The Service Deck / Sw. 07
Lime Washing for Victorian Brick in Sheffield.
A lot of Sheffield's older brick is solid wall (no cavity) and needs to breathe. Painting it with modern masonry paint traps moisture and rots the brick from the inside out. Lime wash is the heritage-correct alternative: breathable, soft-finish, often a planning requirement on listed properties.
Lime wash takes more coats than masonry paint (typically 4 to 5 thin coats over several days) but it lasts well, weathers gracefully and lets the brick do what it was built to do. We use traditional hydrated lime wash or proprietary mineral systems from Earthborn, Beeck or Keim.
If you live in a Victorian terrace and the previous owner has slathered modern masonry paint on the front, we will assess whether to strip back to bare brick first or whether a careful overcoat with a breathable system makes more sense.
What is included
- Survey to check substrate and existing coatings
- Strip incompatible modern paint where necessary
- Traditional hydrated lime wash or proprietary mineral systems
- Four to five thin coats for proper coverage
- Suitable for listed properties and Conservation Areas
Common Questions
Lime Wash questions
The questions Richard gets asked most often at the kitchen door. If yours is not here, ring him.
- Can I lime wash over old masonry paint?
- Sometimes. It depends what is already on the wall. If the existing paint is sound and breathable we can overcoat. If it is plastic masonry paint the brick is already in trouble and the paint usually needs to come off first.
- Is lime wash suitable for listed buildings?
- Usually yes, and often it is required. For listed properties we will check the listing description and any Conservation Area guidance before quoting.