Patching / Water Damage / Stains

Spills and Leaks, scratches or little kids - walls are subject to all kinds of mishaps. Here is how to touch up and fix limewash finishes.

Words
© Andreas Riedel
Published
2024.08

Q. My internal walls are painted with Bauwerk Limewash and have water damage and water stains, what do I need to know?

Leaking pipes can sometimes cause water stains on wall or ceiling surfaces. Whilst in most cases the paint itself will not blister or peel off, the water may dissolve materials that can cause staining of the coloured finish. 


Our solution is to follow the steps below: 

  1. Fix any leaking pipes. 
  2. Apply at least two coats of a water-based primer-sealer with the specific ability to stop water stains (among other things usually). It is important that the Primer you choose is not solvent-based, as that would cause bubbling. Apply from corner to corner, not just across the stain. Allow adequate drying time between all coats and follow the manufacturer's instructions. You may want to test the effectiveness of the primer with a simple water test to see if the stains have been blocked. Learn more about water testing.
  3. Apply one coat of Limewash Prep Coat following normal application methods. Follow with two coats of Limewash Paint. 
Water stains on lime wash finish after burst water pipe

Q. My limewashed wall has been damaged and repaired, how do I touch up with limewash paint? 

Once you have patched and sanded back the damage to your limewashed wall, it is important to note that you will now have different materials present across the wall. In other words, you will have an inconsistent/mixed surface. 


We recommend sealing the entire wall with 2 coats of a water-based primer-sealer to give a consistent surface across the wall. This will prevent any 'Ghosting' of the repaired area from coming through when you re-apply limewash paint. Once you have primed your wall follow the steps for painting Bauwerk Limewash over a previously painted/sealed wall. 

More Information

See our Mixed and Repaired Surface Guide for more on how to paint limewash over a damaged and repaired wall.

Bauwerk Colour patched and repaired wall surface
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