Terms you’ll see on your limewash painting estimate
Some terminology first. There is so much chatter about anything with the word “lime” in it that we wrote a whole blog post about it, showing how these finishes differ, and how they’re applied. Let’s clarify some of the terms you’ll need to know.
Limewash vs. Lime Wash vs. Lime Painting
Yours will be an interior limewash painting estimate, not an estimate for an exterior limewash, or for lime plaster (unless you want that as an option – more on that later). This is a pretty important distinction!
The confusing thing is, the term “limewash” used to refer mostly to exterior finishes, where a limewash (basically a diluted lime paint) was applied as a thinned-down “wash” onto brick or sometimes to stone to soften the color and look of the home. The exterior limewash is translucent, not a solid opaque color, and gets applied with varying degrees of thinness, so you can see some of the underlying brick color showing through. Romabio has some great examples, and was one of the first to market, showing what this beautiful, European-style finish could do to American home exteriors.
Lime Painting vs. Lime Plaster – Two Different Options
Perhaps you have an inspiration photo from Instagram or Pinterest, and it shows a “lime” finish of some sort, but the caption doesn’t specify what exactly. The subtle movement of a lime-based finish is seen in both lime paint and lime plaster finishes, and even a trained professional can’t always tell the difference in a photo. And both lime painting and lime plaster finishes are so popular in interior design trends such as modern Tuscan or wabisabi, odds are you’ll see plenty of photos that could be done in either limewash or plaster.
What to expect for your lime painting estimate
Let’s talk about the process of getting your estimate done for your own home. In a way, it’s similar to getting a bespoke suit or custom-tailored dress, where there are measurements, discussions about fabric choices, and individual fittings involved.
- We talk with you about the specific finish you’re looking for
- We get dimensions and clarify what the existing texture is on the walls now
- We send out your estimate, and
- If the numbers work for you, we order product and make you a custom sample to approve.
Deciding which finish you want
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This lovely traditional pink dining room shown above was done with a single color. Here’s our craftsman Julio applying it:
Getting the specifics of your space
We’ll need the dimensions of your space, photos showing the space overall, and a close-up photo showing what the existing texture is.
Both limewash painting and lime plastering need to be applied over a perfectly smooth surface. If your home is being built or remodeled, your general contractor can ensure the walls are smooth, or “wallpaper ready” (known as a “Level 5” finish in contractor lingo). They can also apply a basic sheetrock primer. Most likely this is already built into the cost of your new build or remodel, which will save you a bit in your budget.
But if your walls are already textured, we’ll need to refloat them to make them smooth, and then prime them before applying your finish.
This first round of information can actually be done by phone and email. Just send us the dimensions of your space, several photos (from your phone is fine), and any inspiration pics or specific products you want to use. For the photos, we need a couple of wide shots showing the whole room, and a close-up of the wall texture. Or if our estimator comes to your home for an in-person consultation, they can take measurements and photos.
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Reviewing your limewash painting estimate
Once we’ve talked about finish options and have the room specifics, we’ll send you your interior limewash painting estimate. We’ll list whether we need to refloat the walls first, whether we’re estimating for a single-color application or two-colors blended in, and give you a separate option for lime plaster, if desired. If the numbers work for your budget, then the fun begins!
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Making your custom sample
If the lime painting estimate looks good, then we can talk about product, color, and getting you a custom sample for you to approve.
The custom sample is important, because unlike regular painting, lime painting is meant to show subtle variations in color or texture. These are hand-done finishes with an artisanal feel. There will always be variations in brush strokes in any hand-applied limewash, that’s part of the charm and authenticity of these finishes. But a custom sample is the best way to make sure the finish on your walls will look reasonably close to the finish in that Instagram photo.
If you know the look you want but are unsure on color, the easiest way is to browse the online galleries of the various lime paint manufacturers. Portola Paints, JH Wall Paints, and Color Atelier all have pages showing their various color options, plus gallery pages showing which colors were used in actual project photos.
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Getting your project started
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Whew! You’ve talked with us about the finish you want, sent us dimensions and inspiration photos, approved your limewash painting estimate, and hopefully have fallen in love with the custom sample we made you. Now it’s time to get your project scheduled so the transformation can begin! There are a lot of steps to getting your limewash painting estimate and approving your custom sample, and the process can’t really be rushed, but the gorgeous result makes it all so worth it.
