Is chalk whitewashing the ceiling relevant today? Whitewashing the ceiling with chalk: tools, ingredients and the process of preparing the solution, safety precautions, surface preparation and application Video - Removing old whitewash.

Performing repairs in the apartment, it is important to pay special attention to the ceiling. A smooth and even surface is able to emphasize the dignity of the room, filling the space with air and light, which are so necessary to create a cozy atmosphere. Among the variety of finishing materials used to repair and decorate ceilings, whitewashing is the leader in popularity.

The undoubted advantage is the material attractiveness of the process. In addition, many consumers opt for whitewash, focusing on its hygienic safety and harmlessness to health, as opposed to suspended structures, stretch ceilings or ceiling tiles.

The beautiful gloss of the freshly whitewashed ceiling goes well with any design solution of the room, visually expanding the space (read the article on our website about a beautiful do-it-yourself ceiling). And finally, whitewashing the ceiling on your own is a completely feasible task, if you strictly follow the rules and instructions.

For whitewashing ceilings, chalk, lime or water-based paint are most often used. Most often, when choosing a material, they are guided by what the ceiling was processed earlier. In order to determine this, it is enough to run your finger over a dry surface: lime whitewash does not smear, but chalk will remain on your finger.

However, if there are any doubts, you can rub the ceiling with a damp hand - the lime will darken, but it will not remain on the skin, but the chalk will smear after the hand. It is not recommended to whitewash with chalk over lime, due to the possibility of the formation of numerous divorces and stains, which will entail repeated re-painting. Ideally, ceilings should be painted once every one and a half to two years.

There are several types of emulsions:

• satin emulsion allows you to hide multiple defects in the ceiling surface due to the fact that the coating is somewhat glossy, depending on the marking of the emulsion, the degree of gloss may be different;
• matte emulsion has a denser texture, which makes it possible to hide more significant surface imperfections, but it dries much longer;
• special types of emulsions intended for kitchens or bathrooms have enhanced moisture-resistant and bactericidal properties.

Another argument in favor of chalk or lime is that when whitewashing with these materials, it is not necessary to pre-prime the ceiling.

Tools needed for the job

Ceilings can be whitewashed both with a roller and with a brush. These methods are optimal for apartments and small country houses and premises.

Whitewashing using an airbrush is more time-consuming and costly, requires skill and the ability to work with the unit, in addition, when whitewashing with an airbrush, a large amount of splashes are created that can interfere with work.

So, to carry out whitewashing work yourself, you will need:

New brushes should be soaked whole in warm water for a few hours before use. Brushes prepared in this way will not “lose” the bristles during operation. It is recommended to choose natural hard bristles with a width of 12-15 cm.

Rollers are selected individually, based on personal preferences. The main thing is that an unused tool is used for whitewashing, in order to avoid defects and flaws in the coating.

Breeding water-based paint is most often not particularly difficult, which cannot be said about the preparation of a chalk or lime mortar.

The solution is prepared from an approximate calculation that for every square meter of a ceiling painted in one layer, half a liter of the mixture is required. But most often, the component compositions are given on an area of ​​​​10 square meters. m. The finished mixture can be stored for no more than 36 hours, and dry ingredients - for several years without damage and loss of their properties and qualities. If possible, the solution is mixed using a construction mixer.

To prepare a chalk solution, you will need from 30 to 100 ml of glue (PVA or carpentry), rubbed on a fine grater to bar of laundry soap weighing 50 g, as well as 3 kg of chalk sifted through a sieve (sifting is a necessary step that allows you to remove debris and the largest particles from the whitewash material) and 10-20 g of ordinary blue to enhance the whiteness of the color and prevent possible yellowing of the coating.
First, soap chips and glue are dissolved in warm water, then chalk, previously mixed with blue powder, is poured in a thin even stream with constant stirring.


The lime mixture is prepared somewhat easier: 1.75 g is diluted in warm water mashed lime, 100 g of table salt and 40-45 g of blue. However, such a mixture does not give saturated white light, paying for it with its masking properties.

