Limewashing interior walls.

[sinead]

Hi all, having replaced the cement render with a lime render on exterior of our home, we are now moving to interior, starting with master bedroom which had major damp and staining from a since repaired chimney.

Attached is recommendation from our contractor. The walls already have a lime render which need some repair, she suggested a lime putty. I was confused over whether this would provide a smooth finished look and we queried about lime pigment. Reading since on this group about mixed experiences of limewash on interior rooms, was hoping people could share experiences, advice etc.

If pigmented lime isn't ideal, think I am happy to just go for a white finish.

How about staining? All other experiences very welcome - starting to doubt this will ever come back to a decent finish.

See attached photos of room and proposed works.

 

[aockenden]

Hmmm, sry I’m not clear on the exact question you’re asking. Could you concisely restate your actual question?

 

[sinead]

I'm sorry - perils of typing when getting kids out the door.

Okay, I am wondering about the best final finish over lime putty for this room. Limewash? Clay paints? Any thing else we haven't considered? Should we pause between lime putty and application of limewash/clay paint? I am also concerned about staining from chimney damage coming through and would appreciate any advice.

 

[Lacan07]

Well in terms of staining or historic salts causing issues later down the line I see they've recommended the complete removal of the old lime to b replaced with new which is about as much as you can do. The only other thing would be to cow shit the walls and chimney breast (as part of the scratch coat). This will provide belt and braces protection.

Lime wash in its purest form isn't very hardy so depends on room traffic, and perhaps not the easiest paint to apply and get a modern finish. You can buy modified forms of limewash like Lime Green Motif or distemper which are a bit more practical.

Clay paint is also an option but not as breathable, or silicate paint.

 

[paulc]

One option is something like Mike Wye's regency lime plaster - This can be tinted with a variety of pigments which saves on painting afterwards.
I've used a super fine Venetian plaster with a splash of yellow. Waxed and polished, it has been quite a durable finish, although prone to chipping if hit with a hard object. Have also used a limewash as a temporary coating. Relatively soft, it is relatively friable until fully carbonated. Even then, it can rub off if you are rough with it. Burnishing it a little with a stainless steel trowel makes it a little tougher.

 

[elizabeth]

I agree with Lacan07 to use new lime . Lime can sometimes act like a poultice and draw out the historic salts for a while. They will easily brush off. I think Mike Wye might offer a solution to help prevent the staining or go down the traditional method.
We had our lounge plastered with 3 coats of lime the final finish used a warm coloured sand and it ended up looking like a lovely marble effect and so didn’t feel the need to go over it with a limewash.

 

[Lacan07]

I agree with Lacan07 to use new lime . Lime can sometimes act like a poultice and draw out the historic salts for a while. They will easily brush off. I think Mike Wye might offer a solution to help prevent the staining or go down the traditional method.
We had our lounge plastered with 3 coats of lime the final finish used a warm coloured sand and it ended up looking like a lovely marble effect and so didn’t feel the need to go over it with a limewash.

How much did the plastering cost? The only thing about coloured plaster is you have to trust the plasterer implicitly to produce a decent finish. Not all of them are that good.

 

[sinead]

Thanks everyone- so Elizabeth, do effectively have have a lime putty finish?

 

[elizabeth]

Yes we do sinead. The aggregate generally denotes the colour of the lime plaster and we have a lightly coloured soft almost peach/ warm finish with a soft marble effect,it looks almost like a light gypsum, they may have used St Astier lime putty; we liked it so much, that we didn’t see the need to limewash. We have bare lime plastered wall in our end room and they used a greyish washed sand in there, I’m unsure if there was impurities in the lime putty but the effect is again quite a pleasant marble effect.
I wish I was home to take a photo for you to see. Can do next week.

 

[sinead]

Thanks so much to everyone who answered. Really appreciated!