Whitewashing farm buildings

[CaliMo]

All I know is that it makes the finish more durable. Definitely lasts longer on the walls in an exposed location and makes the wash more creamy and easier to apply.

Our house is lime plaster inside and out and I was thinking of whitewashing the inside. Could I use linseed or other oil with the lime mix? What about adding a wax to it? Would that work do you think? I was thinking it would make it rub off less.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Our house is lime plaster inside and out and I was thinking of whitewashing the inside. Could I use linseed or other oil with the lime mix? What about adding a wax to it? Would that work do you think? I was thinking it would make it rub off less.

Just use lime putty and water
Oil wont do much

 

[wr.]

Our house is lime plaster inside and out and I was thinking of whitewashing the inside. Could I use linseed or other oil with the lime mix? What about adding a wax to it? Would that work do you think? I was thinking it would make it rub off less.

I suppose any clean oil would do the job

 

[upnortheast]

Does anybody still do this, and is there a alternative

Tenants on Raby Estate in Teesdale have to do their tradional buildings ( i think ) alternate years.

Often wondered if Lord Barnard had gone to the planners recently & said we want to whitewash every stone building on the estate. ?
Might just have been the mother of all protests

 

[Kidds]

In the old days stables were always white at the top black at the bottom. The top is white wash what did people use for the black?

They were the ones that couldn't afford the clean engine oil.

 

[Farmer996]

Similar thread from a couple of years ago:

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/best-whitewash-for-byre-walls.198022/

Still using cheap interior emulsion here.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

bitumen paint

Which takes 17 days to dry and never comes off skin or clothing.

 

[wr.]

Which takes 17 days to dry and never comes off skin or clothing.

Tip of the day - remove bitumen paint with some butter. The butter softens the paint and you can then wash it off easily with warm soapy water.

 

[Grouse]

Wd40 or Diesel also works

 

[ollieN4]

We mix it in an electric concrete mixer and make it really thick, pea soup, then apply it with a floor brush out of a painters bucket. Last coat did 12 years.

That’s impressive. I had (deliberately) forgotten that I spent much of my school holidays up and down a ladder each summer slapping it on.

 

[davieh3350]

Does it help bind up the old lime mortar too? There's s constant dust storm in my sheds. Be nice to have lighter walls in the workshop too

 

[ollieN4]

Does it help bind up the old lime mortar too? There's s constant dust storm in my sheds. Be nice to have lighter walls in the workshop too

It’s effectively a paint so I’d say it should. We only used lime and water but it seems like the other contributors have recipes that have much more resilience. Maybe try doing some and see how it goes.

 

[vantage]

Our house is lime plaster inside and out and I was thinking of whitewashing the inside. Could I use linseed or other oil with the lime mix? What about adding a wax to it? Would that work do you think? I was thinking it would make it rub off less.

So is ours. Mrs vantage used clay paint, easy to use, breathable and a choice of colours.

 

[vantage]

Shop around for price as there is quite a variation.

 

[Fergieman]

can you paint emulsion onto whitewashed walls

 

[CaliMo]

So is ours. Mrs vantage used clay paint, easy to use, breathable and a choice of colours.View attachment 815624

This was recommended to me elsewhere as well. Sadly it doesn't seem to be available in the US.

 

[ollieN4]

can you paint emulsion onto whitewashed walls

From my experience of whitewash it’s brittle and flakey but that’s not to say other mixes are better. My guess is that is would just lift once hit with wet paint. If the substrate is anyway poor paint will last no time on top. Preparation is key so a good power wash would probably be required. Depends too on where or what you’re thinking of painting. If it’s a building I’d be inclined to stick with the whitewash for authenticity and breath ability.