Clay, Rammed Earth, Mud Bricks + Adobe Surface Guide
Limewash Paint on Render: The Complete Preparation & Application Guide
Limewash paints have been used for centuries on raw earth materials, allowing moisture to freely escape so walls will keep ‘breathing’. If your earth walls have already been painted, view external or internal for preparation instructions.
This is the right guide for you if you want to:
- limewash internal raw earth walls
- limewash external raw earth walls
- prepare your surface before limewashing
- apply limewash paint
Supply Checklist
- Whisk or Electric Mixer
- Bucket
- 4 x 14 Limewash Brush
- Water
- Limewash Paint
Lime Wash Brushes
Limewash Paint
Whisk Mixing Tool
Planning + Preparation
During construction or renovation, it is advisable to schedule Bauwerk painting as the final trade to prevent damage to the final finish caused by other trades or building equipment.
To test your colour (which we recommend), apply it to a mock-up board with the same material or a discreet area that will be covered by furniture. Sampling directly on the surface may leave a visible patch.
The coverage of Limewash Paint on raw absorbent earth (like clay, rammed earth, mud bricks, and adobe) is 7-10 m² (75–107 ft²) per litre, per coat, with 2-3 coats required for full coverage.
Note: Recommendations for coverage are to be used as a guide only; variation in the quantity needed will depend on the porosity of the surface to be painted. We always recommend the use of sample pots for an accurate colour representation and consumption for your particular surface and light conditions.
Surface Preparation
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.
Previously painted internal and external earth walls can be limewashed, but some extra preparation steps are required to ensure effective limewash absorption.
Prepare Limewash
- 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 for your surface. Deeper recesses are easier to paint with shorter, stiffer bristles. Flat or moderately undulating surfaces are best painted with our 4×14 limewash block brush.
Limewash Paint Application
Apply 2 coats of Bauwerk Limewash Paint
Dip your Bauwerk natural bristle brush into the paint. Remove excess paint with a flick of the wrist. The brush can hold a lot of paint, but should not be dripping.
Start in a corner of the wall–holding the brush at a right angle to the wall. It may be best to hold the brush on the brush body, rather than the handle for more control.
Using loose, free strokes stretch the paint as far as possible, varying the direction of strokes constantly. Let the bristles do the work. There is no need to apply too much pressure. To reach deeper recesses make smaller movements, either back and forth or in small circular motions.
- Brush out the paint evenly in a thin coat, preventing runs or drips, while covering every part of the surface in the first coat. Maintain a wet edge at all times to prevent lines in your finished surface*. Finish each coat in one continuous application. Do not try and patch walls once the coat is finished, as missed areas can be covered in the next coat. With large expanses, it helps to work to a natural break in the wall, such as mortar joints.
- When wet, the colour will appear darker and transparent. Do not compensate for this by applying more paint. As the paint dries, the colour will lighten to the chosen colour and become more opaque.
- Allow a minimum of 1-2 hours between coats. Apply a second coat (no need to dampen again). Paint the second coat faster, wet-in-wet and a lot looser. Missing spots is okay, as the first coat should have covered everything. Allow the paint to dry.
If you’re painting with our ‘whites’, maintaining a wet edge is not required. These colours patch easily and are great for spot touchups.
Cleanup + Maintenance
- There is no need for a sealer or additional top coat over the limewash. A third coat of limewash can be applied, based on your colour and coverage preferences.
- All brushes, tools, and containers wash out quickly with minimal water and without harm to groundwater.
- Following these steps ensures a natural, dust-free surface with a fantastic texture, making it easy to repaint and maintain.
Clay, Rammed Earth, Mud Bricks, Adobe + Limewash Paint FAQs
What do I need to know when selecting my limewash colour and sampling on rammed earth?
Some of our colours may look lighter once applied in exterior light, this is normal and is due to the amount of light outside. To be sure of your colour, paint onto a board that you can carry around the space. This method enables you to view the sample colour in different lighting conditions, while also avoiding show-through of sample areas on your final finish. Use this method if you are painting naturally breathable walls like clay, rammed earth, mud bricks, adobe, render, lime plaster or unpainted brick.
If your rammed earth wall is internal and has been previously painted with conventional paint, you will require Bauwerk Prep Coat before applying the Limewash. If your wall is external and has been previously painted you will require a coat of exterior primer such as an acrylic render. This means that you will be able to sample directly on the wall, as any sample patches will be covered with Prep Coat/ exterior primer and will not show through on your final finish.
How does Limewash benefit clay, rammed earth, mud bricks or adobe walls?
Limewash paints have been used for centuries to preserve our built environment. They will not alter the permeability of your wall surface – moisture can freely escape and your walls will keep ‘breathing’. Any surfaces that may require maintenance will come from issues within the walls themselves. These issues may include rising damp, salt/mineral leaching or poor construction. Our paints won’t hide these issues, unlike conventional film-forming paints which can cause blistering, peeling and damage to the substrate.
How much limewash paint will I need for a rammed earth surface?
Limewashing over Raw Absorbent walls: 7–10 m² (75–107 ft²) per litre, per coat (2 coats required)
Note: Recommendations for coverage are to be used as a guide only; variation in the quantity needed will depend on the porosity of the surface to be painted. We always recommend the use of sample pots for an accurate colour representation and consumption for your particular surface and light conditions.
Will Bauwerk Limewash Paint cover my raw earth wall completely?
Yes, 2 to 3 coats of Bauwerk Limewash will cover the colour of your walls.
Will my Limewash colour fade outside?
The pigments used in Bauwerk Limewash Paints are mineral-based, colourfast and UV stable. This means that our colours are not affected by the sun’s ultraiolet rays (which can cause paints to fade). Our paints have been fully tested in the extreme temperatures of Australia and the Middle East.