"The owner, Anson, came by my house in South Augusta and gave me an honest assessment of my front porch. He pointed out a…"
Mikelden Mitchell
Limewash
because your brick deserves it.
Your Limewash Project, From Consultation to Completion
Limewash is variable by design. Your project manager evaluates the brick, stone, or stucco substrate, walks you through samples on actual material, and helps you choose color, opacity, and the level of patina you want.
1
Free Walkthrough & Color / Opacity Consultation. Limewash is variable by design. Your project manager evaluates the brick, stone, or stucco substrate, walks you through samples on actual material, and helps you choose color, opacity, and the level of patina you want.
We clean the masonry, repair failing mortar, and let it dry. Just before application, the wall is misted to the right dampness, then limewash is brushed on wet-on-wet with intentional variation to produce the soft, mottled finish.
2
Masonry Prep, Mist, Brush in Layers. We clean the masonry, repair failing mortar, and let it dry. Just before application, the wall is misted to the right dampness, then limewash is brushed on wet-on-wet with intentional variation to produce the soft, mottled finish.
Limewash develops its final color as it cures over several days. During the first 5 days, opacity can still be adjusted by pressure-rinsing to lighten or layering to deepen, and we walk the home with you to dial in the look.
3
Cure, Adjustment Window & Final Walkthrough. Limewash develops its final color as it cures over several days. During the first 5 days, opacity can still be adjusted by pressure-rinsing to lighten or layering to deepen, and we walk the home with you to dial in the look.
Honest Reviews from Real Homeowners
"From our first contact to inspection to pricing to crew painting, we have had a great experience!! Competitive pricing,…"
Felice Acker
"Great painting company to work with! They painted the outside of our house and the inside of our house and everything wa…"
Jamie Guidry
"That 1 Painter painted our house's exterior and we are very happy with the finished job. They took three days start to f…"
Susan Crabtree
"The owner, Anson, came by my house in South Augusta and gave me an honest assessment of my front porch. He pointed out a…"
Mikelden Mitchell
"From our first contact to inspection to pricing to crew painting, we have had a great experience!! Competitive pricing,…"
Felice Acker
"Great painting company to work with! They painted the outside of our house and the inside of our house and everything wa…"
Jamie Guidry
"That 1 Painter painted our house's exterior and we are very happy with the finished job. They took three days start to f…"
Susan Crabtree
"Eli and team were timely and professional. The whole process from start to finish was super easy and they did a really n…"
Tara Thal
"Absolutely amazing company! Kyle was our painter and he showed up on time, no messes made, and the paint job looks fanta…"
Ashley Shay
"Professional, punctual very attentive to details. Placed customer satisfaction first! Solid communication and service th…"
Joshua Taylor
"I was very hesitant using paint for cabinets. After researching varied options and after meeting with the sales person m…"
John Serio
"That 1 Painter completed exterior painting on my home and historic boathouse on the Saddle River. They did extensive pre…"
Jeffrey E. Kracht, ASID
"Joe did a wonderful job! Everything looks Great! He stuck with it and got it done over a four day period. Also him and J…"
Yvonne Herschberger
"Excellent work! Very professional, arrived on time and kept me updated. Will definitely hire them again. Highly recommen…"
Meg W
"Manny and his team are excellent. I needed my shed painted and the window and door trim as well as the doors replaced an…"
Teresa Pearce
Number of Territories
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Number of Paint Jobs
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5-Star Reviews5-Star
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What Limewash Costs (2026)
20–30 yrs
Typical lifespan of properly applied limewash
industry standard
2–5%
Perceived home value increase from refreshed brick exterior
industry analysis
7%
More that high curb-appeal homes sell for
NAR
Limewash Portfolio Gallery
Hand-Brushed Limewash
Modern Farmhouse Limewash
Stone Facade Limewash
Interior Stone Fireplace
Limewashed Patio
Hand-Brushed Application
Entryway Patina
Stone & Landscape
Trusted Paint Partners
Our 3-Year Warranty
Your peace of mind, at the top of mind with our three-year transferable warranty. Covers the painting job, even if you sell the house.
Download Warranty
Limewash FAQs
Limewash is a mineral coating made from slaked lime suspended in water, often with mineral pigments for color. Unlike paint, which forms a film on top of the surface, limewash chemically reacts with porous masonry, brick, stone, lime mortar, and stucco, and bonds into the substrate as it cures. The result is a soft, layered, mottled finish with depth and natural variation, and a coating that breathes vapor freely instead of sealing the wall. Paint is a uniform film. Limewash is part of the wall. That difference shapes everything: how it's applied, how it ages, and how long it lasts.
Choose limewash if you want a soft, organic, European-aesthetic finish that patinas over time, breathes well, and is partially adjustable within the first few days after application. Choose painted brick if you want a more uniform, opaque finish, a wider color range, and a longer reapplication cycle (15–20 years vs. ~5–7 for limewash). Both are valid choices, but they produce fundamentally different looks. Painted brick is essentially permanent and should be treated as a long-term commitment. Limewash weathers and softens, and most homeowners refresh it as part of the maintenance cycle. The right choice is the one that matches the look you actually want.
