How to Make Bricks Look Old Using Lime Salt

When you combine hydrated lime with water, the mixture produces crystals. By then applying the limewash to building surfaces, you can create an attractive, old-world effect on the exterior of buildings. Because bricks have a suitably porous surface, you can use a mixture of lime, salt and water to make bricks look old. Not only can a limewash preparation age bricks effectively, it can also reduce maintenance because the lime adheres to the bricks and keeps the aged effect from changing.

Hydrated lime, 50-pound bag
Table salt, 10-pound bag
Large mixing reservoir
Stir stick or drill with stir paddle
30 gallons of water, approximately
Bucket
Drop cloths
6-inch flat paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Pour the hydrated lime and the table salt into the large mixing reservoir. Mix the dry ingredients carefully with the stir stick. Slowly add the water, stirring with the stir stick or the drill as you add it. Stop adding water when the mixture resembles standard pancake batter.
- 2
  Fill the bucket with the mixture to enable you to apply the limewash to the brick. Cover the ground with drop cloths to protect vegetation from dripping limewash.
- 3
  Load the paintbrush with the limewash and apply it directly to the brick, working from the top edge down. Apply the limewash in a very thick layer if you wish to cover the brick completely with the aged appearance. If you wish to make the aged appearance more subtle, apply the limewash in a thinner layer. Continue applying the limewash with the paintbrush until you cover the brick completely.

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