The amount of water is taken arbitrary. Approximately 1 kg of chalk or lime requires 2 liters of warm water. To determine the optimal consistency of the mixture, the following technique is used: a metal object with a smooth surface (a pin or a knife) is vertically lowered into the solution, if the mixture drains without leaving marks when pulled out, the solution is not thick enough and chalk or lime should be added. In that case, the concentration of the mixture is increased gradually, after each addition, checking the quality of the solution.

The finished mixture is left for 10-15 minutes, after which it is filtered through a sieve or a layer of rags. A well-prepared mixture does not have lumps and, when flowing, paints the metal white. Immediately before whitewashing, the solution is well mixed.

Before whitewashing, the room must be emptied as much as possible: take out all the items, dismantle the cornices, chandeliers and other lighting fixtures. Large-sized furniture and built-in items and decorative elements should be well covered with plastic wrap and pasted over with adhesive tape. With special care, you need to lay the floor covering - this will significantly save cleaning time later.

Floors can be covered in several layers with old newspapers or sheets, floor skirting boards can be pasted over with masking tape. If necessary, close the ceiling plinths and moldings.

Ceiling preparation. Step 1. Removing old whitewash

Even if the old whitewash is not cracked and looks quite clean, it is better to remove it. To facilitate this task, there are special solutions, but you can use proven methods - warm water or a mild soap solution and a spatula.

Before starting work, you need to protect your face, body and hands with protective equipment. Lime or chalk has a detrimental effect on unprotected skin, it is poorly washed off from the hair.

Removing whitewash is a painstaking and time-consuming process, depending to a greater extent on the nature of the whitewash mixture. The chalk layer is easier to clean than the lime layer.

How to remove old limescale?

Most often, it is simply scraped off the ceiling with a metal spatula, after tapping the area to be cleaned with a rubber mallet. Soaking lime whitewash is ineffective, as the old layer will clump and smear on the ceiling.

There is a known method of cleaning the ceiling plate with a paste, when the entire surface is thickly covered with a solution, and then it is cleaned with a spatula along with whitewash.

How to remove chalk whitewash?

The chalk layer is removed from the ceiling using hot water with the addition of 3% acetic acid and a sponge (it is permissible to use a separate roller with a long handle). The thoroughly moistened stream is left for half an hour to swell the layer of whitewash, and then carefully removed with a spatula. If the layer is not swollen enough, the ceiling is moistened again.

Chalk on problem areas should be rubbed with a sponge. And after cleaning the ceiling - allow the surface to dry. The degree of cleanliness is checked by the presence or absence of white marks on the palm when touching the ceiling.

Step 2: Cleaning, Bumping and Priming

When the old layer of whitewash has been removed, the ceiling must be cleaned of stains, grease or rust, mold and mildew, if any.

Traces of rust and smudges are easily eliminated with warm salt water and a sponge. It is desirable to treat a dried place with a solution of copper sulfate (75 g per 1 liter of water).

Old traces of grease are cleaned with rags soaked in a solution of calcined salt, which is sold in the household departments. After removing the stain, the area should be rinsed with water.

If the joints of the plates on the ceiling cause concern, they can be glued with a sickle - it will preserve the integrity of the coating from cracking. Cracks, grooves and cracks need to be puttied. Homemade adhesive putty is best for eliminating defects in ceiling tiles - it holds well and is easy to apply.

To obtain it, you will need two parts of wood glue and plaster and one part of sifted chalk. The mixture is mixed with water and applied to the ceiling with a spatula. After drying, the surface is rubbed with sandpaper to a smooth state. The ceiling prepared in this way is primed - this will give the surface additional moisture-proof properties and facilitate the process of whitewashing itself. The primed ceiling is left to dry for 24 hours.

Step 3. Whitewash

With a well-prepared ceiling, two layers of whitewash are sufficient. You should start from the corners, mentally dividing the ceiling into sectors. It is most convenient to start from the window, gradually moving towards the door. When carrying out work, it is very important to eliminate drafts, otherwise the whitewash may crumble.

Each layer of whitewash must be dried well and only then proceed to the next. There are some nuances when whitewashing with various tools.

