Experimenting with Hot Lime Wash - Mixed Results 

Let the walls dry, that's the "secret", you don't need to paint more than 3 layers, when they are completely dry, the white will be uniform, in this case the high level of humidity delays the process, credit to your work and persistence.

My parents were born and raised in India in a region called Goa. This was occupied by the Portuguese for a long time. They converted locals to Catholics. This region during my parents time ( now 80 plus years) was predominantly Catholic. But the Portuguese made their presence know though food. We have a lot of our food has Portuguese names. But a lot of the properties and even property boundaries even in the fields are marked by local stone just like you see in the country side in Portugal. During the monsoons it rains a lot and a lot of moss and green stuff grows on the walls that have to be scraped off after or it looks unsightly. But there are special guys that come around doing lime wash, that’s another thing they left behind. But as the years have gone by these trade are slowly dying off and the young people are not using stone to mark border outlines. They use cement and regular paint. My grandfathers home we still use the old methods but those trades are hard to get because they are fewer and fewer available to do the job and the young ones don’t have the skills. So watching your videos reminds me of my ancestry and I imagine what those times look like. I have a Portuguese last name like so many of us do that originated from Goa.

Hi Guys, enjoy watching your journey. I've done some hot limewashing previously and had good success. You have obviously watched Nigel Copseys demonstrations as he relates to the 'whoosh!' I've been on a course in person where he has demonstrated the method. All I can suggest is: When mixing ensure you start with plenty of water and add gradually and thoroughly You can thin your finished wash down after the whoosh but keep it so it just stays on the brush. I'd advise using bigger brushes and don't overwork it once you've applied it to the wall. Otherwise you'll end up with 'patches' As you said you have to be patient. You are applying to a green plaster with moisture in it. Also it is winter and your property is unheated. The lime will take time to carbonate and lose its water. All limewash is translucent when wet. It will dry brilliant white in the right application and conditions. Stick with it 👍

Like in Portugal, we lime wash everything, here in Greece. My grandmother would lime wash the base of her lemon and mandarine trees, the shed, the house .... even the floor, with lovely, traditional folk lore patterns. Your home is looking gorgeous. You're both doing a subLIME job! 😏

Guys, do not desperate! It's obvious you need to wait for complete dryness on your walls. I remember using this to protect my young trees and at the beginning, it didn't look very covering but after a couple of days, everything became absolute white. Your walls are thick and the humidity in that room is very high, with not too much natural light, so even if you do more coats, you need to be patient. Good look!

Good Evening Folks - This is a truly amazing site that I have just found I make my own hot limewash all the time - these are the things i have learnt Powdered quicklime will double in volume so when you make a limewash ensure that you have at least if not slightly more double the amount of water to quicklime by volume. I also use hot water so that the reaction starts almost immediately. I slowly add the powder to the water and use a hand whisk to mix the contents. (if you use a pigment make sure that it is added at the beginning of the process - and make sure you write down the ratios - something i forget to do all the time!!!). Once the quicklime has slaked I add enough water to the mix so that the limewash almost but doesnt drip off my brush. I always pass my limewash through a fine sieve to remove any solids and then apply. Dont worry about the hot thing - i use my limewash cold too and it works just as well! Make sure that the wall is wetted down as you work and work the brush in all directions. Dusting only happens when the lime dries too fast. If you think that it is too hot or too dry then lightly MIST down the wall after. You will find that the walls appear opaque to start with but after 24hours the carbonation process starts and the walls will look great. If you want to have an awesome finish then burnish with a dry brush - this means brushing over the limewash once it has started to pull in and you will get a light sheen. Also dont forget that this is a limewash and not a paint so you wont get an even colour all over. You will end up getting a depth of colour with some areas being whiter than others.

We hope you realize how beneficial these videos are. We are a couple years away from doing our lime wash so we are using your scientific experiments to save us a lot of time. We have done all the research on RU-vid and such but to see an average couple actually do it is much different. Thanks for being our test kitchen. =) Greetings from the Harrodsburg Castle.

You may find the bright lighting is highlighting unevenness in the coverage. It looks good on camera and perhaps once dry, and room furnished you may appreciate the rustic look. Great vid. 😊

In Hungary, the same technique was used in country houses. The interesting thing is that the operation was always carried out in a dug pit to dissipate the excess heat. In this way, too fast a chemical reaction was avoided. They waited at least 2 hours, at least that's what my great-grandmother explained to me when she whitewashed her house.

