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INSTRUCTIONS

Limewash is a lime paint that results in a matte finish with a soft look and feel. The standard Limewash is a two-coat application over primed drywall or other surface.

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Stone coloured limewash paint on wall with cabinet

SAFETY

As a lime-based product, Limewash is highly alkaline during mixing and while wet. It is recommended to wear a face mask and safety glasses during application. If skin comes in contact with Limewash paint and causes irritation, rinse with water. If Limewash Paint gets into your eyes, flush your eyes with water or an eyewash.

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PRIMER

A normal brush or roller is fine to use for the primer. Any acrylic primer that you can purchase at a local hardware store is suitable. Do not skip the primer stage (for interior walls) as you will have different results.

TOOLS

A bucket, kitchen whisk or mixing paddle and a block brush are necessary tools for the application of Limewash. Limewash application using a paint roller or paint sprayer is not recommended. Paint rollers create lap lines and roller marks which compromise the aesthetic of a Limewash Finish. Limewash will clog a paint sprayer.

COVERAGE

For two coats on the walls of an average sized bedroom, you will likely need enough product to make 4L of Limewash paint (covers about 60 square metres with two coats).​​​

Bedroom with bed, curtains and beige limewash paint on walls

PREPARATION

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You would have received your powdered product in a paper satchel. If you are intending to split the product up into different batches, ensure the powdered product is mixed extremely well before dividing it up (so as to ensure the pigment is suitably dispersed in the powdered mixture). Pigment that is not suitably dispersed will result in different colours between batches.

 

Add hot water (50 degrees or your tap’s hottest setting) to a large bucket. Adding too cold or boiling water will result in paint with a grainy texture. If the product that you purchased is supposed to make 4L of paint, be sure to add 2.6L of hot water. Once you have added the water, then proceed to add the contents of your Dalray Limewash paint packet to the bucket, mixing while pouring. Once added, mix the mixture thoroughly for 3 minutes or until the colour is consistent and there are no lumps.​

For best results, add the Limewash incrementally, not all at the same time. Mixed Limewash should be the consistency of whole milk. When fully mixed, the Limewash should be completely free of lumps. 

Please note: The colour of the paint while wet is approximately 10 x darker than the dry end result. 

Now you're ready to paint!

 
Oxide pigments which are mixed in different combinations to create our Limewash paint colours
TECHNIQUE
The paint will look translucent when you paint it on the wall, but it will dry opaque (and much lighter). So be sure to not over-apply. Once you have finished your first coat, put some foil over your limewash paint bucket and leave the first coat to cure for a minimum of 3 - 4 hours, or overnight for best results. Store the remainder of the limewash in a cool, dark fridge (or even in your fridge if you have the space).

Apply the mixed Limewash in a single thin layer in a consistent pattern. Common brush techniques for painting limewash include vertical, horizontal, crosshatch and figure eight movements. Avoid unattended drips and runs. Click play on the video to see a common criss-cross technique for applying limewash. The changes in direction of the paint brush helps to ensure that there is a textural pattern of movement to the paint when dried with some colour variation.

Two coats is generally all that is needed, depending on the surface.  Be sure to cover leftover paint with foil or glad wrap in between coats to stop it from drying out, and keep it in a cool, dark place. Be sure to re-mix the product well before applying the second coat.
 
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