We have a two story colonial style home built in 1989 here in Raleigh. It's BORING! The brick isn't tumbled or oversized, and the color itself lends to the cold look.

We're in the middle of a massive makeover... Bathrooms were first (now gorgeous!) with 18 inch travertine tiles, clawfoot tub, cherry cabinets, gorgeous shower, etc. Have repainted / remodeled the bedroom, dining and living room. Family room is next with us replacing the brick fireplace with stone. After that the Kitchen. French Casual Country with more emphasis on the casual is the feel were going for.

Now that the inside is on track We're now moving to the exterior. We're looking for a more laid back / casual curb appeal that fits the emerging personality of our remodeled home (and it's ocupants!).

We're going to put a full front porch on as a starter. We're also considering a white wash or paint for the outside.

I know, I know, why paint brick? Cuz it's ugly and cold.

So have any of you painted or white washed an entire two story home before? If so, any regrets? Any tips on how to paint or white wash to minimize the frequency of repainting?

Thanks!!!

bradesp

Here's a link showing a picture of what I have in mind along with an article describing the White Washing Technique and Formula.

http://www.askthebuilder.com/366_Whitewashing_Brick.shtml

I'm not so sure on the high-maintenance aspect if you're willing to let it wear off. Patina is a good thing --

Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

I know we should consider this carefully, but we REALLY don't like the brick. In person it's very cold looking... we've just refaced our fireplace with stone and LOVE it. We've considered moving and building, but anything we like with stone / siding / limewashed brick is 200K more than our home and we'd give our our 2 acre lot!

Lastly, we built this home new in 1989, so we're ready for a change...

Does anyone have more pictures of limewashed houses?

Yes, this is the same link I posted up top (see my 2nd post).

This is exactly the old-world look I"m after.

The original "paint" for our brick was more of a wash and gave a flat finish. As that paint/wash wore off it probably gave the look you are after. One section of the house across the street has that appearance and I can understand why it would appeal to you.

It would be difficult to find someone in my area to do the sort of faux aging you want. "Faux" usually means the price doubles here. The directions in the article look like you could give it a try. Your home looks huge! Are you up for it?

I just would not do it, your house looks fine the way it is and anything you do will probably decrease rather than increase the value. Sounds like you are just sick of the look and want a different style but your house already has a style

I am in the greensboro area and would like to apply a similar look to my brick house. I have not been able to find anyone that has applied a whitewash before and would like to know who you used.
I would love to see pics if avaliable!
Thanks

We haven't yet done this to our home yet, but we still love the look. After much research what I learned is that white wash or more accurately, lime wash is a cheap (when prepared at home) coating that has historically been used to protect buildings throughout Europe, Asia and other regions since pre-AD times!

The look is very "old world", but be forewarned, while it can be made inexpensively, for those not interested in the "mess" of making this stuff (see recipe’s I’ve catalogued below) the commercial pre-made stuff is not cheap. ***IMPORTANT** through my research (YMMV) I learned that it is common that white wash or lime wash must be reapplied every so many years (5-10??). Remember, this was intended to serve as a cheap protectant in olden days. It will eventually wear off and require recoating.

So..... I went in search of more modern technologies that created a similar benefit (cosmetically as well as environmentally) and I’m pleased to let you know I found one very interesting, if not compelling product call Silicate Dispersion Paint developed in the 1800’s by the Germans. Remember me saying modern technology? Well, all things are relative. White washing or lime washing was developed literally before the time of Christ. So on a relative basis, the Germany discovery IS a very modern coating technology.

Below are my shorthand notes from speaking with Jeff at Eco House this past Fall. After my discussion with Jeff I was satisfied that I finally found the right product for transforming my brick home. YMMV.

Below are my notes with Jeff at Eco House and below that are links to descriptions of White Washing as well as commercial white / lime washing products.

Enjoy, and hope this helps!

PS: If ANYONE uses these products please report back your experience!

Thanks – bradesp, raleigh, nc

Eco House – Silicate Dispersion Paint
http://www.eco-house.com/silicate_paints.htm

My Notes from my chat with Jeff at Eco House

877-ECO-HOUSE

1. Product must be applied in 46 degrees or warmer - needs four hours in 60 degree weather to fully dry-out

2. Apply Primasil first as base "coat" Then apply one coast of Salizur.

3. Will need to mix pigments to deisred color and translucency.

4. http://www.eco-house.com/silazur.htm

5. Eco House can't ship if temperatures are going to freeze.

6. Products can easily be sprayed.

7. Will need to custom mix and keep mix "suspended" during spray.

* * * * Other Educational Links on White / Lime Wash * * * *

Wikipedia on Whitewash or Limewash:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewash

Home Made Whitewash recipes:

http://fiascofarm.com/recipes/whitewash.html

http://www.northcoast.com/~tms/wash.html

Commercial White Lime Wash Products Available in the U.S.:

http://www.usheritage.com/whitewash.htm

Commercial Products Available in the U.K.:

http://www.mikewye.co.uk/chart.htm

http://www.francescaspaint.com/intro.html

But I really like the look of your house as is. Red is a very warm color, so I'm having a hard time understanding why it feels 'cold' to you. Virtually any color you put over the top [with the possible exception of canary yellow or hunter orange] will make it colder still.

