Mixed + Repaired Surfaces Guide

Some of our colours may look lighter once applied in exterior light. This is normal and is due to the amount of light outside. To be sure of your colour, paint onto a board of similar material to your wall, that you can carry around the space. This method enables you to view the sample colour in different lighting conditions, while also avoiding show-through of sample areas on your final finish. Use this method if you are painting naturally breathable walls like render, lime plaster or unpainted brick.

If your rendered wall has been previously painted with conventional paint and is inside, you will require Bauwerk Prep Coat before applying limewash paint. If your wall is external, you will require a coat of exterior primer such as acrylic render. This means that you can sample onto the wall, as any sample patches will be covered with Prep Coat/ exterior acrylic render and will not show through on your final finish.

When applying limewash paints directly over a wall made with mixed substrates/materials you will notice a visible difference in the colour across the surface. This is because different wall substrates are made of different materials, all with varying levels of absorbency. In some cases this may not be an issue and may add to the character of a space. However, if you wish to achieve a consistent look across the walls we recommend sealing over mixed surfaces to ensure consistent absorbency across the wall. This avoids 'ghosting' of patched areas showing through in the final finish.

See more detailed instructions above.

The pigments used in Bauwerk Limewash Paints are mineral-based, colourfast and UV stable. This means that our colours are not affected by the sun's ultraviolet rays (which can cause paints to fade). Our paints have been fully tested in the extreme temperatures of  Australia and the Middle East.

Limewashing over Raw Absorbent walls: 7–10 m² (75–107 ft²) per litre, per coat (2 Coats required)

Interiors Only

Limewashing over Bauwerk Prep Coat: 10–15 m² (107–161 ft²) per litre, per coat (2 coats required)

Bauwerk Prep Coat over Previously Painted walls: 6 m² (64 ft²) per litre, per coat (only 1 coat required)

Exteriors Only

Limewashing over Previously Painted/Sealed walls:  15–20 m² (161–215 ft²) per litre, per coat (2 coats required)

Note: Recommendations for coverage are to be used as a guide only; variation in the quantity needed will depend on the porosity of the surface to be painted. We always recommend the use of sample pots for an accurate colour representation and consumption for your particular surface and light conditions.

You can achieve a uniform appearance by properly preparing your walls, following the guidance specific to the materials and the location of the surface.

Surface Requirements

Step 1: Your surfaces should be free from any dirt and dust.

Step 2: Interior & exterior walls | Apply 2 x coats of water-based undercoat-sealer/primer over the wall to ensure a consistent surface.

Paint Application

Step 1: Preparation

Interior walls: Apply 1 coat of Bauwerk Prep Coat.

Exterior walls: Apply a coat of a thin acrylic render product before applying limewash paint.

Step 2: Apply 2 coats of Bauwerk Limewash Paint using a Bauwerk natural fibre brush. Dip the brush into the bucket and flick off excess paint. The brush can hold a lot of paint, but should not be dripping. Maintain a wet edge at all times to prevent colour overlays. Do not leave drips or runs. Continue to stir paint regularly while painting. 

Allow 1–2 hours between coats. When wet, the colour will appear darker and transparent. As the paint dries the colour will lighten and become opaque.

View detailed instructions in our step-by-step guide above.

When applying limewash directly over a wall made with mixed substrates/materials you will notice a visible difference in the colour across the surface. This is because different wall substrates are made of different materials, all with varying levels of absorbency. In some cases this may not be an issue and may add to the character of a space.

Surface Requirements (with variation of each surface substrate coming through):

Step 1: If your previously painted walls have gloss paint, lightly sand.

Paint Application

Step 1: Preparation

For previously painted interior walls: Apply 1 coat of Bauwerk Prep Coat.

For previously painted exterior walls: Apply a coat of a thin acrylic render product before applying limewash paint.

For raw absorbent masonry walls: No sealer or primer is required–simply dampen walls with clean water using a brush or light mist spray to ensure easy application of limewash paint.

Step 2: Apply 2 coats of Bauwerk Limewash Paint using a Bauwerk natural fibre brush. Dip the brush into the bucket and flick off excess paint. The brush can hold a lot of paint, but should not be dripping. Maintain a wet edge at all times to prevent colour overlays. Do not leave drips or runs. Continue to stir paint regularly while painting. 

Allow 1–2 hours between coats. When wet, the colour will appear darker and transparent. As the paint dries the colour will lighten and become opaque.

View detailed instructions in our step-by-step guide above.

Materials used to fill/patch damaged walls will have varying absorbency levels compared to the rest of the wall. To avoid an inconsistent finish across the wall surface we recommend sealing the patched/repaired areas on the wall with 2 x coats of water-based undercoat-sealer/primer to ensure a consistent absorbency across the surface. If the wall has undergone significant repairs it may be best to seal the entire wall.

Surface Requirements

Step 1: Apply 2 coats of a water-based undercoat-sealer/primer to ensure the limewash is evenly absorbed across the surface. This prevents ‘ghosting’ of repaired areas being visible through the finished paintwork. This also creates a more uniform look if your walls are mixed substrates. You can skip this step if your walls are already correctly primed and without patches and repairs. If your previously painted walls have gloss paint, lightly sand.

Paint application

Step 2: Preparation
For interior walls: Apply 1 coat of Bauwerk Prep Coat.

On previously painted exterior surfaces: we recommend applying a coat of a thin acrylic render product before applying Limewash. This will provide an absorbent layer for the limewash to adhere to on the wall. If Limewash is painted over a sealed or non-absorbent exterior wall exposed to the elements, you can anticipate a shorter maintenance period.

Step 3: Apply 2 coats of Bauwerk Limewash Paint using a Bauwerk natural fibre brush. Dip the brush into the bucket and flick off excess paint. The brush can hold a lot of paint, but should not be dripping. Maintain a wet edge at all times to prevent colour overlays. Do not leave drips or runs. Continue to stir paint regularly while painting. 

Allow 1–2 hours between coats. When wet, the colour will appear darker and transparent. As the paint dries the colour will lighten and become opaque.

View detailed instructions in our step-by-step guide above.

Not at all—you can limewash your ceiling at any time. Just be mindful not to splash or overpaint the surrounding walls while doing so.

A great tip? Consider hiring a mobile scaffold to make the job easier.