True slaked-lime limewash typically needs a refresh every 5–7 years, depending on sun exposure, weather, and how much weathering you want before reapplying. Limewash is designed to weather and patina, that's part of the aesthetic, so "failure" is a fuzzier concept than with paint. Many homeowners enjoy the natural weathered look for several years before refreshing. Mineral silicate paints (a more permanent cousin of limewash) can last 15–20 years before needing a refresh. Limewash-look acrylics fall somewhere in between but lose the breathability advantage. The product type you choose directly determines the maintenance cycle.
Partially, and this is one of limewash's biggest selling points compared to painted brick. Within roughly the first 5 days of application, while the limewash is still curing, you can pressure-rinse sections to lighten or remove coverage, exposing more of the underlying masonry. Many homeowners use this window to fine-tune the look, softening areas that read as too heavy, exposing more brick character in certain spots. After the limewash has fully cured (typically beyond 5–7 days), it bonds permanently into the masonry and behaves like a long-term finish. Removal at that point is much more difficult and isn't a casual decision.
No, limewash works only on porous mineral substrates. Best results come on unsealed brick, lime mortar, natural stone, and traditional stucco. It does not bond well to non-porous or sealed surfaces, so painted brick (without prep), vinyl, metal, plastic, glass, and most modern sealers are not appropriate substrates. If your brick has been previously painted with a film-forming coating, the paint must typically be removed before limewash can be applied, otherwise the limewash sits on the paint film and chalks off. Your project manager will inspect your specific substrate at the estimate and confirm whether it's a good candidate.
By brush, in layers, on masonry that has been misted with water to the right level of dampness. The painter works wet-on-wet, intentionally varying coverage and opacity to produce the soft, mottled, organic look that distinguishes a real limewash finish from flat paint. Spray application is generally avoided because it produces a uniform finish that loses the painterly character limewash is chosen for. The technique requires patience and skill, the painter is essentially building up tone the way an artist builds up a watercolor wash. Heavy coverage produces a more opaque, painterly look; lighter coverage lets more masonry character show through.
Yes, intentionally, and that's part of why people choose it. As limewash weathers, it softens, lightens slightly in some areas, and develops subtle tonal variation. Homeowners typically describe the patina as "settling in", the finish looks less brand-new and more like it has always been there. The patina is most pronounced on south-facing and west-facing walls in full sun. Many homeowners enjoy the patina for years before refreshing the coating. If a uniform, unchanged appearance is important to you, paint is the better choice. If natural aging and depth are part of the appeal, limewash is doing exactly what it should.
Warm whites and off-whites dominate by a wide margin, they produce the signature soft, layered look that flatters most brick, stone, and stucco. Earth tones (taupe, mushroom, sand, warm stone greys) read as old-world and natural, especially on transitional architecture. Charcoal, smoky black, and deep mineral pigments produce a moody, dramatic finish that has grown popular for contemporary and modern-farmhouse exteriors. Limewash colors look best when they complement the natural undertones of the underlying masonry, so the same color can read very differently on red brick versus tan brick versus stone. Sample boards on your actual masonry are essential before committing.
Limewash typically runs $2,500–$8,000 nationally for a residential exterior, while standard acrylic brick painting runs $3,500–$10,500. Limewash projects often cost less per square foot because the application is simpler (no primer system, faster coverage), but the savings are partially offset by the skill required to do it well and the shorter reapplication cycle. Over a 20-year horizon, brick painting (one project lasting 15–20 years) often comes out comparable in total cost to limewash (multiple refreshes every 5–7 years). The decision should be driven by the look you want, not just upfront cost.
DIY limewash is technically possible, products are available at many specialty retailers, but the technique is unforgiving. Common DIY failures include: limewash applied to dry masonry that flashes off and chalks, blotchy uneven coverage, the wrong opacity for the desired look, missing the adjustment window for fine-tuning, and applying limewash over substrates it doesn't bond to. A professional brings the prep judgment (right level of misting, right substrate assessment), the layering technique that produces the painterly look, and the experience to use the adjustment window effectively. The product cost is similar; the labor and result are not.
Limewash Resources
Expert tips, how-to guides, and inspiration for your next limewash project.
What Is Limewash? The 2026 Guide to the Best Luxury Finish
Limewash paint is a mineral-based finish made from slaked limestone that creates a breathable, matte, Old World texture on brick, stone, and stucco.
Read More →
Can You Paint Brick? How to Paint Brick the Right Way
Painting brick is one of the most common exterior questions homeowners ask, and also one of the easiest places to make costly mistakes.
Read More →
What Is Paint Color Drenching? The Divisive Viral Paint Trend
Color drenching breaks all the rules by applying a single color across every surface in a room.
Read More →Swipe to explore →
What Is Limewash? The 2026 Guide to the Best Luxury Finish
Limewash paint is a mineral-based finish made from slaked limestone that creates a breathable, matte, Old World texture on brick, stone, and stucco.
Read More →Can You Paint Brick? How to Paint Brick the Right Way
Painting brick is one of the most common exterior questions homeowners ask, and also one of the easiest places to make costly mistakes.
Read More →What Is Paint Color Drenching? The Divisive Viral Paint Trend
Color drenching breaks all the rules by applying a single color across every surface in a room.
Read More →