Are you tired of looking at your brick home? Maybe you love brick but not the color. I have a simple solution that is DIY friendly. I am sharing all the details and everything I learned along the way so you can learn how to limewash your brick home. If I can do this, so can you. You may have noticed by now that I am not a “DIY-er” but this was easy enough for even me!
BEFORE
How to Limewash Your Brick Home
I spoke to a professional painter (whom I trust) and asked his opinion on painting brick. He said it was doable, but the process must be done diligently, and the maintenance is high. ENOUGH SAID. Limewashing is a better alternative since the maintenance is much lower and the process is simple. A few easy steps, very few products, and a little time are all it took to get this patio popping!
Products
Click each image below to purchase the exact products I used during this DIY project. Somehow, I lucked out and went to Home Depot the day they clearance-priced the Limewash product. You can see what I paid on my IG hi-lights under “limewash”.
Step One:
After removing everything from the area (furniture, potted plants, etc.) lay down a drop cloth over the area, you will be focusing. The mistake I made here, not making sure the brick floor was covered entirely, this led to a bit of cleaning that could have been avoided if I had taken my time before I started. If you are limewashing over a grassy area, you probably don’t have to worry about this. You can also use frog tape to tape off any other walls, millwork, or other materials you don’t want to get limewash on.
Step Two:
Mix the limewash with water in a 4-gallon bucket: the more water, the less coverage. On the back of the limewash container, you will see precisely how to mix the product based on your goals. I used a 1:1 ratio, and it turned out perfectly. You can choose to purchase a drill mixer or be cheap like me and use a large whisk; this was so easy. I started out trying to mix it with a paint stirrer, but this wasn’t working; don’t waste your time!
Step 3
{even the hubs helped for a bit}
Step 4
Let it dry! This is when you can expose areas or bricks if that is the style you are going for. Next, clean up your mess. If you were smart and followed step one, this should be minimal. Me, however, I had some scrubbing to do on the brick floor. Let me reiterate, protect your floor! I also didn’t protect the stucco trim, door, windows, or anything else for that matter. Clean up on every one of these items was super easy. A wet rag and a little elbow grease wiped them clean with no scrubbing necessary. All you have left is ENJOY your modernized brick exterior (or interior if you’re working there)!
Notes on Coverage
It’s a beautiful thing when you know how to limewash your brick home. With this product, you can customize your brick to achieve the look you want. If you want full coverage, apply the limewash thick and evenly. For less coverage, water down the product and don’t apply it as thick. The product will appear a bit clearer when applied. Once it dries, it gets darker and provides better coverage. With this product, you have three days to wipe off the product to expose bricks. Simply use a wet rag to do so. Now, I wouldn’t say you can completely remove the product. If you can, that would take some serious elbow power. You don’t have to worry about the unfinished product being exposed to rain or water either; it will not remove the product. While the product is still wet, water will not remove the painted areas.
Thoughts?
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