Paint the Brick? Lime Wash? Or Neither? Facelift
Classic J
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (18)
Classic J
3 years agoClassic J
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Brick - Paint, lime wash, mortar wash
Comments (58)Hi there. Nice home. Yes there are many lime formulas and techniques to white wash a house on the internet. Does your brick have a smooth finish to it, is it porous? A way to test this is to run water over the brick, does some of the water absorb into the brick? Does the brick stay damp for a bit? If so then your brick will work well with lime washing. If not then lime may not work well on your brick. So test a small area first. I know this may be a bit bold for you but I would consider white washing the entire house. I personally like homes in one color. It gives it more of a classic look. Also it would like very nice with the different textures of material( brick and stone). If you feel that might be a bit too much start with the brick first and see if you like it. Start with thin coats then keep applying. I feel the stone needs to be softened up a bit. So add a few thin coats over that as well. I would personally go all white and add plant, shrubs, trees and vines next to the house to break up the wall height. Plus that would really make your landscaping pop up against that White House and give it character. There is a lime formula that is mixed with white Portland cement that a world renowned architect Ken Tate gave me that we are using on our home. I've done some sample walls and it turned out great! It sort a tad thicker than a straight lime wash and it gives the brick a soft edge. It looks like it's been painted 100 times. Just like the old buildings in Europe were limed washed back in the 1800's. The mix I use is 4 parts white Portland cement and 1 part lime, 4.5 parts of water. Should have a consistency of whole milk but not too thick! You can mix pigment in with any formula but we choose not too. It comes out white but with a very soft gray white. I tested it with the reverse formula and the lime was Greek white. As light hits the lime, light reflects twice as much. So the more lime the brighter it greats unless you add a pigment. Some people like some brick sort of bleeding through, however we are covering all our brick so that it's all white. If you plan to go all white, you'll need several coats to cover. Sounds like you are adding shutters, good idea. That will give the house character. Also make sure when you buy or have them made to make sure they are sized properly to actually cover the window if they were closed. Not too small. I would go with a dark hunter green on your shutter and keep your windows and window trim the taupe color. And other trim white. If you go the lime route make sure you find someone that knows what they're doing. The most import thing when applying lime is to keep the wall wet down but not standing water, after applying the first coat of lime, let it dry 24 hours between coats. If you don't let it cue long enough between coats you'll have crazing (which are a network of very fine cracks). And make sure it's done between outside temperatures 50-90. Morning and afternoons. Try to not apply it when the sun is beating down. You don't want it drying too fast. We are liming the house ourselves, I know it's cray but we can't fine anyone that can do it. Also if you don't want to mix this yourself there is a company called Roma ( google Roma lime wash) they have premixed lime putty formulas and they can also mix in your pigment of choice. Just add water and your ready to start liming. Good luck and let us know how it turns out....See MoreHelp with lime wash
Comments (1)You might want to post this on the paint forum....See MoreLime wash vs Painted Exterior Brick
Comments (1)Check out romabio.com for answers. Start interviewing landscape architects,...See MoreWhite wash, lime wash or do nothing?
Comments (20)Paint the fence and gate black. I recently spray painted part of my mother's chain link fence and posts. It was very easy to do. Rustoleum spray paint. Give the gate a bit of a brush with a wire brush before painting. Downspouts dark brown so they don't contrast against the brick. This isn't a house for an elaborate driveway. Black asphalt will look just fine. I can't see enough of the house to see where a walkway would go so I won't comment on that. But again, nothing too patterned or colourful. I've seen too many "fancy" walkways that clash badly with the house's brick, although they probably looked great at the showroom or in a brochure. I'd stick with dark brown slabs. She can stain (not paint) the new brick to match the old brick. Stain can be custom tinted. https://romabio.com/faqs/#masonry What is the white box to the right of the driveway? Can it be painted to make it less obvious? After removing the evergreens, come back for advice on planting. For now, I'd remove the 3 sad shrubs in the middle of the grass....See MorePatricia Colwell Consulting
3 years agoClassic J
3 years agotartanmeup
3 years agoShadyWillowFarm
3 years agoSabrina Alfin Interiors
3 years agoSammy
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoLori A. Sawaya
3 years agoClassic J
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoGlenda Miller-Clark
2 years agoJennifer Miller
last yearJeanne J
last yearLori A. Sawaya
last yeartartanmeup
last year21 Degrees Heating & Cooling
last year
Related Stories

EXTERIORSShould You Paint Your Brick House?
See if paint is a good option for your exterior, and learn about the steps professional painters take
Full Story
REMODELING GUIDESInterior Brick: Paint it or Leave It?
Here's how to know if covering that brick is a sin or solution
Full Story
PAINTINGWhat to Know About Milk Paint and Chalk Paint — and How to Use Them
Learn the pros, cons, cost and more for these two easy-to-use paints that are great for giving furniture a vintage look
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESWhat You Need to Know Before Painting Brick
Sure, painted brick can be a great look. But you need to take some risks into account. Here's how to paint brick like a pro
Full Story
BRICKHow to Make an Interior Brick Wall Work
Learn how to preserve, paint, clean and style a brick wall to fit your design scheme
Full Story
DIY PROJECTSHouzz TV: How to Restore the Natural Look of Light Brick
Decorative artist Shauna Gallagher shows how to give white-painted brick a more variegated appearance
Full Story
HOUSEKEEPINGHow to Wash Your House
Avoid damage to siding and plants while getting your home's exterior shining clean, with this guide to using pressure washers and hoses
Full Story
FIREPLACESPainted Fireplace Mantels Add Pizzazz
These 10 fireplace mantels show how a new coat of paint can create focal-point flair in your interior design
Full Story
HOUZZ QUIZHouzz Quiz: What Color Should You Paint Your House?
Is white right? Maybe dark blue-gray? Take our quiz to find out which color is best for you and your home
Full Story
COLOR12 Tried-and-True Paint Colors for Your Walls
Discover one pro designer's time-tested favorite paint colors for kitchens, baths, bedrooms and more
Full StorySponsored
Northern VA's Creative Team of Landscape Designers & Horticulturists
mark_rachel