Terracotta Surface Guide
Words
© Andreas Riedel
Published
2024.09
How to limewash terracotta
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
Collection of terracotta plant pots with indoor plants on a wooden table against a soft grey limewashed wall.
Supply Checklist
For this project you may need...
Whisk or electric mixer
Bowl or Bucket
Limewash brush
Water
Planning + Preparation
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 + Paint Preparation
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.
Limewash Paint Application
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.
Cleanup + Maintenance
- 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.
Terracotta + Limewash Paint FAQs
©
The content of https://www.bauwerkcolour.com is protected by copyright. The reproduction of information or data, in particular the use of texts, parts of texts or images, either manually or with the aid of AI, requires the prior consent of Bauwerk Colour GmbH or Bauwerk Colour Australia Pty Ltd.