If you want color you can use laundry blueing if you like the color blue. Yellow ochre can be either used as a yellow or heated to make a sort of burnt orange color. Yellow ocher can be found in clay deposits. I have heard of folks using ground bricks to make a pink color. Grey can be made with charcoal of course. None of those sources should be too expensive. That is if you wish for color. White is lovely too.

I adore science experiments that cause explosions in the lab. That was very satisfying content.

Regarding streaks, there is a basic rule of painting walls, that says you only brush one way and preferably on the same direction with the light in the room (i.e window). It will severely cut down on the streak and shadow effect of light hitting the wall and it will mask various imperfections. I also find a roller is much preferable than a brush, where the roller leaves a textured pattern and not lines.

Insomnia. You hit Texas with this one at 3am. keep rocking!

Can you please do more vids a week, I know it’s a pain but we love your journey xx

Ooh timed just right for my morning cup of tea 😁

8.20 pm in Adelaide Australia. I am enjoying the video. Look forward to Saturdays

How nice, this is the old way of doing our tree painting and houses in Argentina.

Well that certainly made me jump! Your vids are always so informative. Everything is looking good, well done you two work horses.

The coverage factor of paints is sometimes shown on tins or advertising - the better the coverage (fewer coats to get complete cover on a wall or surface) the more expensive the paint. With this hot lime, I was wondering about getting more on the walls and the trade off with having streaks or other brushmarks so you get more coverage. I think I suggested before, sometimes painters load a roller to get paint on a wall and then spread it out with smaller rollers - you can get bigger brushes you can load more and then spread out the paint with a mini-roller. Perhaps this is something you've tried. Good luck not blowing up the town! Good video too!

Congratulations guys in how well you work together 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I’m truly impressed!! Many couples I understand separate after building a house together!! 🙌🏻🦋👏🏻🇺🇸

Just like life itself, trial and error, very informative, thank you both 👍

The walls are looking so good!

I recently discovered your channel and am thoroughly enjoying watching your progress and how you explain what you are doing. Thank you

These videos are so educational and a lesson in patience and trying new things. The two of you amaze me, I am as proud of you as if you were my own kids.

Popular in Ireland too.

Looks terrific!

When you lime washed the little bathroom, it must have been warmer than it is now. Maybe that's the biggest difference? What temperature/time of year you're doing it, so the humidity can either leave quicker or slower. And thanks for making me laugh regularly when watching your videos, not to forget all the things I learn from your experiments!

Looks like it's gonna need a good 4-5 coats. Lime is definitely not like paint. It's coming along nicely!

That’s great! I like the explosion, never realized how reactive lime was. Thanks for the entertainment. 😅🇨🇦

We all need a terry in our lifes it looks absolutely amazing you have an eye for smallest of detail perfection x

Thx for filming this and sharing it with us. 👍👍👍👍👍👍

Watching the lime application! Second coat will take better! Look better! I bet! You two are incredibly brave! Onward! Just think, next Christmas you will have your Christmas tree in the house!!😱😳🥰✅ Mandarins?

Starting to realise what amount of work required in the sistine chapel looking at you guys working the fingers to the bones. Regardless - looking good, as always!

Just passing this on from watching it first hand. I know im probably to late but I did say before 50% more water to lime, and if your filling a bucket add 250g sea salt. Leave in bucket for a day or two before useing. After use let dry for a full few days, you should only need one or two coats. Your doung such an amazing job, and I love the quality of everything you do. You are one of the best on youtube❤ 😁

Wowwwww very impressive I’m pretty sure your house is going to be so beautiful 🌹

Hi, Kylie and Guy. Hopefully, the next coat of the hot lime wash will give you the coverage that you want🤞

Incredible.

Very interesting experiment!

Take a wall like this in winter take about more or less 1 week to dry , only this time you guys saw the results. This is old fashion way the pint the walls the old houses in Portugal.

Rather a 'boom' than a 'woosh' Lucky I didn't have my usual cup of tea in hand 😂 The room will look lovely when it is finished though. I can't wait to see all the units in place and how you finish the ceiling and floors.

very interesting. great chemical demonstration. love it.

I learned a lot from your video and enjoyed watching. Thanks.👍

Great work

That was an interesting and explosive episode lol the science of lime wash is fascinating 😊👍

I loved it! Even if you still need to put one more colt. I can imagine your dining kichen, and love the result! You can put a very charming "canto alemão", have some glass in this door so you get more ligth, and maintain the wood apearing in the ceiling, that is beaultiful, it will be great.

