Exterior Lime Washing
Breathable, beautiful and enduringly authentic — our exterior lime wash and traditional render finishes protect and enhance historic stone, brick and render using centuries-old techniques.
Request a Free QuoteAbout Lime Washing
A Finish That Breathes with Your Building
Lime wash is one of the oldest and most effective protective finishes for historic masonry. Unlike modern masonry paints, lime wash is fully breathable — allowing moisture to pass freely through the wall and escape naturally, preventing the trapped damp and spalling that cement-based products cause. Used on English buildings for centuries, it remains the only truly sympathetic coating for historic stone, brick and render.
At St Blaise, all exterior lime washing is carried out using traditional hot lime or hydraulic lime washes, applied by hand in multiple thin coats. Each coat is allowed to fully carbonate before the next is applied — a process that cannot be rushed. The result is a soft, luminous finish that weathers beautifully and improves with age, entirely in keeping with the character of any historic building.
What We Do
Our Lime Wash Services
Stone Lime Washing
Traditional lime wash applied directly to natural stone — rubble, ashlar and coursed — protecting the masonry while allowing it to breathe and weather naturally. We work with all English stone types including Cotswold limestone, sandstone, granite and flint, selecting the appropriate lime specification for each substrate.
Brick Lime Washing
Lime wash for historic brick elevations, softening the appearance and providing a breathable, protective coating that complements the original brickwork character. Particularly suited to Georgian and Victorian stock brick where modern masonry paints have caused damp problems by sealing the wall face.
Lime Render & Re-rendering
Application of traditional lime render to replace failed cement render — restoring breathability and providing a sound, authentic base for lime wash finishes. Cement render traps moisture behind the wall face; our lime render systems allow the building to dry out naturally and remain stable long-term.
Colour Matching & Tinting
Lime wash tinted with natural mineral pigments to match existing historic finishes or achieve a specific colour sympathetic to the building and its surroundings. We can match faded or weathered finishes from paint analysis, and advise on colours appropriate to the period and locality of the building.
Preparation & Repair
Thorough preparation of the substrate is essential to a lasting finish. This includes careful removal of failed coatings, repair of cracks and open joints with appropriate lime mortars, treatment of any biological growth, and application of a suitable primer coat before finishing coats are applied.
Listed Building Work
Specialist advice and execution for Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II listed buildings, working within planning and conservation requirements throughout. We liaise with conservation officers, prepare method statements, and ensure all materials and techniques meet the requirements of listed building consent.
Why Lime Wash
The Case for Traditional Lime
Modern masonry coatings are engineered for speed and convenience. Lime wash is engineered for buildings — and for the long term. Here is why it remains the material of choice for any historic or traditionally built structure.
Fully breathable
Lime wash allows water vapour to pass freely through the wall, preventing the moisture entrapment that causes damp, frost damage and spalling in buildings sealed with modern paints.
Self-healing
Lime is slightly flexible and mildly alkaline. Hairline cracks re-carbonate and close over time, and the alkalinity inhibits mould and algae growth without the need for biocide treatments.
Authentic appearance
The soft, slightly translucent quality of lime wash cannot be replicated by modern coatings. It weathers to a beautiful, varied finish that reads as entirely natural on any historic building.
Conservation compliant
Lime wash is the accepted standard for listed buildings and conservation areas. It satisfies planning and heritage requirements where modern masonry paints would not receive consent.
Long service life
Properly applied lime wash on a sound substrate will last many years before requiring maintenance — far outlasting modern coatings that peel, crack and trap moisture behind them.
Environmentally sound
Lime is a natural, low-embodied-energy material that re-absorbs CO₂ as it carbonates. It contains no synthetic polymers, solvents or biocides, making it one of the most sustainable exterior finishes available.
Our Process
How We Work
Every lime wash project begins with a thorough assessment of the building. No two substrates are identical, and the specification — lime type, mix, number of coats, pigment — is determined by the building itself, not by a standard formula.
Site survey & specification
We visit the building to assess the substrate, identify any failed coatings or underlying defects, and establish the most appropriate lime wash specification. A written method statement is provided before work begins.
Preparation
All failed coatings, biological growth and loose material are carefully removed. Cracks and open joints are repaired with lime mortar matched to the original. The substrate is dampened down to control suction before coating begins.
Priming
A dilute primer coat is applied to consolidate the surface and establish an even suction across the wall. This is the foundation of a lasting finish and is never omitted, however sound the substrate appears.
Finishing coats
Multiple thin finishing coats are applied by brush, each allowed to fully carbonate before the next. Typically three to five coats are required to achieve the correct depth of colour and coverage. Tinted coats are applied last.
Curing & handover
The completed work is protected from rain and direct sun during the initial curing period. On handover we provide guidance on long-term maintenance and the expected recoating interval for the specific substrate and exposure.
Our Work
Lime Wash Projects
Ready to Restore Your Building's Finish?
Contact St Blaise for a free site visit and no-obligation quote. Our specialists will assess your building and recommend the most appropriate lime wash specification.