Limewash vs Distemper

[thebadger7]

Hi everyone

I'm painting an attic room freshly plastered in Cornerstone Insulating Render.

From reading all the previous discussions on paint, it seems that Earthborn Claypaint is probably more vapour permeable than most, but has plastic binders in it so isn't ideal...and the gold standard is limewash or distemper. Been looking at options from Ingleby and Rose of Jericho.

Does anyone have any first hand experience of limewash vs distemper? It's an attic bedroom with sloping ceilings, so low traffic. But I need the finish to last, and not rub off (it's a kids bedroom). I don't mind it being messy when applying, room is emptied anyway.

Thanks

Luke

 

[paulc]

Had distemper on a few of the ceilings here. Really wouldn't recommend it if you ever plan on papering the walls (or ceiling).
Did use a limewash on a wall as a quick temporary finish. To get over the tendency for it to rub off, I burnished some of it with a plastering trowel. Gave it a slightly glossy sheen.
Mixed my own limewash with pigments* rather than buying overpriced tins from a shop - If you go that route, use either the Singleton Birch lime putty for a creamy coloured base, or the Mike Wye stuff if you want a more brilliant white. Found some of the other putties have a decidedly grey hue...

For pigments, I prefer to use good quality ready mixed artist's colours rather than dry pigments. Either oil based, or acrylic - The amount of binder being added to a mix of limewash is minimal, so won't significantly alter the breathability.

 

[Stevers]

Three certainties for you: Death, Taxes, and anything 'breathable' will not be 'washable'. You just need to decide how much to compromise breathability for some wipability, and for me that means use of a non-vinyl 'flat' matt emulsion such as F&B Estate Emulsion. Once you're up in the roof though, and damp is suspected - I'd have thought you've got bigger problems.

 

[thebadger7]

Thanks both. Had roof replaced and chimneys redone, and all plastered back to brick in lime...but can never rule out damp.
I think salts from the chimney breast could be an issue.

I just don't want to undo the cost of lime plastering with the wrong finish...over on Facebook (Your Old House) the consensus seems to be limewash or distemper, with Earthborn being considered the devil.

 

[Stevers]

Facebook Groups isn't the place for a conversation without demagoguery!

I'm using some very old Crown Heritage Flat Matt Emulsion (that's colours rather than formulation) in a basement room and have found that any salts come straight through it and brush off, which is really all you can ask of it. It could be thought of as a synthetic distemper rather than one with animal based natural binders.

On the breathability spectrum it will in the same sort of area as F&B Estate Emulsion. More breathable and less cleanable is Contract Matt Emulsion available only in pastel colours, I buy white or magnolia and tint it for ceilings or above dado.

I used an NHL render and to some (especially on Facebook Groups and even here) that's a compromise too far as well!

 

[jamest]

If you're dead set on not using F&B estate emulsion or similar and insist on limewash, you could always use the exterior version (perhaps it's heresy, but what's to stop you?). Ingilby make two types of exterior limewash - I've used both and found them hardwearing and 'washable' in the sense that they shed rainwater quite well. If you use them on the interior, you get those benefits and in all the same colours.

 

[a twig]

Adding a small bit of casein or boiled linseed oil helps avoid dusting without overly compromising breathability, it’s what a lot of the “exterior” ones have

 

[Kearn]

RoJ distemper is nicer and a better made product, but the Ingilby is still very good, and far cheaper.

This myth about limewash rubbing off is a bit of an odd one - if made and applied correctly, it does not.

Diluting putty can have mixed results on quality. Hot mixing from quicklime is better, it’s also thicker so less coats required.

Lime washing above head isn’t a fun job though…!

 

[LadyArowana]

Our decorators used RoJ Caesin Distemper where it was needed, and it’s reasonably scuff proof. They did say it should be used within a certain amount of time from delivery, but ours was still good well beyond that though. They’re probably over cautious on the ‘Best before’ advice

 

[Kearn]

Our decorators used RoJ Caesin Distemper where it was needed, and it’s reasonably scuff proof. They did say it should be used within a certain amount of time from delivery, but ours was still good well beyond that though. They’re probably over cautious on the ‘Best before’ advice

It’s a live product, and it goes off. The reason I said RoJ was superior to Ingilby, is that it’s lasted a bit longer and hasn’t broken down. Plus the binder used is of a different origin, and doesn’t smell so terrible when it starts to turn…!

If it smells, it’s not so bad, it does dissipate. But if it won’t mix back together and hold, it won’t bond to the wall.

Keeping it cool, but not frosty, helps lengthen the life, but once open, keeping airtight and minimising reopening helps.