Roller whitewashing is preferred as it provides the best results, even with no experience. Using a roller, you can follow the V-shaped movements for even staining. And you can apply multidirectional layers: the lower one is perpendicular to the window, and the upper one is parallel, carefully rolling the roller over the surface. This will help you avoid divorce. The width of the overlap between strokes should not be less than 5 cm.

It is important to ensure that there are no sags and drops. To do this, excess whitewash solution from the roller should be removed by rolling the roller along the inclined part of the cuvette.

Hard-to-reach areas and corners are painted over with a medium-sized brush.

Whitewashing with a brush is a more painstaking and lengthy process. The principle is the same - work starts from the window with short strokes, layers are applied in different directions with an interception width of 5-6 cm.

Whitewashing the ceiling is a laborious process, but quite feasible on your own.

Video - Whitewashing the ceiling

Whitewashing ceilings with lime or chalk is one of the traditional and well-proven methods of updating them, which allows you to quickly organize a redecoration of a particular room. In comparison with modern methods of decorating ceilings (arranging tension systems, for example), this method of finishing ceiling surfaces is the simplest and cheapest.

When preparing for work, you should decide on the source material on the basis of which you will prepare the finishing composition (lime or chalk).

Note! Experts advise choosing the material that was used in the previous repair. If this rule is violated, stains may appear on the ceiling.

And, of course, each of these materials has its own characteristics. Lime, for example, has the ability to tighten microscopic cracks, making the surface of the ceiling more even and smooth. In turn, the chalk solution allows you to get a coating of perfect whiteness. Thus, when choosing one or another material, you should be guided, first of all, by your preferences.

In our article, we will consider the technology for preparing whitewash based on both of these components.

Lime whitewash preparation

To prepare a lime finish, you may need the following components:

• slaked lime;
• pure water;
• drying oil;
• 50 grams of table salt;
• a bag of blue or ultramarine.

Before you dilute lime for whitewashing the ceiling, you will need to prepare 2-3 kilograms of starting material and 5 liters of hot water. The required volume of the finished composition is usually determined on the basis that for every 2.5 m² of the treated surface, about a pound of lime and 0.75 liters of clean water are consumed.

To obtain the optimal composition, we first dissolve slaked lime in the prepared water, and then sequentially add all the auxiliary components there. To give the finished whitewash additional plasticity and durability, add a little drying oil (one third of a tablespoon) and about 5 grams of table salt to the mixture. After that, the finished solution is well mixed, and then immediately filtered through a sieve, which allows you to remove large lumps of lime and other impurities from it.

Note! To give the ceiling whitewash a light bluish tint, 20 grams of blue is added to it, which will provide the ceiling with additional attractiveness in natural light.

Before diluting chalk for whitewashing, you should familiarize yourself with one of the options for its preparation, for the implementation of which you will need:

• dry chalk;
• blue;
• container with warm water;
• ordinary gauze.

The procedure for working with chalk whitewash involves the following steps:

1. First of all, you will need chalk, which is sold in the form of a thick paste (dry powder) in any hardware store. You should not be embarrassed by the fact that the purchased chalk paste has a slightly grayish tint; some time after whitewashing, the coating will certainly acquire a whiteness characteristic of chalk.
2. The amount of starting material required for work depends on the size of the treated room and the density (consistency) of the prepared solution. Try to purchase chalk paste with a small margin; at the same time, unused residues will always be useful to you during subsequent repairs.
3. Before starting whitewashing, it makes sense to try out the technique of applying the finished composition on a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe surface to be trimmed (make a test attempt). Thanks to this, you will be able to acquire at least some skill in working with whitewashing, as well as determine the approximate consumption of the solution.
4. Before preparing whitewash, be sure to sift the purchased chalk powder, which will allow you to clean it of unwanted impurities and large fragments. Then take about 2 kilograms of chalk and dilute it in 2.5–3 liters of warm water. Thoroughly stir the resulting mixture until a homogeneous composition is formed that does not contain lumps visible to the eye.
5. Strain the finished composition through gauze, laid in two or three layers, periodically rinsing it with clean running water. As a result of the operations performed, you should get a mass ready for use, resembling liquid sour cream in its consistency.

