How to Patch Limewash Paint
Q. How do I touch up my limewash paint after repairs?
Spills, leaks, scratches, or little kids—walls are subject to all kinds of wear and tear. Here’s how to touch up and fix limewash finishes effectively.
If you’ve used one of our lightest ‘white’ shades, touching up areas is quite simple as they blend beautifully. However, for other shades, there are a few methods to consider:
- For a fail-proof method or heavily damaged walls, starting fresh with the 3xPs: Primer, Prep Coat, and Paint may be the best option.
- For smaller areas, you can try the patching method below to blend the repaired area.
Method 1: Start Again (For Best Results for Interior Limewash Paint Repair)
Once you have patched and sanded back the damaged area, note that the wall now has different materials present, creating an inconsistent surface. For a fail-proof approach or extensive damage, restarting from the beginning is ideal.
Prime the Wall
Apply two coats of a water-based primer-sealer to ensure a consistent surface. This will prevent ‘ghosting’ of the repaired area appearing in your limewash finish.
Repaint the Wall
Follow the steps for painting Bauwerk Limewash over a previously painted/sealed wall.
See our Mixed and Repaired Surface Guide for more on how to paint limewash over a damaged and repaired wall.
Surface + Paint Preparation
Surface Preparation
Render surfaces should be free from any dirt, dust and loose material.
- Brush down the wall.
- Dampen walls with clean water using a brush or a light mist spray to ensure easy application of limewash paint.
Note: Previously painted internal and external render surfaces can be limewashed, but some extra preparation steps are required to ensure effective limewash absorption.
Paint Preparation
- Thoroughly stir limewash paint and decant into a suitable container or bucket. Ensure no pigment remains in the original container.
- Continue to stir the paint regularly throughout the painting process.
- Select the right limewash paintbrush: Our all-rounder brush, the 4×14 limewash brush, is great for all walls.
Q. My internal walls are painted with Bauwerk Limewash and have water damage and water stains, what do I need to know?
Leaking pipes can sometimes cause water stains on wall or ceiling surfaces. Whilst in most cases the paint itself will not blister or peel off, the water may dissolve materials that can cause staining of the coloured finish.
Our solution is to follow the steps below:
- Fix any leaking pipes.
- Apply at least two coats of a water-based primer-sealer with the specific ability to stop water stains (among other things usually). It is important that the Primer you choose is not solvent-based, as that would cause bubbling. Apply from corner to corner, not just across the stain. Allow adequate drying time between all coats and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You may want to test the effectiveness of the primer with a simple water test to see if the stains have been blocked. Learn more about water testing.
- Apply one coat of Limewash Prep Coat following normal application methods. Follow with two coats of Limewash Paint.
