Limewash painting in Leicester
Limewash gives walls a soft, cloudy, hand-brushed look that ordinary emulsion can't match. We apply traditional limewash and modern limewash-effect paints across Leicester, from beamed cottages and period homes to single feature walls in modern houses.
A limewash finish with exposed beams, decorated by PaintMyWalls in Leicester.
Traditional limewash or limewash-effect paint?
Traditional limewash is made from lime and water. It soaks into the wall instead of forming a film on top, so it lets the wall breathe. That makes it the right choice for old solid-brick or stone walls, lime plaster and listed or period properties, where trapping moisture causes damp and flaking.
Limewash-effect paints are modern products that give the same soft, mottled finish but behave more like paint. They work over ordinary gypsum plaster and sound emulsion, so they suit most modern Leicester homes and feature walls.
We look at your walls first and recommend the right one. Using traditional limewash on a modern painted wall, or a plastic-based paint on an old lime wall, is the most common reason these finishes fail.
Where limewash works best
- Feature walls in living rooms and bedrooms
- Cottages and period homes with exposed beams or uneven walls
- Hallways and stairwells where a soft texture hides small imperfections
- Bedrooms in warm neutrals, terracotta, sage and stone tones
How we apply it
- Check the wall: plaster type, existing paint, damp and cracks
- Prepare: fill, make good and prime with a compatible mineral primer where needed
- Brush in layers: two or three coats in a criss-cross pattern to build the cloudy depth
- Protect: furniture, floors and beams covered, and the room tidied every evening
Limewash takes more coats and more brushwork than standard emulsion, and it looks different under different light. We'll brush a sample patch so you can see the colour on your own wall before we start.
Other specialist finishes
We also paint metallic feature walls and murals and wall panelling, and hang wallpaper and murals. For costs on standard decorating, see our Leicester price list.
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Get my instant quote →Frequently asked questions
Do you do limewash painting in Leicester?
Yes. We apply limewash and limewash-effect finishes across Leicester and Leicestershire, on feature walls, whole rooms, beamed cottages and period properties.
What is the difference between limewash and limewash-effect paint?
Traditional limewash is made from slaked lime and water. It is very breathable and suits old solid walls and lime plaster. Limewash-effect paints are modern products, applied with a brush, that give the same soft, cloudy look and work over ordinary gypsum plaster in modern homes.
Can limewash go over normal emulsion?
Traditional limewash can't, because it needs a porous mineral surface to bond to. Limewash-effect paints can go over sound emulsion with the right primer. We check your walls and recommend the right product before quoting.
How long does a limewash finish last?
Indoors, a limewash or limewash-effect finish lasts for years if it is applied properly. Traditional limewash is less washable than emulsion, so in busy areas we may suggest a more durable limewash-effect product.
How much does limewash painting cost?
Limewash is priced per job, because it takes more coats and more brushwork than standard emulsion. Send your room details through our instant quote and we'll come back with a fixed price.
Written by Julian, lead decorator at PaintMyWalls.co.uk, a painter and decorator in Leicester rated 9.88/10 on Checkatrade.