Science class revisited!!! You two are doing an incredible restoration job and teaching us new techniques!!! Well done!!! 🥰🎶❤️🎶🇨🇦

Guy Kylie your channel is brilliant thank you for sharing

I hope you both have a wonderful Christmas! 🎄

*Kylie & Guy, great video to watch as you try different ways... most informative 🙂.*

The guy on My 15k House used like rust powder to colour his lime wash. He seemed very familiar with the process. I think he is well travelled and worked on buildings were these methods are still commonly used. The rust and lime gave that common pinkish colour that you see on many buildings. He brought it in a jar. I found it really interesting and you might too.

There are people who would have taken the easy way out: drywall. It would then look like a cheaply-built house in the suburbs, no character, no warmth, certainly not Portuguese, hiding all of the history of the place, and in just a few years it would get tired and shabby and need to be re-done. You are showing respect for the neighborhood and for the history of the house. It will be unique, a reflection of who you are and where you are. And every day for the foreseeable future you will look at every surface, say, "I did that", and smile. You will also know where every pipe and conduit is. A hundred years from now, future owners will appreciate the loving care you've given to restore this place.

It will take a while to look completely dry and finish but it will ! and I think you doing an extremely good job .

great video

Even I jumped back when your lime wash whoosed! You sure werent kidding, you got a super whoosehey batch there! I find it unbelievably that you have brought this area up to looking as good as it does from where you started, it's looking amazing, at least on film. Thanks for sharing this, I find this technique very interesting and worth the effort. I've no doubt that the finish product will be excellent.

Back in the day in the very south of Sweden we used a brush (brom like) not a paintbrush. Remember it as very paint like in consistency. Thus was only made during peak sommer. So sunny and hot.

Hello it’s interesting watching you guys doing , back many years ago they use to paint the houses with that called cal but like paint not so thick great job

I jumped! And clearly you did too! I think Guy needs to ensure he has eaten before doing more if this 🤣🤣🤣

Patience!! Also use the right brush...the round one, less streaks. It needs time to dry!!!...

I think in temps of 7c it will take a wee bit to dry out. I used it outside on my potting shed in Scotland in the summer and it took quite a few days and quite a few coats to dry out. BTW the close ups reminded me of how wonderful the beams are!

Mi piace molto il vostro muro,la vostra casa e adoro tutto il l lavoro che state facendo con passione e dedizione!! Bravi❤ Tornando alla pittura...quanto tempo è passato dall'ultima mano di intonaco alla pittura? L'intonaco (o base) di fondo deve maturare / stagionare. Per la pittura a calce è indicato il grassello di calce e non quick lime (=calce viva) Il grassello di calce è una "crema" ottenuta dall idratazione della calce viva che però ha subito una stagionatura di diversi mesi. Voi avete steso una calce idratata su intonaco recente. La calce deve essere diluita con piu acqua. Le vostre 2 stesure sono troppo dense. Inoltre bisogna aggiungere degli addittivi che possono essere o amido di riso o colla cellulosa e anche latte scremato (se volete usare prodotti naturali). Nella stesura della pittura le pennellate devono essere incrociate e la % di potere coprente si può valutare solo a completa asciugatura.

תודה❤❤❤

Last time I mixed lime was over 40yrs ago in the Algarve. Having seen the way you mixed it and the lack of water in the mix, my understanding is that some of the lime might've burned, this gives a patchy brown finish. I'm sure you have researched this well and will find a good solution. Greetings from London.

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

When mixing the lime, it is ready when it forms a little island that doesn't immediately absorb into the water. The mixing blade on a drill makes getting it smooth without lumps much easier than stirring with a wood stick. Experience from my mold making for ceramics. If you trowel the plaster to burnish it, that is Venetian plastering and it is beautiful. You can add pigments to the lime in the mix to color your walls and never have to paint them using the Venetian plastering. The slight variation in color makes for a beautiful wall.

Never too old to learn something new. Thank you!

Great video, you two are so methodical and you do get there. The dusty limewash is when people make it with hydrated lime. You are doing a proper job

Hi Guy and Kylie. Don't know if this helps or not but when was a young boy I did lime wash walls with my Dad (traditional properly trained plasterer - his father also a plasterer - (from Bournemouth) - it was VERY thin - it ran down the wall like a river almost - went on with a big thick grass brush - we would lime was a whole house in a morning easy enough because the lime wash was so thin in only took 10 minutes to do a whole wall..it was generally a very quick process. Anyway the take home message for what its worth is the brush was much much bigger and the lime wash much thinner.

