Brick is a popular exterior material for many homes. It’s old world charm and beauty has attracted homeowners since the 1800s, but with age comes an increase in maintenance costs..
Brick can be difficult to keep clean, especially if it is painted over with paint that doesn’t match the color of brick. This post will discuss whitewashing brick exteriors as well as some pros and cons associated with this process.
What Is Brick Whitewashing?
Whitewash is a classic exterior treatment that has stood the test of time. It’s an affordable, low-maintenance option that can be customized to match any style of architecture.
However, there are also some cons associated with this popular brick exterior treatment!
Whitewashing a brick is a process that was popular in the 1800s and early 1900s.
This method involves covering bricks with a mixture of water, lime or gypsum powder, saltpeter (potassium nitrate), flour paste, and sometimes soap to help keep the mixture from cracking.
The whitewash would be applied by hand, in thick coats, leaving some of the brick exposed.
There are lots of benefits to whitewashing your bricks! For example, it’s a cheap way to update any vintage home.
Whitewash is also long lasting and resistant to weathering when applied correctly. When done properly this treatment won’t peel or flake off over time.
Another benefit is that whitewash won’t crack like paint will when it gets older.
This means old brick exteriors can be restored to their former glory without worrying about the finish cracking and chipping away in a few years!
Whitewashing brick is also great for hiding imperfections or discoloration of bricks caused by weathering, age, or neglect.
The color of whitewash is also easy to customize, which makes this treatment a great option for matching your home’s exterior style with the rest of your landscape!
Whitewashing brick can be more difficult than some other kinds of paint jobs, like staining and painting new bricks, because you need to make sure that each individual brick is evenly coated.
If you’re worried about the job being done properly, it’s a good idea to hire a professional whitewashing company.
The biggest con of this exterior treatment is that if not applied correctly or by an experienced contractor, your bricks can get damaged!
Whitewash should be allowed to dry before any foot traffic hits the surface. If you walk on the bricks too soon, it can cause damage to your brick or even ruin your whitewashing job!
The pros of this exterior treatment definitely outweigh the cons when done correctly and by a professional contractor.
Whitewash is an affordable way to update any home’s exterior style while saving money in the long run because it won’t chip or crack.
Pros And Cons Of Whitewashing Brick
The pros of whitewashing are that it’s a low-cost option for updating or restoring your home’s exterior style while saving money in the long run because it won’t chip or crack.
This treatment is also long-lasting and can be customized to match any architectural style.
The cons of this exterior treatment are that it doesn’t work well with large surfaces, which means you’ll need to hire a professional contractor if your home has an entire brick facade!
Whitewashing should only be applied when dry and by a professional contractor or company because it’s easy to damage your brick during application.
How To Whitewash Brick
You can easily whitewash exterior bricks with a simple paintbrush, roller brush, sponge, container of water, and lime putty!
Once you have all of the required materials, prepare a little batch of lime putty with water as directed by the manufacturer.
Next, apply this mixture onto your brick using a paint brush or sponge and let it dry for about 30 minutes.
Keep in mind that too much of it might cause bubbles on your exterior bricks, which are difficult to remove!
What Is Limewashing Brick?
Limewashing brick refers to coating your brick with a mixture of lime putty, water, and sometimes soap. This is another low-cost option for updating your bricks!
Limewash has been popular as an exterior treatment since the 1800s but was replaced by other treatments like staining or whitewashing that were easier to apply over large surfaces.
Limewashing brick exteriors is also gaining popularity as a way to preserve or restore old buildings.
Pros And Cons In Using Limewashing
Limewashing brick exteriors requires less maintenance than staining, painting, whitewashing, and tuckpointing because it won’t chip or peel over time.
Limewash can also be applied evenly on your exterior bricks and won’t discolor like paint will.
However, it can be difficult to apply lime wash evenly on your brick unless you have a professional do the work for you.
Limewashing is also more expensive than whitewashing or staining because lime putty costs over $50 per bag and it takes multiple coats of limewash to properly coat your exterior brick.
The best part of limewashing is that it won’t crack like paint or whitewash will, which means you can get more years out of this treatment!
Limewash is also less likely to peel than other kinds of treatments because the lime in the mixture forms a chemical bond with the mortar on your brick.
The cons of limewashing your exterior bricks is that it can be difficult to apply this treatment evenly on large surfaces like an entire house, especially if you’re doing the work yourself!
Limewash should only be applied when dry and by a professional contractor or company because it’s easy to damage your brick during application.
Methods For Limewashing
You can apply limewash onto your brick with a paintbrush, roller brush, sponge, container of water, and lime putty.
Once you have all the necessary materials for this method mix a small batch of lime putty by mixing it with some warm water
Apply this mixture to your exterior brick using an old t-shirt and let it dry for about 30 minutes.
Be sure not to apply too much lime wash at once because bubbles might form on your exterior bricks that are hard to remove!
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance exterior treatment that doesn’t require multiple coats of paint over time, limewashing might be the perfect option!
This is also an eco-friendly and budget friendly choice because it preserves your brick while keeping costs down.
If this sounds like the right choice for your home or business, contact a limewashing professional for a quote today!
But if you are thinking about whitewashing your brick exterior, make sure you do it correctly by hiring a professional contractor!
Remember that if done incorrectly this method could damage the surface of your bricks!
Whitewash should only be applied to a clean, dry surface. This treatment should be allowed to completely dry before any foot traffic hits the surface of your brick exterior!