Video

You can learn more about how to dissolve lime by watching the following video:

The easiest and cheapest way to finish the ceiling surface was, is and will be - whitewashing the ceiling with chalk. This method has been popular for several decades among Russian residents, today you can also meet people who resort to the help of chalk and “emphasize” the whiteness of their ceiling with them.

How to make a chalk solution for whitewashing?

There are two types of mortar that are applied to the ceiling: lime and chalk. In our case, we will consider all the features and working moments related only to the chalk solution. To make the necessary mixture, you will need the following ingredients and tools, all of which can be bought at a regular hardware store:

Whitewash tools

Be sure to prepare everything necessary before starting work so that in the process of applying the chalky solution to the ceiling there is no incident and does not have to be interrupted due to the absence of something:

• Oilcloth, container (basin or bucket) and gauze: necessary at the first stage, when creating a solution.
• Step-ladder (scaffolding).
• Brush or roller or spray gun.

• Putty knife.

You can use a roller with a long handle, then you don’t need a stepladder, it’s safer, as the risk of falling is reduced, and more efficient: you can move around the room calmly.

Chalk Solution Ingredients

• Not less than 3 kg of chalk. Previously, chalk had to be crushed, but today ready-made powder or paste is sold. The initial appearance of the chalk is gray, it's okay, it will turn white when mixed.
• A little over 50 g of pounded laundry soap.
• About 100 g of wood glue.
• More than 10 g of blue: it is necessary for the whitewash to remain "snow white" and not change its color.

Based on half a liter of solution per square meter of ceiling, it is easy to independently calculate how much you need the finished mixture. Do not worry if you bought a little more ingredients, and they remain: the chalk does not lose its properties, so it will come in handy for the next whitewash.

It's important to know! Before whitewashing the ceiling surface with chalk, the dry mixture must be sieved to remove all large and hardened particles.

Solution preparation process

• Pour chalk (about 2-3 kg) into a container and pour warm water (3-3.5 liters).
• Add the rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly. If you have a drill with a special nozzle, this will simplify your task and speed up the cooking process.
• Filtration: the resulting mixture is passed through gauze, then there will be significantly fewer lumps in the solution that can spoil the appearance of the ceiling.

To check the readiness of the solution, it is necessary to lower a flat metal object into the liquid and pull it out: if the solution flows from the blade, then there is a lot of water. This problem can be solved by leaving the solution alone for several (2-3) days: the chalk will settle, the water on the surface is easily removed with a scoop. Put all the remaining chalk in the form of a paste on an oilcloth: in layers no thicker than 5 centimeters - this is dry chalk, which will be ready for re-cooking as soon as it dries.

Ceiling Safety

Before answering the question - how to whitewash the ceiling surface with chalk - let's pay attention to the observance of several important points that will help avoid injuries and injuries:

• First, you should prepare protective equipment, such as gloves, a respirator and goggles. This is due to the fact that small particles of chalk, when applied to the ceiling, can fall down, it is possible that they will not get into the eyes. Plus, if they are inhaled in large quantities, they will begin to irritate the walls of the mucous membrane.
• Secondly, check the integrity of the scaffolding and the ladder from which the work will be carried out: if they stagger, hang out and behave as if they are about to fall apart, put them aside, do not save on health.
• Thirdly, it is better to take newborn children and animals out of the apartment for the time of whitewashing.

Surface preparation for work

Removing old whitewash is not so easy, this process is the most time-consuming and dirty. Firstly, it is necessary to take out all the furniture and appliances from the room, bulky ones can be covered with a film or a rag, just as, in fact, the floor can be covered with cardboard or film. Secondly, use goggles and a respirator (see).

You can start from any part of the room, as long as the workflow is efficient: to speed up, you can purchase a special tool that helps to clean the whitewash from the ceiling or prepare a soap solution. It is better to use a spatula of several types: wide and narrow.

After the old coating has been removed with a spatula, it is required to clean the surface: repair cracks and pits, remove various stains and stains (see). Whitewashing the ceiling with chalk should begin only after the surface has dried.

