the replies - very useful.

I am not too worried about clay paint being modern. Not trying to build a museum (I'm not about to rip out those other modern concoctions - central heating, hot and cold water shower, ... - for example). I just want the product to work in my context. However, I think my mind is being turned to casein distemper internally anyway.

@Kearn - Intrigued as to why the antipathy towards Ty Mawr and Mike Wye? No affiliation to either of them but thought they were generally well regarded?

FWIW, I'm 6 years into a 1 year renovation project here ...

It’s not just about being modern, it’s the fact it is effectively a vinyl based emulsion with some clay in it - not a suitable covering. Certainly not for cob, where you really need to be holier than holy in terms of moisture management.

They’re both a bit too big for me, blurring the edges of their offers and selling things I don’t quite agree with using. I’ve not had any good experiences with one, albeit have used and still got some of their lime (in typically punctured bags), the other I’ve had some great technical chats with, and used for many of my materials on my last project. Plus a few other reasons also that I wouldn’t repeat….

I much prefer the experience, advice, service and price from Eden Hotlime for plaster. Ingilby are also fab to deal with, as are RofJ for coverings and other bits … speak to both of them and quiz them on their thoughts and recommendations for your situation, you’ll get all the balanced and appropriate advice you could ask for, without any hard sell either.