What Is Limewash Paint? How It Differs from True Limewash

Short answer. True limewash is lime putty thinned with water, sometimes with added pigment, brushed on in several very thin coats. Limewash paint is a ready made product that copies the soft, cloudy look of limewash but usually goes on more easily and in fewer coats. Some limewash paints are lime based and breathable, while others are ordinary paints with a limewash effect, so it pays to read what is in the tin.

What true limewash is

Traditional limewash is one of the oldest wall finishes in Britain. It starts as lime putty, which is lime that has been mixed with water and left to mature into a soft paste. The putty is then stirred with more water until it is thin, a bit like milk, and brushed onto the wall.

As it dries, the lime takes in carbon dioxide from the air and slowly turns back into a form of limestone. This process is called carbonation. It is why limewash bonds into porous surfaces such as lime plaster, soft brick and stone, rather than sitting on top like a skin.

True limewash is very thin, so it needs several coats. Each coat is translucent, which is what gives the finish its soft, uneven, cloudy look.

What limewash paint is

Limewash paint is a name used for many different ready made products. They are designed to give a limewash look with less work. In general, these products share the following points.

• come ready to use, so there is no mixing of putty and water;
• are thicker than true limewash, so fewer coats are needed;
• give a more even result from one wall to the next;
• vary a great deal in what they contain.

Some are genuinely lime based. Zavoré's Lime Paint is a natural lime based breathable paint for interior and exterior walls, with a soft, chalky matt finish, and it suits traditional lime plaster, brick and masonry. Other products sold as limewash paint use an acrylic binder, which is a plastic resin, and only copy the look.

Why the difference matters

On a modern house with plasterboard and modern skim, either type can look good. On an old house with solid walls, the choice matters more. Old walls need to let moisture out. A breathable lime finish allows that. A plastic based paint can trap damp behind it, which may lead to flaking and damp patches over time.

True limewash and lime based paints also wear in a different way. They can chalk slightly when rubbed, and marks are fixed by brushing on a fresh coat rather than scrubbing. An acrylic product is usually more wipeable but less breathable.

How to tell what you are buying

Read the product sheet, not just the name. Look for the main binder. If lime is the binder, it is a lime product. If the sheet lists an acrylic or other resin as the binder, it is a paint with a limewash effect. Ask the seller if it is not clear. Our guides to limewash vs paint and limewash vs chalk paint go further into how each one behaves on the wall.

To see a lime finish in your own colour before you commit, order a sample board, call 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk. If you would rather have the work done for you, read about our limewash installation across the UK.

Questions we get asked

Is limewash paint the same as chalk paint?

No. Chalk paint is usually a furniture paint with a chalky, flat finish, while limewash and lime based paints use lime as the binder.

Can I use limewash paint on an old solid wall?

A lime based product is the safer choice on an old solid wall because it lets moisture pass through. Check the binder before you buy.

Does limewash paint look exactly like true limewash?

A good lime based paint comes close, but true limewash built up in many thin coats tends to have more depth and variation.