Workflow - step by step

• First of all, you need to draw the ceiling into several sectors, which you will finish gradually (see). It is best to start from the window, moving towards the door. If you are working with a roller: use a long handle, if whitewashing is done with a brush, it is better to make small scaffolding that will allow you to move around most of the room.
• After the solution has been applied to the ceiling, you should wait until the first layer dries and treat the surface again. In some cases, it may happen that you have to apply again: an uneven ceiling and little experience in whitewashing will affect the quality of work. When drops form on the ceiling, it is necessary to roll them over the surface with the help of an improvised tool.
• An even distribution of the chalk solution on the ceiling leads to the best result - therefore, it is very important not to rush, work consistently.

1. Eliminate the possibility of drafts and direct sunlight on the surface to be treated: whitewash may crumble.

1. The second layer of the solution is best applied perpendicular to the first: it reduces the number of streaks.
2. Brush the corners of the room with a brush.
3. To determine which solution is on the ceiling, it is necessary to moisten it: if the surface has darkened and does not remain on the fingers - lime; after contact there are white traces - chalk.

Given all of the above, you can easily answer the question yourself - how to whitewash the ceiling with chalk?

Today, there are many options for giving the ceiling freshness and a sense of novelty. If we are talking about a concrete ceiling, then many still prefer to whitewash the ceiling with chalk. The traditional method of whitewashing to this day does not lose its relevance due to its simplicity and the availability of all the ingredients necessary for this.

What is better - chalk or lime?

You can whitewash the concrete ceiling with both chalk and lime. Both of these materials have a similar structure and are used to prepare whitewash, and even the proportions for mixing the solution require the same. However, contrary to popular belief, chalk and lime are not the same thing. They differ in composition, properties and origin and have different uses.

1. A piece of chalk. This material gives the concrete ceiling a bright white color for a long time, but does not have sufficient water resistance, so whitewashing the ceiling with chalk is not recommended in damp and damp rooms.
2. Lime. Lime whitewash is highly resistant to moisture and fungus, so it is better suited for use in the bathroom. However, unlike chalk, lime does not give the ceiling a perfect whiteness.

Since lime and chalk have different shades, it is strongly not recommended to apply them on top of each other. Applying chalk over lime, or vice versa, can result in highly visible streaks on the ceiling.

Room and ceiling preparation

For best results, whitewash should be applied to a clean, flat surface. Applying a new layer of whitewash to an existing layer is not recommended, as this can lead not only to the appearance of streaks, but also to shedding of the top layer as a result of the destruction of the old base underneath.

Before starting work, it is necessary to properly prepare the room in which whitewashing will be carried out. For this you need:

• Remove excess furniture and interior items from the room;
• Remove all lighting fixtures from the ceiling;
• Cover the floor and the remaining items in the room with film or newspapers, securely fastening them with adhesive tape or masking tape;
• Prepare a table or ladder for work.

Having prepared the room, you can start processing the surface of the ceiling, which is performed in several stages:

• Cleaning the ceiling of old whitewash with a wet sponge, which must be thoroughly washed off the whitewash layer by layer.
• Cleaning the ceiling from stains and mold, if any, with special means.
• Removal of peeling parts of the old finish.
• Leveling the surface of the ceiling with putty.
• Surface treatment after the putty has dried with sandpaper.
• Ceiling treatment with a deep penetration primer.
• Drying of the surface during the day.

Preparing a whitewash solution

How to dilute the chalk for whitewashing the ceiling? For a good whitewash, just mixing chalk with water will not be enough. Despite its apparent simplicity, a good mortar requires a number of additional ingredients that will help maintain the whiteness of the ceiling and the quality of the coating for at least several years.

To prepare the solution you need:

• Pour 5 liters of warm water into a bucket;
• Dilute 100 grams of wood glue in water;
• Pour 3 kilograms of sifted chalk powder and dilute the chalk, stirring the solution thoroughly;
• Add 10-20 grams of blue to the solution to enhance whiteness.

The finished solution should be enough for 10-12 square meters of surface. The density of whitewash is checked with an ordinary knife, which must be lowered into the solution. A good whitewash should not completely drain off the knife blade, leaving an even layer. If the solution runs off, exposing the surface of the blade, you need to add more chalk, pouring in a little and stirring until the desired consistency is obtained.

