Painting with lime may sound strange, but many people know that lime is a type of material used in house building, to place on walls as protection. The lime for painting has long been used to prepare homemade paint in a very economical way.
It is commonly used to paint exterior exterior or interior rustic walls, such as concrete walls with plaster and sometimes colored with oxides. On this occasion we will learn how to paint with lime.
In hydrated lime, the binder is a mineral, called calcium hydroxide or lime in the leg. The solvent used is water and the pigments that will be used must also be mineral, such as iron oxide or natural soils, because these provide the optimal conditions to obtain a uniform color and long duration.
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How to paint with lime
To paint with this material we must know some peculiarities. The binder of this one influences the results at the end of painting, reason why we must know that the white color of the lime must be completely dyed by the pigment that we use.
Another thing to consider when painting with lime is that the white of the lime can considerably lower the shade of the chosen color, being able to decrease the shade by up to 50% when the painted surface is dried. Therefore, the right amount of pigment must be used.
How to prepare the paint with lime
In order to prepare the paint with lime certain products must be used, this time we will give the quantities for a bucket of 19 liters.
Use 10 kg of hydrated lime, 100-150 grams of pigment, 1 liter of vinyl sealant, and 250 grams of salt.
First you should start by filling the bucket with water (remember that it is a mixture for a bucket of 19 liters of water), then add the salt and shake it until it is incorporated, then add the vinyl sealant (this is optional).
To paint with lime it is recommended that for virgin or flat concrete surfaces, do not use sealer in the mix as using it will prevent carbonation of the film and will also decrease the brightness of the color.
Finally add the pigment to be used and the way to apply the paint should be with a coarse bristle brush, that the mixture is slightly thick will help to optimize the application of the paint with lime.
Tips for painting with lime
It is advisable to clean the surface before painting, that it is free of dirt as it will prevent the uniformity of the paint. You can use the paint on top if it is kept in a closed container, hermetically sealed and with excess water, which has no contact with the air.
Lime painting is a way of maintaining a wall as it allows perspiration and the air in buildings to be renewed also prevents the formation of moisture pockets. Lime has disinfectant and sterilizing properties. Its high pH attacks bad organisms being this a sanitary quality and is also used in agriculture to care for pathogen trees.
Buy paint with lime
In case you do not want to prepare the lime paint we recommend you buy ecological lime paint of the brand Paintcal. You can find them in various colors, including ivory, vanilla and white.
Have you ever used lime paint or have you ever seen it used? The next time you travel, stand up in some old town and see if you can find walls painted with lime. Take a picture and send it to us.
If you want to get inspired look at this Sevillian village painted completely with white lime.
If you were looking for a more generic article you can read wall paint.
View this article in spanish
Click this link to view the article “Painting with lime” in spanish.
