Limewash for Cottages in Warwickshire

Short answer. Limewash is a traditional coating made from lime and water, usually with added pigment, and it is one of the most suitable finishes for the old brick, stone and timber framed cottages found across Warwickshire. It lets solid walls breathe, goes on in several thin coats, and dries to a soft, chalky finish. If your cottage is listed, ask the council's conservation officer before booking.

Zavoré lays this for you too. Our own team provides limewash installation across the UK, including Venetian plastering in Warwickshire.

What limewash is

Limewash is made by thinning lime putty with water until it is about as runny as milk, then adding natural pigment for colour. Unlike modern paint, it does not form a plastic skin on top of the wall. As it dries it takes in carbon dioxide from the air and slowly turns back into a kind of soft limestone, bonding with the surface underneath.

It looks much darker when wet and dries several shades paler, which surprises people the first time. Zavoré also supplies lime paint, which is thicker and easier to apply evenly, for anyone who wants a smoother look. More on both is on our limewash page.

Why it suits Warwickshire cottages

Warwickshire villages are full of cottages built from brick, local stone and timber frame with infill panels. In the south of the county, villages on the edge of the Cotswolds are built in golden limestone. These walls were made to take in moisture and let it dry out again. Limewash works with them because it is porous, so it does not trap damp the way plastic based paint can.

It also has a texture that suits old walls. It follows dips and bumps rather than hiding them, and the colour varies a little across the surface, which gives that soft, aged look many cottage owners want.

Getting it to go on well

• The right surface. Limewash needs a porous, mineral surface such as bare lime plaster, brick, stone or old limewash. Over modern emulsion, the old paint usually needs to come off or a suitable primer needs to go on first.
• Dampen first. The wall is misted with water before each coat, so it does not dry too fast.
• Thin coats. Several thin coats work far better than one or two thick ones, which can crack and dust off.
• Weather. On outside walls, avoid frost, strong sun and rain while it cures.

Our guide on how to apply limewash goes step by step.

Living with limewash

Limewash is a little powdery, so it can mark if rubbed hard. The upside is that touching up is simple, because new limewash blends into old. Outside walls need recoating every few years as the weather wears them down. Colours are tinted to your choice before they ship, so you can order more later in the same shade.

Listed cottages

Many Warwickshire cottages are listed. Listed building consent can be needed for internal work, and changing wall finishes may be included. Ask the local council's conservation officer before you book.

To see your colour first, order a sample board, call 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk. Our applicators travel from Birmingham, and the installation page explains how.

Questions we get asked

Can limewash go over emulsion paint?

Not directly. Limewash needs a porous, mineral surface, so modern emulsion usually needs removing or covering with a suitable primer first.

Does limewash rub off?

It can leave a faint chalky mark if rubbed hard, which is normal for limewash. Worn areas are easy to touch up because new coats blend into old ones.

How many coats of limewash does a wall need?

Several thin coats are normal. The exact number depends on the wall and the colour, and thin coats give a stronger, more even result than thick ones.