Applying whitewash to the ceiling

Whitewashing the ceiling with your own hands is one of the dirtiest types of work, so it is better to do it using special protective equipment: rubber gloves, goggles and a respirator, since whitewash on the skin or eyes is fraught with allergic reactions or even chemical burns.

To apply the solution to the surface of the ceiling, you can use a brush, roller or spray. A roller provides a more even application of whitewash than a brush, but spraying is the most effective and fastest method, allowing you to apply the solution in a thin, even layer.

However, this method requires a special device - a compressor with a spray gun or a special spray gun.

In their absence, you can use a "home-made" device - a vacuum cleaner with a special nozzle.

Regardless of the method of applying the solution, the general rules of whitewashing should be observed:

• The ceiling begins to whiten from the window to the opposite walls;
• The solution is applied in several layers (from 2 or more);
• Each subsequent coat must be applied to a dry surface;
• The direction of application of each layer must be perpendicular to the previous one;
• The quality of whitewashing when dried can be spoiled by drafts and direct sunlight.

A huge variety of finishing materials is replacing the old methods of repair, and lime whitewashing is no longer as widely used as it was 50 years ago. But this generation-tested method is fully consistent with the expression "cheap and cheerful." If you are planning to whitewash walls, ceilings or borders in your garden, study the properties of slaked lime, how to properly prepare it, calculate the consumption of the solution and apply it to various surfaces.

Lime is not the easiest material to use. However, it occupies its niche in the building materials market quite firmly and is very reluctant to lose ground. Given all the advantages and disadvantages, in certain cases the use of lime whitewash is appropriate, and sometimes it is more appropriate to choose another method.

Budget finishing material

Important properties of lime whitewash

Lime, known to everyone from school, is called calcium oxide in chemistry textbooks. For whitewashing, slaked lime is used, that is, it has reacted with water. In chemical language, slaked lime is a strong base - alkali. It has good disinfecting properties, because the aggressive alkaline environment adversely affects the fungus, pests and other unwanted animals.

Lime whitewashing is not afraid of moist air, does not crack or blister. In addition to resistance to high humidity, walls treated with this substance are resistant to temperature extremes.

Fluff powder

For whitewashing, it is not necessary to wash off the existing coating, it can be applied to the old finish. Moreover, if a network of small cracks has formed on the surface of the walls or ceiling, treatment with a solution of slaked lime will strengthen the finish and extend its service life.

The cost of lime for whitewashing in stores cannot be compared with the price of other finishing materials. This is due to the fact that the production process is very simple - it is an elementary firing of lime rocks in a kiln. Raw materials cost a penny, so the price of the product is low. A thirty-kilogram bag costs about $2.

Where and why it is advisable to use lime

The properties of antiseptic and fungicide make slaked lime a leader among finishing materials for damp and cold rooms: cellar, shed, garage, basement and the like. It is used for walls and ceilings. The weather resistance of the substance allows it to be used for whitewashing facades.

The record holders for the use of lime for whitewashing and other tasks are summer residents. Here it is in full swing. It is customary to whitewash walls both inside and out, add quicklime to the soil to change its acid-base balance, treat tree trunks to protect against insects and animals, curbs for beauty.

Trees are bleached from pests

In those rooms where practicality, not aesthetics, comes to the fore, and the financial side of the issue also matters, lime mortar is also used to cover walls and ceilings. This can be observed at the entrances, on landings, in common corridors, foyers.

It is quite appropriate to whitewash the ceiling in this way in any living space. Schools, hospitals and other institutions still use lime mortar for wall decoration. After drying, calcium hydroxide becomes safe, does not emit any harmful substances into the air.

Entrance decoration

Buying lime - what to take and how much

Before going to the store, you need to find out which lime to buy for whitewashing - slaked or quicklime, how much it is required and what other components will be needed. This will save you from a second trip to the construction market if suddenly the solution is not enough or its properties do not meet your requirements.

How to make slaked lime with your own hands

As you already understood, hydrated and quicklime are completely different substances that are united only by a consonant name and the presence of calcium in the composition. For household repairs, slaked lime is used. It is sold by weight at any hardware store or farming department.

