Limewash painting in Vaughan and Kleinburg
Lince’s Painting applies limewash to brick, stone and stucco homes across Vaughan, including Kleinburg, Woodbridge and Maple. It’s a breathable mineral finish, brushed on by hand in two coats, that softens brick without sealing it.
Where limewash works
Brick exteriors
Unpainted clay brick is the classic limewash surface. The wash soaks into the brick instead of sitting on top, so the wall keeps breathing and some of the brick's colour and texture can show through. It suits the red and buff brick fronts on many Woodbridge and Maple homes.
Fireplaces
A dated brick or stone fireplace can be softened to a warm white or greige without hiding the masonry. Inside, limewash can be done any time of year, and it doesn't leave a plastic sheen on the brick.
Feature walls
Over drywall or previously painted walls we use a mineral primer so the wash can bond, then brush it on for a soft, cloudy, hand-made look on accent walls, entries and powder rooms.
Limewash vs paint on brick
Paint forms a film on top of the brick. It gives a solid, even colour and lasts longer between coats, but it traps moisture, so on older or damp masonry it can blister and peel, and once brick is painted it's very hard to go back.
Limewash is made from slaked lime, water and mineral pigments. It soaks into porous masonry and cures back into a stone-like layer, so it can't peel. It wears slowly instead, and the brick underneath stays breathable. If you want the brick to still read as brick, limewash is usually the better fit. If you want a crisp, uniform colour, masonry paint is. We'll talk through both at the estimate; see our exterior painting in Vaughan page for the paint side.
How we apply it
- 1Check the brick is bare and porous; sealed or painted masonry is stripped or mineral-primed first
- 2Wash the walls and let them dry so the wash absorbs evenly
- 3Repair loose mortar and cracks before any finish goes on
- 4Mask windows, trim, stone sills and landscaping
- 5Lightly pre-wet the wall, then brush on the first coat by hand
- 6Brush a second coat for even coverage, with an optional wash-back for a more weathered look
We test a sample patch on your wall first, because the same colour reads differently on different brick. More detail is on our limewash painting service page.
Kleinburg estate homes
Kleinburg has some of the largest brick and stone homes in Vaughan, from the older houses around the village core on Islington Avenue to custom builds on wide estate lots. Limewash suits them well: it softens a busy brick blend into one calm colour while keeping the depth of natural masonry, and it looks at home next to stone, black windows and cedar.
On a large house the work is planned like any big exterior: lifts or staging where it's safer, one elevation at a time so the wet edge never dries mid-wall, and a walk-through with you at the end. You get a written, line-item quote first, so the scope is clear before we start.
Prefer a solid colour? See exterior painting in Vaughan, our Vaughan painters page, or limewash painting across the GTA.
What customers say
“Raul showed up on time, assessed the job and made some thoughtful suggestions about what should and should not be painted. He finished earlier than we expected and he did an excellent job. Our new condo looks great.”
“I've used Lince's Painting over the years and they have always been reliable and they do top notch work without cutting any corners.”
See all reviews on Google: Lince's Painting and Lince's Painting Vaughan.
Vaughan limewash questions
How long does limewash last?+
Limewash wears gradually instead of peeling. Many exteriors go five years or more before they want a refresh coat; walls that take hard rain or full sun may want one sooner, sheltered walls and interiors much longer. A refresh coat blends in easily, because it's the same material going back on.
Can limewash go over painted brick?+
Not directly. Limewash has to soak into bare, porous masonry. Painted brick needs to be stripped first, or primed with a mineral primer made for limewash. We'll look at the wall and tell you which option makes sense.
Does limewash wash off in rain?+
Fresh limewash has to be kept out of heavy rain for the first few days while it cures, so we watch the forecast and protect the walls. Once cured it doesn't wash off; it weathers slowly over years, which is part of the look.
Can you limewash in cold weather?+
Not outside. Lime needs temperatures comfortably above freezing, day and night, for the days after it goes on so it can cure, so in Vaughan exterior limewash runs from late spring to early fall. Fireplaces and interior feature walls can be done any time of year.