How to lime wash internal brick walls?

Question

Hi,

I am planning to do small renovations to a basement room. It has brick walls. I plan to do a lime wash to change the brick colour to white. Any advice on doing this appropriately?

I also want to get the vinyl of the door and replace it with some sort of adhesive wood film.

I also want to add curtains to the window. I want to avoid drilling into the brick walls. Would the Bunnings stick on curtain rod hooks stick on the brick or is there alternative options to installing curtains?

Any advice on the above would be awesome.

MitchellMc · Answer

Absolutely @hannahb. Replacing the door sounds sensible given its condition and the issue with the lock.

You might like to take advantage of our Door Installation offer, which makes it a super-simple process.

If the moisture meter indicates elevated moisture in the brickwork, the next step would be to work out where it's coming from before limewashing. In a basement, possibilities include moisture penetrating through an external wall, drainage issues outside, rising damp or a leaking pipe. If you're getting consistently high readings, particularly across a larger area, I'd recommend having the source investigated professionally rather than trying to seal or paint over it. Once the cause has been rectified and the masonry has dried, you can move on to the cosmetic work.

And yes, I'd definitely repair those mortar holes first. Remove any loose or crumbling mortar and debris, clean the joints out and repoint the affected areas with a suitable mortar. Once the repairs have cured, you can clean the brickwork and proceed with the limewash.

Installing proper masonry-fixed brackets for the curtains is a much more reliable option.

Mitchell

hannahb · Answer

Hi Mitchell,

I will definitely use a moisture meter to check for any damage. What would be the next step if there is a moisture damage?

We want to replace the door, it looks pretty terribly damaged and the lock is broken so it might just be the better option. We will just install brackets in the masonry for the curtains. We also need to install a fly screen on the window.

We also noticed the mortar in the walls have some holes with spiders living in it. I assume that would have to be cleaned up and filled before lime wash?

MitchellMc · Answer

Thanks for adding the photos @hannahb. They certainly help.

The brickwork looks like a suitable candidate for limewashing. I'd give it a thorough clean first to remove dust, dirt and any loose material, and allow it to dry completely. I'd also test your chosen limewash on a small inconspicuous section first, as the colour and coverage can change considerably as it dries. Several thin coats will generally give you much more control over how much of the original brickwork remains visible.

The door is a little more concerning. The deterioration and staining around the bottom suggests it's been exposed to significant moisture at some point. I'd recommend you establish whether that moisture problem is still present. Any loose or damaged surface material would also need to be removed and the door repaired and made smooth, as adhesive film will tend to highlight imperfections underneath. Depending on how extensively the bottom has deteriorated, replacing the door may ultimately give you a better result.

Given this is a basement, I'd still recommend checking the brickwork and the area around the door with a moisture meter before proceeding. If there's an ongoing moisture issue, I'd recommend addressing it before doing the cosmetic renovations.

Mitchell