Bathroom Surface Guide
How to use limewash paint in bathrooms
Bauwerk Limewash Paint can be used on the walls and ceilings of bathrooms, achieving beautiful results with numerous benefits. It’s suitable for all areas, except for the inside area of a shower or the immediate area adjacent to a bath. We recommend using a splashback behind the sink and toilet areas to minimise marks.
Benefits of Limewash Paint in Bathrooms
- suitable for a high-humidity environment
- not film-forming and therefore not prone to blistering or peeling, even in high-humidity environments
- naturally anti-bacterial and will resist mould
- water-resistant (although not waterproof)
Here are some things to consider if building a new bathroom or making major upgrades:
- The perfect substrate in a bathroom is an absorbent render.
- There are very good pre-mixed thin coat renders available that can be used over drywall construction or existing well-adhering older renders, plaster or paint finishes. They typically only add 1-2 mm in thickness to the wall surface. Also, any repainting is very easy.
- However, you can use Bauwerk Limewash Paint over conventional paints or new plasterboard, once the walls have been prepared to be equally absorbent ( a water-based sealer, for instance). It is then followed with one coat of our Limewash Prep-Coat (can be rolled on), and finished with two coats of Bauwerk Limewash.
- While top-coat protective sealers prevent absorption, we don’t recommend them as they negate the breathable environmentally friendly benefits of limewash. They also make repainting more difficult. Choosing areas to limewash depends on your lifestyle usage and maintenance preferences. Two approaches are common: opt for splashbacks, like tiles, in high-impact zones for easy cleaning, or embrace a casual, lived -in look with occasional touchups.
- The benefit of not sealing the walls is that your walls will be part of your micro-climate and can absorb excess humidity and release it again.
Limewash Paint in Bathroom FAQs
Can we use Bauwerk limewash on the ceiling above a shower?
Yes, you can paint Bauwerk Limewash on the ceiling above a shower as it doesn’t have prolonged exposure to water. Like conventional paint, Bauwerk limewash paint can be used on all wall and ceiling areas of a bathroom, except for the inside walls of a shower or the immediate area adjacent to a bath.
Can limewash paint be used in a bathroom that previously had black mould?
Our paints are suitable for a high humidity environment. The paint is not film-forming and therefore not prone to blistering or peeling, even in high humidity environments such as bathrooms. Our paint is also naturally anti-bacterial and will resist mould. The paint can be used on all wall and ceiling areas, except for the inside area of a shower or the immediate area adjacent to a bath. We would also recommend that you use a splash back behind the sink and toilet areas, as lime paint is absorbent and can become stained by toothpaste.
Black Mould in Bathrooms
There are a few ways to deal with existing Black Mould in bathrooms, some employ toxic chemicals, some use strong fungicides. There are some natural remedies as well. What works best for you is depending on your own preference, how heavy the black mould is established, and how fast you want to deal with the problem.
You may want to use bleach, as this is more common in households: To remove black mould prepare a 50/50 solution of bleach and water to use with a soft nylon brush or pad. Allow the bleach and water solution to sit for about 15 minutes after the first scrubbing session, then finish the job by rinsing with water. Read and follow the safety instruction before you use the bleach and during the removal process wear personal protection. Allow the wall to dry out as much as possible.
Lime wash paint is highly alkaline and has natural anti-fungal properties, so to use the lime paint will give you some protection against the algae after cleaning and painting. For how long this is effective depends on many factors, such as humidity, how well the area is ventilated and general environmental factors.
BAUWERK Limewash Paint is not a water-proofing material, it is water resistant.
You can use our paint over conventional paints or new plasterboard, once the walls have been prepared to be equally absorbent (a water based primer, for instance). It is then followed with one coat of our Limewash Prep Coat (can be rolled on), and finished by two applications of BAUWERK Limewash Paint.