For many homeowners looking to transform their home and give it a classic, rustic look, limewash paint is a popular choice, especially on homes with brick or masonry surfaces. However, the big question is, do I need to prime before limewashing? As with many situations in the paint world, the answer to this question depends on your current surface, the limewash product you wish to use, and the condition of your surface. Read on to learn if you can limewash over paint and if primer is necessary or not.
For more information on limewash paint and choosing the best limewash to bring charm to your home, check out this blog post.
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Can You Limewash Over Paint?
For those wondering if you can limewash over paint, the answer is… yes! You absolutely can limewash over previously painted surfaces and achieve the timeless look you desire. The caveat is… the type or surface and proper preparation (as with most paint projects!).
Limewash goes on best when the surface absorbs the paint evenly, so you want to ensure your surface is uniform before you start the limewash process. Surfaces with a lot of uneven spots from repairs or damage will not absorb limewash to the best degree.
Limewash paint is best applied to porous surfaces, such as brick and masonry. If you’re limewashing raw brick, then you do not need to prime before applying Romabio Classico Limewash. This product is designed to be applied directly on top of brick and rinsed off to give it that sought-after distressed look. Limewashing is extremely popular on brick surfaces for this reason, because it gives it a classically aged appearance without a ton of extra preparation or work.
However, there are areas around the house that are exposed to more wear and tear and weather, such as chimney tops, window ledges, underneath doors, etc. In these areas, homeowners may choose to prime first with Romabio MicroGrip Primer to ensure a longer lasting finish that stays beautiful for years.
When Should You Prime Before Limewash?
If your surface has been previously painted with acrylic, latex, or oil-based paint, then you should prime before limewashing in this situation. Our favorite Romabio Classico Limewash product should be applied to these types of surfaces after using a coat of Romabio’s MicroGrip Primer. It’s important that you use this primer for this specific limewash product, as others aren’t designed to prep the surface for limewash paint effectively.
When applying Classico Limewash over a previously painted surface with the MicroGrip Primer, the limewash will look more opaque and will not give you the distressed look to reveal the surface underneath. If you are going for that weathered, rustic look over top of a previously painted surface with acrylic, latex, or oil-based paint, we recommend using a combination of Romabio Masonry Flat Paint with the Romabio MicroGrip Primer underneath. This will give you a long-lasting finish on these surfaces.
You can learn more about choosing the best Romabio finish for your home, either limewash or masonry, in this blog post.
Do I Need To Prime Before Limewashing?
If you choose to limewash your home, just remember, the need for primer depends on the surface you’re working with and what type of paint has been previously applied. For raw brick, you can skip the primer and dive right into limewashing with Romabio Classico Limewash to create that distressed, charming look you’re going for. If your surface has previously been painted with acrylic, latex, or oil-based paint, you’ll want to grab the Romabio MicroGrip Primer to apply first before going in with the Romabio Masonry Flat Paint. This primer will ensure the paint goes on your surface evenly and results in a long-lasting finish.
If you’re looking to limewash your home and want to ensure you get the best results possible, we’d love to help you transform your home with the right products and preparation.
Visit our contact page today to book your free estimate with our team of professional painters!
