Kalcito Lime Paint - White

Kalcito Lime Paint

Kalcito lime paint is suitable for mineral substrates such as plaster, brick, mortar, and concrete—for both interior and exterior use.

With a history dating back to antiquity, lime is not only one of the most beautiful finishes available but also one of the most traditional and time-tested paints.

Lime has a long history as a surface treatment for exterior facades. Lime paint is highly breathable, making it ideal for plastered facades and older buildings that need to "breathe." Buildings painted with lime paint generally maintain a healthy structural condition precisely because water vapor can be absorbed and released as needed. Healthy buildings promote a good indoor climate, and lime itself possesses antibacterial properties due to its high pH value. A limewashed surface changes its appearance with fluctuating moisture levels in the masonry and air, creating beautiful, characteristic tonal variations. The ultra-matte finish absorbs light rather than reflecting it; this further softens light shades and eliminates glare or reflections.

Kalcito lime paint is our own proprietary product. It is a DIY product, consisting of a bucket of powder that you mix with water yourself. After resting for 24 hours, the lime paint is ready for use.

Tinting Lime Paint

Our color range follows our standard color chart—the same one used for our natural paints—though there are some exceptions. If you wish to tint your own lime paint, you can add earth pigments, oxide pigments, and other synthetic pigments—provided they are compatible with high pH levels—to Kalcito White. This allows you to create your own custom color. Remember that lime paint appears much darker when wet than when dry; therefore, it is recommended to apply test patches to fine-tune the color.

Kalcito lime paint is made using Danish lime and is a 100% natural product, containing only natural ingredients. It is free from MI, BIT, VOCs, and microplastics.

Ingredients

Lime, kaolin, powdered marble, color pigment, gum arabic, methylcellulose, xanthan gum.

Surface Preparation

Kalcito lime paint adheres to the following substrates: lime, silicate paint, cement, gypsum, plaster (including fine-finish plaster), sand-based filler, brick, concrete, matte emulsion paint (e.g., natural paint), and untreated wood.

If you are unsure whether the paint will adhere, test the substrate's absorbency with a little water. If the water beads up instead of soaking in, the paint will not adhere, and extensive sanding will be required to prepare a suitable surface. However, Kalcito will not adhere to surfaces previously painted with conventional plastic-based paint, even if the surface has been sanded to a matte finish first.

The surface must be clean and free of loose lime residue. Algae, dirt, and oil stains must be washed off.

Preparation

Add water up to the mark on the inside of the bucket. The label can be removed afterwards. The bucket contains two bags. Pour the contents of the large bag into the bucket while stirring; then add bag no. 2 (the pigment) and stir for approximately 2 minutes. Let the mixture rest for 15–20 minutes, then stir again for 2 minutes. The best results are achieved using a mechanical mixing method, such as a power drill fitted with a mixing paddle. This ensures better dispersion of the ingredients and a homogeneous mixture. Allow the mixture to stand for about 24 hours; it is then ready for use after a final stir of 2–5 minutes.

Application

Apply Kalcito lime paint using a lime wash brush. Using a roller is not recommended. Thoroughly dampen the surface with water before starting work. If the surface is too dry, the lime paint will be difficult and heavy to spread. Furthermore, dampening the substrate ensures that Kalcito lime paint achieves maximum strength during the curing process. Apply the mixed lime paint using a long-bristled natural-hair brush. Work the lime paint in a continuous motion to avoid visible transitions. Apply the paint using a "wet-on-wet" technique. Work on one section at a time, painting from corner to corner or edge to edge. Apply in thin layers, using either crisscross strokes or long, continuous strokes from top to bottom. The more layers applied, the stronger the resulting surface. Applying 2–3 coats is generally recommended.

Note! Do not apply Kalcito lime paint to surfaces exposed to direct sunlight, as the paint will cure too quickly. Kalcito lime paint will also fail to adhere or retain its finish if applied over salt deposits on plastered surfaces; the salt deposits will cause it to crack and crumble.

Coverage

6–8 m²/liter. Apply in 2–3 coats.

Drying time

Kalcito lime paint requires a drying time of 12 hours between coats.

MAL Code

00-3 Protect eyes and skin during application!

Safety precautions

Wear safety goggles and gloves during application. Lime is alkaline and therefore caustic. If it comes into contact with your skin, rinse immediately with plenty of water.

TIP! If a stronger lime paint is desired, you can advantageously replace some of the water with organic semi-skimmed milk. The casein in the milk acts as a binder when mixed with lime, effectively turning the lime paint into a lime-casein paint. However, care should be taken not to add too much milk, as the paint may become too brittle once fully cured. We recommend replacing no more than one-third of the water with milk.