Kipelka - lumpy lime

However, situations are not uncommon when the farm has a fairly large supply of quicklime and it is desirable to use it, rather than buy slaked lime. In this case, it can be extinguished independently, especially since this chemical process does not require the skills to conduct such experiments in the laboratory.

So, how to prepare lime for whitewashing from lumpy quicklime "boiler". First you need to take care of personal protection. Since you will be dealing with a rather aggressive alkali, take care to protect your eyes (glasses), respiratory organs (respirator), exposed skin (closed clothing and gloves). This must be done in the air.

Video: How to prepare a whitewash solution

You will need a deep container, such as a bucket and a stirring tool - traditionally a stick. The list of ingredients is also short:

• lumpy quicklime;
• water.

Quenching process

The water must be cold, this is the only condition. Even a first-grader will remember the proportion - 1: 1.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. For 1 kg of calcium oxide, take 1 liter of cold water.
2. Combine all this in a container and mix. Almost instantly, you can observe the beginning of a powerful chemical reaction with the release of a large amount of heat. When quenching, the mixture sometimes heats up to 150 degrees, it is not for nothing that the people called the substance a boiling water - the solution literally boils.
3. When the reaction stops, heat and gas cease to be released, lime can be considered "fluff", that is, slaked. However, it is not yet suitable for whitewashing.
4. The solution should ripen within 2-3 weeks under a lid in a dark, cool place.

Solution proportions and consumption per square

To start whitewashing with lime with your own hands, you need to prepare at least the following set of materials:

• powdered fluff or lime paste;
• water.

Fluff packing

In addition, all kinds of auxiliary substances are often added to whitewash, which give it certain properties. The stock solution is prepared in a ratio of 1:3. For every kilogram of fluff, take 3 liters of water. As a result, 4 liters of solution can be prepared from 1 kg of the substance.

Lime consumption per 1 m 2 during whitewashing directly depends on the type of surface on which it is applied:

• The largest consumption - about 1 liter of ready-made mortar per square, will go away when whitewashing raw brickwork.
• A flat prepared surface suggests approximately 0.5 liters per square meter of area.

Room preparation

Another criterion that affects consumption is the painting tool. More often they use an ordinary flat brush or a round one - a maklovitsa. These tools are wasteful, the mass is applied in a thick layer, streaks and drops can form. The spray gun can significantly reduce material consumption and operating time. Often, instead of a spray gun, a reverse blower vacuum cleaner and even hand-held tree sprayers are fitted.

How to calculate the amount of fluff and water

Before you dilute slaked lime for whitewashing, you need to perform some calculations. An example cost calculation is as follows.

First you need to calculate the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe walls and ceiling that you plan to whitewash. For example: room 3 by 5 m, ceiling height 2.5 m. It was decided to process the ceiling and part of the walls from the middle of the height to the ceiling with lime whitewash.

Wall area: (3 * 2.5 + 5 * 2.5 + 3 * 2.5 + 5 * 2.5) / 2 = 20 m 2.

Ceiling area: 3 * 5 \u003d 15 m 2.

Total area: 35 m2.

A solution of the desired consistency

Based on the average consumption of 1 liter of solution per 2 m 2 of surface, it is easy to calculate the required amount for whitewashing - 17.5 liters of lime mortar. You can round up to 18, and preferably up to 20, because the average consumption is a rather flexible concept.

That is, 20 liters of solution are required, and this is 5 kg of slaked lime in powder. It is worth noting that the finished lime dough, which is sold in hardware stores, is diluted in the same proportion, which means that the calculation is correct for it.

Whitewash leaves traces

Additives to improve durability and combat imperfections

Since lime has been used in construction for a very long time, there are many “folk recipes” and methods that improve the properties of this substance. Still, modern water-based paints appeared not so long ago, and craftsmen were forced to engage in chemistry right at their dacha or at home.

The first problem that is solved by adding a secret ingredient to a solution of lime whitewash is grinding. A dried surface tends to stain everything and everyone who touches it. What to add to lime so that it does not smear? This ingredient is in every home - table salt. It has a good bonding effect. Add 100 g of salt per liter of solution.

