[Biker.chic]

Does anyone know how to use the lime wash to give it the slurry brick look?

 

[dom-mas]

Huh...got a pic?

 

[stonecutter]

Mix lime and water, slap it on with a brush. Done.

 

[dom-mas]

Oh...like literally whitewash the bricks? Yup do what SC said. If you want it thinner add more water. Thicker? add more lime

 

[Tscarborough]

We do it 3 or 4 times a year, sometimes for face brick, sometimes for thin brick. We use 1/1 white portland/type S lime and adjust the water to the amount of wash they want. Note that we are doing it to bricks, not a wall. An example would be a bag of white portland, a bag of lime and about 20 gallons of water. The slurry is kept stirred and the brick are then dipped, dried, and in the case of thin brick, sawn. That would give about 80% coverage of the brick. The only brick we do it to are Mexican handmade woodmolds as they are porous enough to absorb and hold the slurry.


For a typical hardfired face brick in the wall, you would use a thicker slurry and brush it on. Using a straight lime-wash will not last past the first rain unless you use a hydraulic lime.

 

[dom-mas]

I've had lime bleed on my work that i can't get off with a pressure washer. Seems weird that lime would wash off with rain. lime mortar doesn't disintegrate in rain. Barns that are whitewashed can be hosed down. If rain is washing away your lime you got a bad batch

 

[S.U.M]

Any pics of this.

 

[Tscarborough]

That was an exaggeration, Dom, but for permanent lime wash it needs some portland. "Lime run" is usually just partially lime, it includes other salts that make it hard to remove.

I will post some pics from work tomorrow.

 

[Tscarborough]

Here are a couple pics. The first is a 100% slurry wall sample, the second shows the range of coverage possible.

 

[dom-mas]

oh...wasn't expecting that. I thought it would be like the last brick for thinly applied and like the 2nd last brick for heavily applied.

Why?

 

[Tscarborough]

Why a range? Because $%^&*! designers can't make a decision to save their life.

 

[dom-mas]

No...what's the purpose? Just another style? Is it a regional (southern? SW? Texas only) thing cause I've never seen it. I have seen a light wash but never a coating like that

 

[Tscarborough]

It is hot in Texas, light colored brick are popular, and I sell it to people who want painted brick (!?) without the maintenance issue.

 

[Halogengirlie]

Tscarborough, are you located in the Dallas area? I am an architect and I have been looking for a contractor in that area to limewash a home.

 

[Tscarborough]

I am in Austin, so I can't help you with any Dallas area contractors.

 

[Stellastarkat]

Limewash brick

We do it 3 or 4 times a year, sometimes for face brick, sometimes for thin brick. We use 1/1 white portland/type S lime and adjust the water to the amount of wash they want. Note that we are doing it to bricks, not a wall. An example would be a bag of white portland, a bag of lime and about 20 gallons of water. The slurry is kept stirred and the brick are then dipped, dried, and in the case of thin brick, sawn. That would give about 80% coverage of the brick. The only brick we do it to are Mexican handmade woodmolds as they are porous enough to absorb and hold the slurry.


For a typical hardfired face brick in the wall, you would use a thicker slurry and brush it on. Using a straight lime-wash will not last past the first rain unless you use a hydraulic lime.

Tscarborough - I am currently designing for a new build and have been looking for info on dipping bricks into lime wash before build. Is this what your talking about re mexican style bricks?
Would it alter adhesion upon mortar contact? I can't see that it should but would be very interested if this is something you do.. Thanks from Australia..

 

[Tscarborough]

If you used just lime it could affect adhesion, but with a portland/lime mix it shouldn't. Lime alone would be similar to a dusty brick, unless it was allowed to age to carbonation, this is not an issue with a portland/lime mix.

 

[fjn]

That was an exaggeration, Dom, but for permanent lime wash it needs some portland. "Lime run" is usually just partially lime, it includes other salts that make it hard to remove.

I will post some pics from work tomorrow.

The "other salts" rang a bell. I can't remember where but I read a recipe a while back for lime wash,coarse salt was one of the ingredients.

 

[Tscarborough]

Table salt is not one of the normal salts coming out in brick, but it is still a salt and thus soluble and subject to migration. I do not think it would have any advantageous properties, only the opposite.

 

[fjn]

Table salt is not one of the normal salts coming out in brick, but it is still a salt and thus soluble and subject to migration. I do not think it would have any advantageous properties, only the opposite.

I thought the same thing when I read it. Non the less,it was listed as one of the ingredients.