Think you just need patience ❤

I wonder if the hot lime wash 2 coat theory works well on previously lime washed surfaces, like if you were just freshening up the walls? Either way I look forward to seeing if it continued to cure/harden/dry into an acceptable appearance.💖

Now I’m really wanting to see you make a lemon meringue!😊

Don't you usually use special brushes when you limewash? With longer bristles? Maybe one like this gives a smoother texture on the wall?

I uses lime paint and put a basic coat and two coats on top of it. No windows open so there is no draft, , It has to dry slowly . After the third coat it was looking great. You need patience with this kind of paint .But the results are great . And it regulates the humidity in the room .

I've seen other RU-vidrs living in Portugal having the same problem. The ended up doing 7-8 coats! Their mixture was more watery but... Anyway, your not wasting any money which is good. Time... That's another thing 😅

That wall looks amazing! I really like the feel of the ‘paint’ on camera it looks smooth. Just a question, so if you want color you’d just add tint to the base line putty paint thing?

that's to dangerous but i liked it what fun

Man that jumped the crap out of me when it wooshed,lol. Almost pissed myself, lol.

Defo needs time to dry (weeks), you are downstairs with newly cob plastered walls in the Winter months... All in all looking fabulous... and cheap.

I think it just needs to dry and it will be fine. The room Will be lovely!

I remember the walls on the house I grow in 40 years ago just outside Lisbon were lime plastered. they were the most beautiful and smooth walls I've ever seen and felt. like glass. Can I suggest testing a thick fine sand and lime mix as a first layer or as many same layers for very irregular walls and then this same mix you used as a second layer but about 3mm thick? This is how the was was made back then. I don't know what tools they've used but would try myself with a large screed tool just like they use here in the UK nowadays. You will need to find the perfect consistency and probably wait for some time but the end result should be as smooth as glass

Exothermic .. even! You could win a 4th grade science fair with a lime volcano.

Dependant on the relative humidity...it may often appear 'streaked'. That is what happens with a Lime wash, it may also flake from time to time but it is fabulous stuff in many ways. We used to brush the walls down and reapply a fresh coat each year.

Im wondering if the video's you watched and the other sources you used plastered with the hemp? Hoping for satisfying results and thank you for encouraging me to be willing to experiment more rather than slapping it together to get it done.

I often wondered what the white "Paint" around the bottom of the trunks of trees was as I drove around Europe's roads. Lime wash to prevent insect problems makes much more sense than a safety measure to prevent crashing into the trees and seeing the side of the highway at night.

Guy, pushing his luck! Ok, that was a volcano.

❤Eason salt/magnesium bath 7pm Emu Park (central Queensland coast in Australia) with a cup of tea.

Good practical cost saving advice, go raibh mile maith agat ( thanks in Gaeilge)🇮🇪☘️👍

Hopefully some decent drying time will improve the look. That was a lot of wall to cover! Do you think you’ll get in for Christmas? ATVB.

I remember my grandfather doing lime wash, that at the time came like stones but put in water the day before, never hot

I’m wondering if it might give you the effect you want if you paint it in with a roller.

Yummmm... meringue!😁

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I would of used roller paint brushes or sponge rollers...any reason you didnt try that? Besides the obvious corners and crevices?!

Hi, limewash must be like milk mixed with water. Also You can put one 500g. Fresch chiees, homogen. In Germany we coll it Quark as a binder into.

Hey guy! going through a similar thing back in the UK with an old house. Worth looking at some videos by Nigel Copsley, he wrote the book in the UK on this stuff.

Leave it that’s the charm

Guys I can't say much about the result of the painting, because I know nothing about painting or decorating. But I can tell you that the explosion with your experiment made me jump and I spilled my drink on my husband's head 😂.

Can you wash/clean limewash walls? If this is the kitchen, will you be able to clean greasy walls?

I find myself wondering if the mix should be even thinner.

Weather has a huge result on paint & finishes. It maybe too cold presently to get the result you desire.

Curious: Outside and inside room temperature, room relative humidity, drying time, final mix temperature. Looks whiter and smoother. Patches may be showing as the porosity may vary acroos the wall. As the wall slowly dries, less variation should occur.