Earles Traditional Limewash

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Before full application apply a test patch to ensure product compatibility and colour satisfaction. Limewash colours will lighten significantly once fully dry.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Plan the wash in advance, NEVER coat in full sun as this will result in an accelerated drying time and lead to a poor finish.

Limewashing should only be carried out when conditions are above 5°c and rising. If temperature is expected to drop below 5°c within 24 hours after planned application it is strongly recommended to postpone until there are desired conditions. Continuing application when temperatures drop below 5°c could cause serious issues with the substrate due to the additional water being added, freezing, expanding and causing cracking.

It is also important to check conditions ahead of planned external applications for chances of rain, if a lime washed wall is hit with heavy rain within 72 hours of application lime spotting or lime flooding can occur. This is where lime is washed to the surface and white spots can appear. While the substrate remains protected, the white spots may be aesthetically displeasing and it is therefore important to give greatest consideration to this problem on the final coat.

Strong winds will also affect the drying process, so these conditions should be avoided too.

GENERAL SURFACE PREPARATION
The most common surfaces to be limewashed are new lime plaster/render, new cementitious based plaster/render, a mixture of both or previously limewashed surfaces. Newly rendered surfaces must be given sufficient time for the render to have fully dried and cured. Failure to give new render sufficient drying time can result in lime washed walls appearing to fade in colour due to lime migration. This is where the wall is yet to fully cure and lime is still migrating to the surface and carbonating over the top of the limewash. Check with the render manufacturer for accurate full drying times.

Extreme care should also be taken with surfaces that have been spot repaired. The use of silicone or polymer based fillers is not recommended, sealers or water proofers are generally impervious to water and very often lead to limewash failing to adhere. If the surface has been repaired using breathable materials, there may be some initial patchiness due to varying absorption rates.

All loose materials should be removed from the surface to be coated. The substrate must be free from dirt, grease, organic growth and any other contaminants likely to impair adhesion or absorption.

It is essential to dampen down the substrate prior to limewash being applied, including between coats. Damping down can be achieved by spraying sections of the wall with a fine light mist using a spray bottle or the mist setting on a hose. The area to be limewashed should be damp to the touch. Allow the substrate to absorb water and for any excess to run off before beginning application.

DILUTION
Earles Traditional Limewash is a thick dilutable material and unless specifically instructed otherwise the material should always be diluted with fresh clean water and mixed thoroughly immediately prior to application. This is to enable the limewash to penetrate the substrate or previous coat of limewash. Dilution levels will vary depending upon which coat is being applied. Failure to follow these dilution levels may cause the limewash to be applied too thickly and result in cracking, poor adhesion or visible brush lines.

We recommend using a minimum of 3 coats of Limewash. This will build a protective barrier which allows moisture to escape while preventing water ingress.

COAT 1 – 1 PART LIMEWASH TO 1 PART WATER
(e.g. 5 litres limewash to 5 litres water)

COAT 2 & 3 – 2 PART LIMEWASH TO 1 PARTS WATER
(e.g. 10 litres limewash to 5 litres of water)

APPLICATION
Brushing is the only recommended method of application. Work the limewash into the surface well using circular, horizontal, diagonal and vertical motions. Each coat must be applied thinly and evenly.

Feathering when finishing and beginning new areas helps to avoid banding. To feather out an edge, stop loading the brush and work remaining limewash in all directions, similarly when feathering in lightly load the brush and work the material into feathered parts and continue application.

Stir regularly during application to prevent settlement.

Allow a minimum of 24 hours between coats. Remembering to dampen down each time.

Note: it can take several days for the limewash to fully dry out, only then will the final colour be achieved. Until then, differing moisture levels and atmospheric conditions can give variations in the tone of the limewash.

OUR PAINTS ARE HANDCRAFTED
Although every batch of material is weighed to within 0.1g and tight specification and quality control guidelines are always observed, slight variations in colour may occur between batches. We recommend where possible to paint from the same batch for the complete application.

STORAGE
Earles Traditional Limewash is water based and therefore should always be protected from frost. Store upright between 5°·C & 25°C. Always replace the lid after use & use within 12 months of opening.