Save money and refresh your home :
choose limewash for your exterior walls !
Spring has arrived, bringing with it a desire for freshness, renewal and a clean start. Just like nature, we sometimes need a little refresh to help things flourish again. What if this were the perfect time to finally give your façade the makeover you've been thinking about—and putting off—for years ? Combining affordability with ease of application, limewash is an ideal solution for refreshing exterior walls without undertaking major renovation work. But what exactly is a limewash ? Which surfaces can it be applied to ? How is it used ? And what is the difference between a limewash and a render ? Let's take a closer look and answer all these questions, step by step !
Facade made by A&E déco using Badisof Plus Cannelle
Badisof Plus naturel, coloured with ocre jaune foncé JFLES and sienne naturelle
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What is limewash ?
Limewash is a mixture of lime, pigments and water, sometimes combined with additional admixtures or fillers to improve its strengits performance and durability. It is also commonly referred to as lime paint or mineral paint.
Which surfaces can it be applied to ?
Limewash can be applied to lime-based surfaces, of course, but also to cement, stone, MBF boards, plasterboard and acrylic-painted surfaces. It can be applied directly to mineral and absorbent support or after the application of a lime-based primer on other surfaces or when the nature of the subraste is unknown. Several lime-based primers are available depending on the projet : Sofix (textured primer), Sofadher (smooth primer) or Rénodress (fine renovation coating).
How do I know whether limewash is suitable or if I need a render ?
A render is necessary when material needs to be applied in thickness to level a surface, fill holes, or restore a uniform appearance after repairs. Limewash, on the other hand, is a thin decorative coating, similar to paint. It is not designed to be applied in thickness and will therefore follow the shape and imperfections of the substrate. If your wall is in good condition, without significant imperfections, holes, or visible repairs, limewash is an excellent option. More economical and easier to apply than a render, it allows you to refresh the colour of your façade and give it a new lease of life without undertaking more complex renovation work.
How is it applied ?
Limewash is applied with a brush using crossed brush strokes and always in two coats, as shown in the application video below :
Can I make my own limewash ?
Absolutely ! However, it will require a fair amount of testing to find the right recipe and pigment dosage to achieve your desired result. One important thing to keep in mind is that lime is a white binder, which means it will lighten the colour of a dry pigment by approximately 50%. To help you visualise the final colour, we show the result of each of our pigments when used in our own limewash recipe, with one 600 ml jar of pigment (between 200 and 400 grams depending on the pigment, as density varies from one pigment to another), and two 600 ml jars of pigment. For those who prefer a simpler and more reliable solution, we offer Badisof Plus. Free from preservatives and composed of 96% natural ingredients, Badisof Plus is available either in its natural, untinted version (ready to use as is or to be coloured yourself), or in a choice of 51 ready-made shades available HERE. Badisof Plus is naturally filled and textured, which makes it suitable for exterior applications while remaining perfectly adapted for interior use. Indoors, it can be applied with a brush for a traditional limewash effect or trowelled smooth to achieve a polished stucco-like finish. Please note that consumption is significantly higher when applied smooth (4 kg covers approximately 20 m² when brush applied, 4 kg covers approximately 4 m² when applied as a smooth finish). For interior use only, if you are looking for a brushed limewash with a finer texture than Badisof Plus, you may prefer its counterpart, Badisof. Less textured than Badisof Plus, it offers a softer, more velvety appearance. Its colour palette is also lighter and more pastel, with 84 shades available HERE.
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Badisof Plus naturel, coloured with ocre rouge RFLES
Convinced yet ?
Don't hesitate to send us photos of your projects and creations ! Thanks to you, we are able to fill our website and social media pages with beautiful real-life applications that inspire others and showcase the many possibilities of limewash :)