How to Limewash Your Fireplace
Limewashed bricks present an elegant antique look and fit perfectly with a variety of interior decors. Repainting a fireplace is an excellent way of refreshing the appearance of an entire room. There's no need to use chemical acrylic paint that leaves a glossy finish.
Please read our guide to learn how to achieve this stunning effect with limewash.
The basics and advantages of limewash
Limewash is a stylish and environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical paints. Ancient Greeks and Ancient Romans used it to cover brick and clay for aesthetic and protective reasons.
Limewash consists of slacked, one-year-old dolomite lime combined with other natural ingredients to create a stable mixture. The palette of limewash is quite diverse. Testing the color before applying it to the brick is crucial, as a wet limewash is ten times darker than the dry version. The porosity of the painted surface and the number of coats also affect the result.
Unlike chemical paints, you can easily remove the limewash with a power wash within the first few days after application. But, once the limewash is thoroughly dried, it becomes highly durable.
The preparation
Any DIY job requires proper preparation to achieve high-quality results. Make sure that you have all the necessary equipment:
Limewash in any suitable color
A 5-inch brush, preferably one with thick bristles
A skinny touch-up brush
A couple of buckets
Water
Rags
Optionally, a drill with a stirring attachment
Once you have all the materials, it's time to prepare the brick surface. With the help of the water and rags, wipe down the fireplace thoroughly. It should be completely free of dirt and dust. Then, dilute the limewash mortar with water following the manufacturer's instructions. You can mix it by hand, but a drill with a stirring attachment will do it way faster. The consistency has to be thin enough to spread smoothly, but it should not be runny.
The process
Dip the thick bristle brush into the mixture and start applying the first layer. We recommend going for a thin layer first, using horizontal strokes. Then, let that layer dry, though not completely. It should still be slightly damp when the second layer is applied.
Beforehand, fill in the grout lines. A skinny brush or an icing bag is more convenient for this purpose. Finally, coat the fireplace with the second layer and let it dry for 10 to 30 minutes. Distress the brick using a clean thick bristle brush or damp rags to achieve a more natural look.
Don't want to DIY your fireplace limewash? Call the professionals!
Refreshing a fireplace with limewash is a creative process. But like any painting job, it requires expert knowledge and some experience to be done nicely. Contact professionals in your area to get help in limewashing your fireplace and achieving an authentic look.
