14 Limewash Brick House Before and After Photos
By: Kara
Not into painting brick? We got you. An excellent alternative to paint that is less maintenance but still updates the look and feel of your home is limewash brick.
Unsure what limewash will look like on your home? Our brilliant designers can create a custom virtual rendering to help you choose the best option for your house. Learn more about our design services here.
What is Limewash?
Limewash is limestone that has been crushed, burned, and mixed with water to form a lime putty that can be applied to interior and exterior surfaces. Limewash is absorbed into the surface (unlike paint) which means it works best on stucco, stone, and brick. Generally available in a neutral palette, limewash occurs most often in its natural off-white state. It’s environmentally friendly and its high pH reduces pests and organism growth. Limewash has been around for centuries and is a low-maintenance option to freshen up your brick house.
Limewash vs Whitewash for Brick Surfaces
When deciding between limewash and whitewash for a brick house, it’s crucial to understand the unique benefits and aesthetics each provides. Limewash brick treatment is a method that uses a natural limestone mixture to coat and protect the brick, offering a breathable, durable finish. This technique allows the bricks to age naturally, developing a rich patina. In contrast, whitewash, often a mixture of lime and water, provides a similar rustic look but does not penetrate the brick as deeply as limewash. This can result in a less durable finish requiring more frequent touch-ups. Limewash brick houses benefit from their ability to bond with the brick, creating a protective layer that enhances its natural beauty while safeguarding it against the elements.
The Benefits of Limewashing Brick
Applying limewash to a brick house does more than just beautify the exterior; it serves a protective function that extends the life of the brickwork. Limewash for brick surfaces penetrates deeply into the material, ensuring the protective layer allows the brick to breathe and release moisture. This is particularly important for the longevity of brick houses, as trapped moisture can lead to deterioration over time. The limewash finish on a brick house provides a unique, matte texture that can’t be achieved with regular paint. It enhances the brick’s natural character, offering an aesthetic that blends well with various architectural styles. The process of limewashing brick not only elevates the visual appeal of a home but also contributes to a healthier environment for the brick itself by offering moisture control and natural resistance to fungi and bacteria.
14 Gorgeous Before & After Limewash Brick House Transformations
#1 // Stone and Brick Tudor
The original Tudor home had a darker color palette with multiple surface types, making it hard to find a focal point. The limewash brick and stone in the same color and painting the stucco a similar shade brings the home together. Now your eye focuses on the new walkway and entry.
#2 // Siding and Brick Traditional
Many transitional homes in the 60s and 70s had a two-tone look to them, often with brick and color siding. Instead of painting the brick and siding all the same color, or keeping the two-tone look, the limewash brick gives it new life and makes the shutters stand out, while being easier to maintain.
#3 // Large Stately Brick Colonial
This gorgeous three-story brick colonial got a major facelift with limewash. It brightens up the whole house and gives it a more French Country vibe with the upper balcony and cottage shutters. You can adjust the level of limewash coverage based on the condition and color of your brick to suit whatever aesthetic you’re hoping for.
#4 // Mountain Modern Stone Estate
The brick and stone face of this modern mountain estate blended in and actually hid some of the home’s unique features. The James Hardie siding painted in Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore contrasts beautifully with the limewash brick. Instead of looking at limewashing as a cover-up, think of it as a way to turn a special building material into a focal point.
#5 // Black and White Contrast
Contrast, when done correctly, can show off your home’s unique features and personal style. This home has beautiful black grille windows that were overshadowed by the heaviness of the brick. Classico limewash and black window trim add contrast and visual interest to the home’s best features.
#6 // L-Shaped Ranch with Focal Chimney
You may not be limewashing your brick to cover it up, but to highlight certain features. This beautiful ranch home had a gorgeous decorative chimney that the homeowner wanted to show off. The limewash brick on the rest of the house enabled the chimney to become the focal point of the home.
#7 // Limewash Brick vs. Paint
If you’re unsure whether limewash brick or paint is the way to go, our designers can create designs showing both so you can make a more informed choice. Paint is more maintenance because it can chip, peel, or discolor over time. Limewash is absorbed into the brick so it does not chip. It also ages beautifully. On the other hand, paint gives you more coverage and color options.
#8 // Limewash Brick with Updated Windows
If you’re not in love with the color of your brick but are opposed to painting, then limewash can be a great option. It can brighten the color of your home, like in this example, and cover imperfections in the masonry. Adding wood elements to the windows and front door warm up the brick and make the home more inviting.
#9 // U-Shaped Ranch with Porch
A great feature of this home’s exterior is its cozy front porch. Since the porch is inset, the dark brick made it seem dark. Brightening up the brick with limewash helps the space feel more open. Adding furniture and wood accents gives off a welcoming and approachable vibe.
#10 // Monochrome Ranch
Where a brick foundation on a two-story home can make it feel grounded, on a ranch it can make it feel squat and diminished. Limewashing your brick and painting with a similar color will help your smaller ranch home feel more elevated and larger.
We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.
#11 // Modern Stone Farmhouse
This home’s architectural features got lost because the stone and brick (and many other design elements) were fighting for attention. The limewash stone and brick in Avorio White draws the eye to the porch and entryway as well as the stone archway leading to the side door.
#12 // Brick Traditional with Two-Story Columns
Using Cristallo White to limewash this brick traditional home makes it more approachable, while still offering a crisp, contemporary feel. We love the neutral shutters and wood door to pull it all together.
#13 // Modern Tudor Home with Limewash Brick
The contrast between the half-timber framing and brick color on this home was a little too jarring. For their virtual exterior design, the homeowner opted for a more monochromatic look with new siding and limewash brick. Now the dark windows and new entryway provide a good focal point and a more modern visual interest.
#14 // Transitional Upgrade
This Tudor-influenced transitional home had a dated color palette that was dark and lacked interest. Limewash brick gave the home a new life by covering up places where the brick had been repaired. The new siding and shutters complement the brick, while the new porch and front door offer an elegant upgrade.
Conclusion: Consider Limewash Brick
Brick can be beautiful and timeless, but it’s not everyone’s style in its natural state. Limewash brick gives homeowners the option to cover up unwanted colors or highlight certain features of their home without the maintenance of painting. Limewash brick is environmentally friendly, and ages beautifully over time, giving your home a look that’s uniquely yours.
If you’re ready to take your home to the next level, our designers can help you visualize the home of your dreams. Just tell us your style goals, and we’ll do the rest. Start here to begin the process.
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