Now, if you said it seemed 'hard', I'd probably agree. This is a very emphatic looking brick, but has some nice variation within the pallet [IMO]. An overwash could soften the look somewhat, even though the color will [I hope!] be colder. Of course, this will dampen the variation between dark and light bricks

But this is going to be such a permanent change, I'd photoshop the heck out of it before commiting to it..

I think the whitewash looks nice on an older house with the kind of style which would lend itself to that kind of finish. An old farmhouse springs to mind, or French or English style cottage. I think you may end up with a house that looks like it is in need of major renovation. Such a shame when it looks so wonderful to begin with.

I guess if it's your 'forever house' then you can paint it in Zebra stripes or pink spots if you want, but I just can't imagine doing what you are suggesting to a house that looks as good as yours does.

I don't like the "hard look of brick" but I like painted brick even less, sorry. Check out the transformation with the porch, plants, additional landscaping, different colors for shutters and door etc...

However, I've also seen some poor whitewash jobs on homes. A few homes I've seen look pink because the painter did not vary the amount of limewash but instead applied it too evenly across the entire home. A light but uniform coat of lime on a red brick house = sad pink house :(

In order for a house to appear as if it was limewashed/whitewashed decades ago and authentically aged, there should be parts on the house (ie - corners and anything else that would naturally get the brunt of nature/environment) where the original, red brick is evident and contrast against areas of pure white spotting where the brick would be protected.

I have a portfolio of whitewashed homes I'm cut from mags/books over the years for the day I bite the bullet. I really want to do this to my own house, but am afraid I'll end up with one of the bad whitewash jobs!

Unfortuantely we never got around to whitewashing our house, but, I did an enormous amount research on the subject and discovered that you do NOT want to paint brick. Why? Because the paint doesn't allow the natural breathing to occur with brick. Brick is partially pourous and paint changes the game...

Instead if you are going for that aged look then you want to use a product that simulates lime washing. Lime washing is the actual technique used in the 1700 and 1800s to protect buildings (including brick). Some still practice this today, but it is messy and potentially dangerous (your working with slaked lime—or calcium hydroxide a natural chemical. The reason however you want this kind of finish is that it allows the brick to "breathe". Unfortunately the lime wash eventually wears off so you have to reapply ever few years.

What I did find however was the ultimate solution I planned to use (until we deferred the project). It's a modern product that produces a finish identical to lime washing but is PERMANENT! It works at the molecular level and the minerals in the product permanently bind with the brick. What this means is that you do it one time and one time only! Additinoally the brick can literally be power washed later with NO ill effects on the white washed finish since it is permanent!

Below are the notes I made to myself for later reference when I was ready to proceed. You'll want to contanc this firm and research the product yourself, but I am 100% confident that this is the BEST way to achieve a permanent, old world, white wash finish on your brick!

Hope this helps!

bradesp

Jeff at Eco House

877-ECO-HOUSE

Must apply in 46 degrees or warmer - needs four hours in 60 degree weather to fully dry-out

Apply Primasil first as base "coat" Then apply one coat of Salizur.

Will need to mix pigments to desired color and translucency.

http://www.eco-house.com/silazur.htm

Eco House can't ship if temperatures are going to freeze.

Products can easily be sprayed.

Will need to custom mix and keep mix "suspended" during spray.

We are trying to decide between power washing, whitewashing, or painting bricks on our 1930s colonial.

The existing white wash is an unknown technique. We have several spotty areas and do not like the pink' brick look.

We have recently added copper flashing to the front door and bay window roof is now copper. We would like a color to complement the copper + green shutter look.

Any suggestions?

I'd be very interested to see how things turn out for you! Keep us posted!

www.whitewashedbrickcolonial.shutterfly.com

I am not very confident in re-applying a whitewash. I am also concerned about decreasing the value of the home by having painted bricks.

I am now thinking of just trying to get as much white paint off as possible.

We are in the process of power washing using a mild bleach/mildew treatment. This is what I refer to as "Round 1"

The contractor is suggesting applying acid for Round 2 to treat the difficult painted areas.

We are thinking of getting slightly larger shutters to hide the heavier painted areas around the windows. The ones hanging now are just cheap vinyl we painted green a couple years ago.

We may never get 100% of the paint removed. Is this a bad thing?

Has anyone heard of Dye Brick from England? I just found this during my research.

Thanks!

Thanks!!

I love the look the whitewash or painted brick can bring to a home. Most are doing it for a change in style like Georgian to French.