There’s a whole category of specialty finishes that have suddenly been “rediscovered”, and they all have “lime” in the title – limewash, lime wash, limewash paint, lime plaster, lime paint. And sometimes you’ll hear “mineral wash” or “mineral paint” as well. But which is which??
Since we’re a painting company that also offers specialty finishes, we’re constantly asked for “limewash” or “lime painting”, but each term means different things. And because this is a popular topic, even venerable sources will misuse the terms! Let’s get some clarity on the subject.
First, what is lime?
Lime painting in ancient times is found across the globe, from the Egyptian pharaohs to Teotihuacan in Mexico to the Greeks and Romans. It was the standard wall finish in Renaissance times, and those gorgeous frescoes you see throughout Italy are lime-based.
Lime comes from crushed limestone, which is then cooked at high heat and mixed with water to create hydrated or slaked lime. Then pigments are added, with perhaps a few other ingredients, to make lime paint.
Loosely speaking, lime-based finishes fall into one of three categories: lime painting (which is a solid-colored, textured paint), lime wash (which is translucent, and usually done on exteriors), and lime plaster. Let’s look at each one, and talk about how to do them.
The Three Categories of Lime-Based Finishes
Lime Painting, or Lime Paint
If the client asks for “lime wash”, especially for an interior space, they usually mean lime painting. Technically, they don’t want to “wash” their walls with a sheer overlay of colored lime (which is what “limewash” or “lime wash” is), they want a softly textured hand-brushed lime paint in a rich, or sophisticated, or natural color. However, the terms are both used so often, they’ve become practically interchangeable.
How to apply a lime paint finish
Lime paint is worked in small sections at a time, rolled or brushed on and then softened by hand with a wide brush. Because it usually has a fine texture to it, lime paint needs to be “cross-hatched” to get its distinctive look. Layers are done by hand, by cross-hatching the brush in small X’s. Nearly all the purveyors of lime or mineral paint products have how-to videos, as well as YouTube, of course.
Limewash, or Lime Wash
The term “lime wash” traditionally means applying a watered-down lime paint to brick or stone, and then softening the effect (like a glaze) to show some of the brick or stone underneath. You’re “washing” the brick or stone with a soft overlay of color. It’s a lovely way to tone down a strongly-colored brick or stone that no longer suits your design aesthetic.
The effect can be subtle or dramatic, depending on how much of the underlying brick or stone you allow to show through.
.
How to apply a limewash finish on brick or stone
Lime Plaster
Like lime painting, lime plastered walls have a natural authenticity to them, since they lack the synthetic look and feel of acrylic products. It’s a high-end aesthetic that stands the test of time, and works in both modern and traditional interiors. The look can range from a matte plaster that is almost a fine natural stucco, to the highly-polished shine of Venetian plaster (which comes in either synthetic or lime-based varieties). You may also hear terms like “marmorino” or “Veneziano”, which are both lime plasters, as well as Tadelakt, which is meant for waterproof spaces like bathroom shower stalls. All types of lime plasters are used extensively in Europe, and Tadelakt originated in Morocco.
Unlike lime paint or lime wash, which has a flat or matte sheen, lime plaster develops a slight sheen just from the act of being troweled on (the steel trowel blade “burnishes” the plaster).
You’ll often see lime plaster used on an accent feature, such as a fireplace or range hood.
Plaster finishes won’t have the “brushed” look of lime painting, but when you look online, it can be hard to tell the difference in photos that are wide enough to capture a whole wall or interior. Both types of finishes produce extremely subtle variations in color. Up close and personal, however, you can see and feel the difference. And where the light hits it, the soft sheen or polish of plaster will always distinguish it from paint.
How to apply lime plaster
Lime plaster is a whole different animal from lime paint, although they’re both made from slaked lime. Lime plaster is a much thicker product, sometimes with a fine aggregate added for tiny specks of color or texture, and is troweled on, not rolled or brushed.
Depending on the specific plaster to be used, a mineral primer might be rolled on first. At least two coats of the plaster are then troweled on, taking care with the right drying times between layers, and with the desired amount of burnishing to control the final sheen. If a higher sheen is desired, you can take a clean stainless steel trowel (no plaster on it) and “swipe” across the plaster when it is mostly but not entirely dry, to polish it further. You can also apply a sealer for the exact level of sheen you want, or to help with cleanability.
It takes practiced skill to apply a plaster smoothly and consistently, and errors can’t just be sanded away. This is truly not a typical DIY product.
Where to use a lime-based paint or plaster
The three types of lime products are suited to different things.
Lime paint, with its soft, velvety, hand-crafted aesthetic, is best used in interior spaces that don’t get a lot of wear and tear. It has less stain resistance than synthetic products, so if you want to use it in a kitchen, for example, you may want to apply a sealer, although that can change the look. A brushed-on lime finish is beautiful in living rooms and bedrooms.
Lime washing is usually done to brick or stone exteriors, or applied to a brick or stone feature like a fireplace where you want to lighten or soften the original color. Being a lime-based product, it has the added benefit of bonding naturally to the brick or stone while still letting the brick or stone “breathe”.
And lime plaster works for both interiors or exteriors, although in the U.S. you’ll see it mostly in interior spaces. An entire home interior can be plastered for a natural and high-end aesthetic. Or you might try it just on a range hood or fireplace. For a kitchen, use a sealer, or a plaster meant for wet areas, like Tadelakt.
Interior design considerations
Above all, either a lime paint or a lime plaster is a specialty finish that will draw more notice than just a latex-painted wall. The subtle sheen variations in lime plaster, and the color variations in both paints and plasters, mean your walls are more of a feature now. This is part of their charm, just be sure to take this into account when designing your space. Both lime paints and plasters are a lovely way to elevate your home and give it a natural, organic, hand-crafted aesthetic.
