Limewash brick paint is a beautiful, timeless finish, and it’s easy to fall in love with the soft, weathered, classic charm it gives a home. So often in our work, we see homeowners who are set on wanting limewash. They are sure that’s what they want, until sample day rolls around. Once they see the samples, they realize that the look they really want isn’t limewash… it’s Romabio’s Masonry Flat solid finish.
So what’s the difference between Romabio limewash vs solid paint? What makes homeowners change their mind? In this blog post, we’ll walk through what we often see when helping clients choose between limewash vs solid paint, why many homeowners pivot to a solid paint, and how to ensure you choose the finish that will give you the look you really want.
In This Post
Every Brick Tells a Different Story
Since Romabio limewash is a translucent finish, your existing brick plays a huge role in the final look. The undertones, color variations, and texture of your brick all peek through limewash, for better or worse. There’s no hiding anything, so if you’re not in love with your natural brick, limewash may not be the right choice for you.
Recently, a homeowner came to us with their heart set on limewash. They had inspiration photos of soft, warm-toned exteriors (think… taupes, beiges, and browns). However, their brick was a bright red. When we applied the limewash color samples, those red undertones still showed through, creating a much bolder, more vibrant look than they imagined or what was shown in their inspiration photos.
They ended up switching to Romabio Masonry Flat, a full-coverage masonry flat paint that allowed them to achieve the uniform, toned-down finish they were really after.
Curious what the differences are between Romabio limewash vs solid paint? Check out our blog post, How to Choose the Right Romabio Finish for Your Brick.
Brick Texture Impacts Absorption
When it comes to painting brick, the more texture your brick has, the more absorption from the paint, and the more coverage you’ll get.
Another common surprise that homeowners don’t realize? How textured (or not) your brick is.
Highly textured, porous brick soaks up more limewash, creating a fuller, more matte finish. On the other hand, dense, smooth brick absorbs much less, which can leave the limewash looking patchy or too transparent.
We worked with a homeowner who loved the chalky limewash look on a rustic, textured brick house they’d seen online. But the brick on their own home was smooth and didn’t absorb much of the product. This led to a far less dramatic look than they’d hoped for. To fix this, they turned to Romabio Masonry Flat for a consistent, beautiful, finish.
Why We Recommend Romabio Brick Paint
Whether you choose limewash or Masonry Flat, we love Romabio brick paint because it’s eco-friendly, durable, and specifically formulated for brick and masonry surfaces. Unlike many standard exterior paints, Romabio products are mineral-based, which allows the surface to breathe while still providing long-lasting color and protection.
We’ve seen firsthand how Romabio stands up to North Carolina’s weather, resisting peeling, chipping, and fading for years. Plus, their range of colors and finishes makes it easy to match your style and vision, whether that’s rustic charm or a crisp, modern look.
Learn more about why we use Romabio for all of our brick projects in this blog post.
Romabio Limewash vs Masonry Flat Paint: Know Before You Paint
Before you decide on a finish for your brick home, it’s important to learn a bit more about both Romabio limewash and Masonry Flat paint so you can make the best choice for your home and style.
Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
Romabio Limewash might be right for you if…
- You love a lived-in, natural patina
- You want your brick’s original texture and tones to peek through
- You’re okay with a more rustic, imperfect finish
Romabio Masonry Flat might be better if…
- You want a consistent, solid color
- Your brick has bold undertones you want to hide
- Your brick is smooth, dense, or doesn’t absorb well
Let Us Help You Choose the Right Finish
When deciding between paint finishes and colors, paint samples can reveal a lot and be super helpful throughout the process. At Oak City Coatings, we’re here to help guide you through the process so you can feel confident about your paint choice.
Whether you’re dreaming of that Old World limewash charm or leaning toward a more uniform, solid finish, we’ll help you find the best match for your brick and style.
Brick is a unique surface that requires the right prep, products, and application techniques to get lasting results. As professioanl painters, we’ll evaluate your brick’s texture, absorption level, and undertones to recommend the finish that will give you the look you want, and apply it correctly so it stands the test of time.
In one of our recent projects, we transformed a Chapel Hill home with Romabio limewash, bringing the homeowner’s vision to life with a custom color and professional application. You can see the full transformation here: Romabio Limewash Transformation in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
If you need help deciding whether you should paint your home with Romabio limewash or Masonry Flat, visit our contact page to schedule your color consultation or sample day scheduling.
We can help walk you through both Romabio limewash and Masonry Flat samples so you can feel confident in your paint choice before you fully commit.
