Limewash

A recent trend in many high end apartments and hotel lobbies is a Limewash finish. Limewash provides a natural rustic design, and a three dimensional effect on a surface. Historically, Limewash has been used in construction for thousands of years! The ancient Greeks and Egyptians used Limewashes to coat the outside of their buildings, partially due to the large amounts of Lime deposits found in the mediterranean region, but also because of its porous composition allowing for moisture to escape, and high pH level that inhibits mold and mildew growth - which would be very useful in an era of no internal ventilation systems. 

This historical factor is likely why limewash presents such a “rustic natural” design to us today that I discussed earlier. The presence of Limewash in architecture persisted throughout the medieval period, until its decline in the mid 20th century. Likely when its anti-septic use became more obsolete with the introduction of in-home plumbing and ventilation. In the last decade, Limewash has seen a resurgence in popularity for its aesthetic it creates in a home.

Applying limewash is quite different than applying other paints. Once opening the limewash can you'll notice the coating is much thicker, almost the consistency of mud or wet cement.

Limewash is generally not applied with a traditional brush and roll method. We used a large box brush, making overlapping x patterns, working in columns to keep a wet edge. This product, made by Meoded, required a primer and 2 coats of the Limewash product. Some Limewashes may be applied directly to the substrate, and require water to be combined to thin the material to its designed opacity. 

Case Study: 1 Hotel Seattle

ElementPCC had the opportunity to get comfortable and specialize in applying this product at the 1 Hotel Seattle! Here are some images of our team using this Limewash product by Meoded.