Terracotta Surface Guide
Limewash paint is ideal for porous materials like terracotta, as it gets absorbed into the surface. This enables the pots to breathe, encouraging better plant health, while also reflecting heat and keeping roots cooler. It's also an easy way to refresh both old and new pots in a colour that fits your space perfectly.
This is the right guide for you if you want to learn how to:
- Limewash terracotta plant pots
- Prepare your terracotta surface before painting
- Apply limewash paint
The coverage of Limewash Paint on raw absorbent terracotta is 7-10 m² (75–107 ft²) per litre, per coat, with 2-3 coats required for full coverage.
Our Garden Pot Limewash Paint is available in convenient small quantities, perfect for projects like this. A 250 ml size typically covers around 4 standard-sized planters, while 1 litre is ideal for a larger planter.
Surface Preparation
- The planter should be free from any dirt, dust and loose material
- Moisten the planter before painting
Paint Preparation
- Thoroughly stir limewash paint and decant into a suitable container or bucket. Ensure no pigment remains in the original container.
- Continue to stir the paint regularly throughout the painting process.
- Select the correct limewash brush. For painting plant pots and planters, we recommend using the 3cm x 7cm Limewash Block Brush, as it’s good for small projects and getting into tight corners.
Apply 2-3 coats of Bauwerk Limewash Paint
- Dip your Bauwerk natural bristle brush into the paint. Remove excess paint with a flick of the wrist. The brush can hold a lot of paint, but should not be dripping.
- Apply your paint, taking care to apply in thin coats, and stretching the paint out well in all directions.
- When wet, the colour will appear darker and transparent. Do not compensate for this by applying more paint. As the paint dries, the colour will lighten to the chosen colour and become more opaque.
- Allow a minimum of 1-2 hours between coats. Apply a second coat (no need to dampen again). Repeat if desired.
- There is no need for a sealer or additional top coat over the limewash. A third coat of limewash can be applied, based on your colour and coverage preferences.
- All brushes, tools, and containers wash out quickly with minimal water and without harm to groundwater.
- Following these steps ensures a natural, dust-free surface with a fantastic texture, making it easy to repaint and maintain.
