exterior

Reply to: Whitewashing is inexpensive and easy to apply. The best thing about it - maintenance free. It consist of hydrated ivory lime, table salt and water. It is maintenance free and lasts if applied correctly 20 or more years. (they knew how to make things back then) Paint on the other hand peels over time. You are going to be scraping and repainting. Costly! There are different finishes for whitewashing. Example if your looking for an "English cottage" look, vary the thickness of the whitewash when applying. If a contractor is trying to charge an arm and leg, he's ripping you off. You apply it just like paint and with a brush for the best result. This is something you can do yourself. The main thing you need is a little elbow grease. The pink house mentioned above can easily be fixed by applying a couple more coats of whitewash. Good luck

Q

Reply to: Hi Dmaull and ptaylor, Unfortuantely we never got around to whitewashing our house, but, I did an enormous amount research on the subject and discovered that you do NOT want to paint brick. Why? Because the paint doesn't allow the natural breathing to occur with brick. Brick is partially pourous and paint changes the game... Instead if you are going for that aged look then you want to use a product that simulates lime washing. Lime washing is the actual technique used in the 1700 and 1800s to protect buildings (including brick). Some still practice this today, but it is messy and potentially dangerous (your working with slaked limeor calcium hydroxide a natural chemical. The reason however you want this kind of finish is that it allows the brick to "breathe". Unfortunately the lime wash eventually wears off so you have to reapply ever few years. What I did find however was the ultimate solution I planned to use (until we deferred the project). It's a modern product that produces a finish identical to lime washing but is PERMANENT! It works at the molecular level and the minerals in the product permanently bind with the brick. What this means is that you do it one time and one time only! Additinoally the brick can literally be power washed later with NO ill effects on the white washed finish since it is permanent! Below are the notes I made to myself for later reference when I was ready to proceed. You'll want to contanc this firm and research the product yourself, but I am 100% confident that this is the BEST way to achieve a permanent, old world, white wash finish on your brick! Hope this helps! bradesp Jeff at Eco House 877-ECO-HOUSE Must apply in 46 degrees or warmer - needs four hours in 60 degree weather to fully dry-out Apply Primasil first as base "coat" Then apply one coat of Salizur. Will need to mix pigments to desired color and translucency. http://www.eco-house.com/silazur.htm Eco House can't ship if temperatures are going to freeze. Products can easily be sprayed. Will need to custom mix and keep mix "suspended" during spray.

Q

Reply to: Ok guys, sorry for the delayed reply (out of the country and traveling heavy on business). We haven't yet done this to our home yet, but we still love the look. After much research what I learned is that white wash or more accurately, lime wash is a cheap (when prepared at home) coating that has historically been used to protect buildings throughout Europe, Asia and other regions since pre-AD times! The look is very "old world", but be forewarned, while it can be made inexpensively, for those not interested in the "mess" of making this stuff (see recipes IÂve catalogued below) the commercial pre-made stuff is not cheap. ***IMPORTANT** through my research (YMMV) I learned that it is common that white wash or lime wash must be reapplied every so many years (5-10??). Remember, this was intended to serve as a cheap protectant in olden days. It will eventually wear off and require recoating. So..... I went in search of more modern technologies that created a similar benefit (cosmetically as well as environmentally) and IÂm pleased to let you know I found one very interesting, if not compelling product call Silicate Dispersion Paint developed in the 1800Âs by the Germans. Remember me saying modern technology? Well, all things are relative. White washing or lime washing was developed literally before the time of Christ. So on a relative basis, the Germany discovery IS a very modern coating technology. Below are my shorthand notes from speaking with Jeff at Eco House this past Fall. After my discussion with Jeff I was satisfied that I finally found the right product for transforming my brick home. YMMV. Below are my notes with Jeff at Eco House and below that are links to descriptions of White Washing as well as commercial white / lime washing products. Enjoy, and hope this helps! PS: If ANYONE uses these products please report back your experience! Thanks  bradesp, raleigh, nc Eco House  Silicate Dispersion Paint http://www.eco-house.com/silicate_paints.htm My Notes from my chat with Jeff at Eco House 877-ECO-HOUSE 1. Product must be applied in 46 degrees or warmer - needs four hours in 60 degree weather to fully dry-out 2. Apply Primasil first as base "coat" Then apply one coast of Salizur. 3. Will need to mix pigments to deisred color and translucency. 4. http://www.eco-house.com/silazur.htm 5. Eco House can't ship if temperatures are going to freeze. 6. Products can easily be sprayed. 7. Will need to custom mix and keep mix "suspended" during spray. * * * * Other Educational Links on White / Lime Wash * * * * Wikipedia on Whitewash or Limewash: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewash Home Made Whitewash recipes: http://fiascofarm.com/recipes/whitewash.html http://www.northcoast.com/~tms/wash.html Commercial White Lime Wash Products Available in the U.S.: http://www.usheritage.com/whitewash.htm Commercial Products Available in the U.K.: http://www.mikewye.co.uk/chart.htm http://www.francescaspaint.com/intro.html

Q