How long do I need to cover fresh lime?

[Keithj]

I've just done the latest load of filling of the gaps where our new oak has shrunk - duly filled with lime putty. The lime is covered with wet cloths (with an air gap) to keep it damp while it carbonates.

In the past, I've left it at least a couple of weeks before removing the covers (wetting them daily).

However, I'm taking a funeral this weekend of a person who was born in this house in the 1930s, and the family want to come back afterwards to see the house. Mrs Keef wants it looking its best, without untidy cloths tacked to the timbers and covering some of the lime panels. How soon after lime-infilling can I remove the cloths? Would five days be long enough?

 

[biffvernon]

Yes.

 

[Keithj]

Danke!

 

[Schoolmarm]

Just make sure you keep on giving it a quick light spray though.

 

[Keithj]

Yep - did the lime on Monday afternoon. The covers have been kept pretty soggy since (partly with the hosepipe, mostly without human intervention). Saturday morning the cloths will come off and the Suffolk Pink limewash will go on. After that, well...