Lime wash
Lime Wash Finishes
Lime wash soaks into a surface instead of forming a film over it. That is why it reads soft and slightly uneven, and why it behaves well on old, breathable walls.
How it is applied
Lime wash goes on in several thin passes with a brush or trowel, each one worked into the previous while both are still damp. The character of the finish — how much movement, how much cloud — is decided in those passes, so we make a sample area on your wall and agree the direction before doing the room.
- Sample area on your wall before the room is committed
- Multiple thin passes worked wet into wet
- Matte, breathable finish with soft movement
- Suited to plaster, masonry and older walls
- Sealers specified where the surface needs protection
Old walls and breathable finishes
On older plaster, stone and masonry, a modern film-forming paint can trap moisture behind the surface. Lime wash lets the wall dry through itself, which is why it is the right direction on historic and traditional construction — and why the prep and the product choice matter more than the color.
Living with a lime wall
Lime finishes are not washable the way an eggshell wall is, and they are meant to age. We tell you plainly what a lime wash wall will and will not take, where it belongs in your house, and what it needs if it does get marked.
Where we have worked
Lime Wash has been completed across Long Island — Nassau County and Suffolk County, including the Hamptons and the East End — plus New York City and Westchester County.
Questions
Frequently asked
- Is lime wash the same as Venetian plaster?
- No. Venetian plaster is built up and burnished to a sheen; lime wash is a thin mineral wash that soaks in and stays matte. Both are lime-based and both are done by hand — they simply finish very differently.
- Can it be used in a bathroom?
- It can, with the right sealer and enough ventilation. We tell you honestly when a room's moisture makes a different finish the safer choice.
- Does it work over painted drywall?
- Often yes, with the correct primer and a surface prepared to take it. We confirm with a sample area, since absorption over old paint changes how the wash moves.
- How do you clean a lime wall?
- Gently, and less often than you might think — we show you the right method and specify a sealer for surfaces that will be touched.
Free estimate
Ready for a lime wash estimate?
Send the scope or book a walkthrough — every project is priced clearly and in writing, with the full scope and schedule spelled out.