Salt - so that it does not smear

Another problem, especially when using whitewash for outdoor use, is the rapid washing off of the composition with water. It has long been known what to add to lime so that it does not wash off - a fatty component is introduced into it - drying oil. Drying oil repels water and allows whitewash to last longer. Proportion 1:10, 100 ml per liter of solution.

They practice adding laundry soap grated on a coarse grater, PVA glue, wallpaper glue, acrylic primer. All this is done in order to ensure maximum adhesion of the whitewash to the wall, to exclude its swelling and bubbling.

Drying oil - not to be washed off

White is not the only possible

To prevent the lime coating from becoming yellowish, ordinary blue is added to it - methylene blue. It will take 10-20 g per liter. The whitewashed ceiling will become snow-white. But sometimes it becomes necessary to get a lime mortar of other colors. You can’t call this mass whitewash, and not every dye is suitable. Use only those pigments that are resistant to an alkaline environment - mineral, but in no case organic.

Pigments that are used for lime paints:

• ocher (yellow shade);
• umber (greenish brown);
• minium (orange);
• mummy (red-brown);
• chromium oxide (green);
• titanium dioxide (white);
• lithopon (white);
• ultramarine (blue).

Pigments are used to make

In order to prepare good quality lime paints, it is not recommended to add pigment in its pure form - powder. It is pre-diluted with water until a paste is obtained. Then the pigment paste is allowed to infuse for about 24 hours. And only after that the dye can be added to the solution. This is due to the fact that pigment grains often do not dissolve well and can drag on the brush, forming ugly color streaks.

How to apply the composition to the surface in accordance with all the rules

Instructions on how to whitewash walls with lime look very diverse. The thing is that each master has his own recipe for a lime mixture, his own tool, which means his own technique. But you can try to combine the fundamental points into one algorithm. It will turn out a universal method, which everyone has the right to supplement or slightly correct depending on the situation.

A roller is suitable for the ceiling

Is surface preparation necessary?

If the task is to quickly whitewash the walls and the decorative side of the issue does not really bother you, you can skip the preparation stage altogether. In fact, you can whiten directly on top of other coatings without worrying that the result will not live up to expectations. But if the walls are covered with adhesive paint, then you need to remove it first.

If speed is not your priority, then it is best to prepare the surface for the application of lime mortar. So the result will be more accurate. The old whitewash is washed off, swollen places on the plaster are removed, sanded, puttied. The same applies to cracks, if any.

Preparing the ceiling for whitewashing

Plain water is used as a primer. The surface is lightly wetted for better contact. And if the mixture contains one or more of the additives listed above, then adhesion will be even better.

It is important to protect all other surfaces from accidental contact with lime. All furniture, if it cannot be taken out of the room, the floors and walls are hung with plastic wrap. The worker must wear a protective suit, gloves, goggles and a mask for personal protection.

A few secrets of uniform application

The application process is not particularly difficult. A brush or maklovitsu is dipped into a container with whitewash, the solution is applied to the walls or ceiling with a thin layer. For the ceiling, it is better to use a tool with a long handle. It can be made by hand. This will make it easier to work and eliminate the need to climb on unstable structures from tables and chairs.

Direction of brush or roller movement

Whitewash is applied in several layers - 2-3. Each layer must be applied perpendicular to the previous one. So the coating will be more uniform, there will be no streaks and thickening. There are often gaps in the corners. In these places it is better to walk with a brush again.

Between the application of layers it is necessary to withstand the time interval. The previous layer must dry completely. This will happen much faster if the layers are made thin. The thinnest and most uniform layer will be obtained using an electric spray gun. The lime mixture is poured into the tank and sprayed onto the surface in tiny drops. This eliminates the appearance of divorces.

Airbrush - the solution to many problems

Despite the fact that the process of whitewashing walls and ceilings with lime is not a big deal, for someone who has encountered this for the first time, it may seem like an impossible task. Especially when it comes to a high ceiling or an extensive amount of work over large areas. It is never too late to turn to the master - a professional in his field. He can easily do this work efficiently and much faster than a beginner.

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