Lime washes depend on the ability to penetrate a rough surface and protect it, while adding a distinct identity, through the altering of textures and colors. Hydraulic lime when hydrolyzed lime (white) is the main ingredient. Impurities are added or natural pigments/oxides are added to give it its distinctive look.
Calcium reacts in the lime kiln with the clay minerals to produce silicates that enable some of the lime to set through hydration. Any unreacted calcium is slaked to calcium hydroxide which sets through carbonation. These are sometimes called ‘semi-hydraulic lime’ and include the classifications feebly and moderately hydraulic lime.
These watery paints when applied on a porous surface, penetrates and completes its hydraulic and carbonation reactions. In India, limewashes are typically re-applied once every few years, depending on the amount of weathering. A hydaulic lime sets quickly, and needs a lot of water in the porous substrate for a good fix. Carbonation reactions depend on admixtures and exposure to the air for carbonation.
Modern limewashes are not restricted to only porous surfaces but also extend to non-porous surfaces. Using primers, acrylics and resin adhesives, limewashes have been adapted to be applied on exsting gypsum board, plywood, and even mdf.
There are many vendors around the world that supply paints under the banner of lime washes. Take a look at https://www.bauwerkcolour.com/en/environmentally-friendly-bedroom-paint/bedroom-paint-colours
Bauwek supplies lime paint for a diversity of applications, from exposed brick walls to plasterboard to painted surfaces. For all sealed surfaces, they recommend a primer coat before multiple layers of Bauwerk paint. Check out the pastel color palette by Bauwek – https://www.bauwerkcolour.com/en/colour-lab
In short, lime washes come in pale colors with higher value and lower saturation in the HSV color model. Pale tints of primary and secondary colors. They are often described as soothing, washed-out, milky, and soft because of their weak chromatic content. Some of the most commonly used pastel colors are off-white, peach, lavender, mint, baby blue, pink, and lavender.
Greek Cottage by Ryan Spencer
#CBE0F4 #9BC4E0 #E5E1EB #E3D7E6 #C7C9E0
Photography by Quentin Lagache
#E8ECEC #CADDE4 #A6C4D0 #88ACBC #EBDBD1
Northwest Washington by Erol Ahmed
#F7DFD6 #F0D1C3 #ECAE9B #CE755F #B7D1D5
La muralla Roja 2 by beasty .
#F4C5C9 #EFA5A8 #E496A0 #C36D78 #BE535D
Irsha Street by Fee Billen
#D6E5F1 #F9E8C7 #BAB4BD #E0C2D6 #D0CAA6
Pastel palettes might be soft and subtle but they can make a powerful impact on designs. Their dual personality brings the unique ability to soothe the viewer while still managing to maintain vibrancy and brightness. Limewash colors have a somewhat of a therapeutical and calming effect on your mind.
These soothing color combinations can simultaneously calm and also boost the viewer’s mood due to the serene setting they create. This way designs can impact the audience by creating a warm, energetic, and enthusiastic mood without exhaustion. Pastels easily remind of spring and summer, sweets and babies, and bring joy and optimism.
We at Vanamu, we are researching limewash techniques from around the world. We were first exposed to limewashes from the master Amel Kadic, at live projects of Varun Thautam in Mexico – see- http://www.varunthautam.com/2018/03/casa-daniel/.
The typical latin name for limewash – “Jablega”, is commonly applied on ultra rough surfaces of cob, adobe, stone, sillar, brick and daub.
<@shobhan insert images from Amels workshop at Casa Daniel>
A larger source of practical notes comes from the workshops attended with master Laurent Coquemont in Mexico.
<@shobhan insert images of limewash from Laurent coauemont>
We conduct hands-on workshops for multiple techniques with lime.
<@shobhan need images of limewashes on vanamu walls, tagging people>
Feel free to contact us for your next project, we will be happy to prepare samples, the limewash mix, ship it over, teach your local painter and publish your project!