Whitewash Question

[minnikin1]

I was thinking about using old fashioned whitewash instead of paint on the barn walls.
I just don't think I'd like the effect of harsh white walls. Is there an easy way to add color to whitewash. I'm not looking for anything dark or bright - I just want to soften it a bit.

[sue currin]

I have used an oil based color stain, cut it more then it sauds to, and sprayed it on the walls. It lets the wood show through, looks like weathered boards on New England houses. I like the light gray. It also goes a long ways.

[newfieannie]

course you can! my father and i use to use ochre(sp?) you can buy masonry dye at an hardware store. Georgia.

[mistletoad]

You could go totally old fashioned and tint your whitewash with ox blood - that's what the pink cottages in Suffolk (England) used to be painted with.

[Muskrat]

Or you could make your own milk paint. You can get some nice colors.

[savinggrace]

I have a question along these lines. Is "whitewash" the same as, or similar to "limewash"?

I am looking to do something like an old fashioned "limewash" to apply to old-really old-chicken buildings. We have a huge coop that we are currently re-doing and a smaller brooding building.

While I plan to spray down everything with disinfectant, a limewash would be nice for additional insurance.

[newfieannie]

Originally Posted by Muskrat

Or you could make your own milk paint. You can get some nice colors.

Okay Muskrat, we're waiting for the ingredients and instructions for milk paint! Georgia.

[newfieannie]

Originally Posted by savinggrace

I have a question along these lines. Is "whitewash" the same as, or similar to "limewash"?

I am looking to do something like an old fashioned "limewash" to apply to old-really old-chicken buildings. We have a huge coop that we are currently re-doing and a smaller brooding building.

While I plan to spray down everything with disinfectant, a limewash would be nice for additional insurance.

same thing. different name.

[Up North]

The owner of Dun-Did Holsteins Harry Weir(sp?) was notorious because he defied WI convention and milk inspector standards by adding a dye to his whitewash to make the interior of his barn a Robin's Egg Blue. Not sure what he used to dye it blue though.

[fantasymaker]

a nice handfull of dust should do the trick

[keljonma]

Found this in some papers I inherited from my grandpap (1896-1969)

Lime White Wash Paint

1 gal water
1# (2 c) salt
5# lime

Mix in pail. Test on wood to see if too thick, if it is, add a tiny amount of water and retest.

[Rory]

Huh. We were just talking about milk paint and whitewash in CF. CraftyDiva posted some good links. I'm thinking about trying it in a bedroom, milk paint that is.

mixing your own paints