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Whitewash
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==Use as paint== [[File:Nicolae Ionescu - The Whitewashers, 1928.jpg|thumb|left|''Whitewashers'', photographed by {{Interlanguage link|Nicolae Ionescu (photographer)|lt=Nicolae Ionescu|cs|3=Nicolae Ionescu}}, 1928]] Whitewash cures through a reaction with [[carbon dioxide]] in the atmosphere to form [[calcium carbonate]] in the form of [[calcite]], a type of reaction generally known as [[carbonation]] or by the more specific term, [[carbonatation]]. It is usually applied to exteriors, or interiors of rural [[dairy|dairies]] because of its mildly antibacterial properties. Whitewash can be tinted for decorative use and is sometimes painted inside structures such as the hallways of apartment buildings. A small amount can rub off onto [[clothing]]. In Britain and Ireland, whitewash was used historically in interiors and exteriors of workers' [[cottages]] and still retains something of this association with [[rural poverty]]. In the United States, a similar attitude is expressed in the old saying "Too proud to whitewash and too poor to paint."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=77EeBgAAQBAJ&q=Too%20proud%20to%20whitewash%20and%20too%20poor%20to%20paint&pg=PA39|title=Bert Combs The Politician: An Oral History|last=Robinson|first=George W.|date=2015-01-13|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=9780813150192|language=en}}</ref> The historic [[Architecture of the California missions|California Missions]] were commonly whitewashed, giving them their distinctive bright white appearance. Whitewash is especially compatible with [[masonry]] because it is absorbed easily and the resultant chemical reaction hardens the medium.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}} '''Lime wash''' is pure slaked lime in water. It produces a unique surface glow due to the [[Birefringence|double refraction]] of [[calcite]] crystals. Limewash and whitewash both cure to become the same material. When whitewash or limewash is initially applied, it has very low [[opacity (optics)|opacity]], which can lead novices to overthicken the paint. Drying increases opacity and subsequent curing increases opacity even further. Limewash relies on being drawn into a substrate unlike a modern paint that adheres to the surface. The process of being drawn in needs to be controlled by damping down. If a wall is not damped, it can leave the lime and pigments on the surface powdery; if the wall is saturated, then there is no surface tension and this can result in failure of the limewash. Damping down is not difficult but it does need to be considered before application of the limewash.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mikewye.co.uk/guidesheets/limewashing/|title=How to Apply Limewash - Limewashing - Buy Traditional Limewash|website=www.mikewye.co.uk|access-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019062001/https://www.mikewye.co.uk/guidesheets/limewashing/|archive-date=19 October 2016}}</ref> ===Additives=== Additives traditionally used include [[water glass]], [[animal glue|glue]], [[egg white]], [[Portland cement]], [[salt]], [[soap]], [[milk]], [[flour]], molasses, alum, and [[soil]]. Whitewash is sometimes coloured with [[earth (chemistry)|earth]]s to achieve colours spanning the range of [[white|broken white]], [[Cream (colour)|cream]], [[yellow]] and a range of [[brown]]s. The [[Bluing (fabric)|blue laundry dye]] (such as Reckitt's "Dolly Blue" in the UK, Ireland and Australia, Loulaki in Greece, or [[Mrs. Stewart's Bluing]] in North America), formerly widely used to give a bright tinge to boiled white textiles, was a common 19th century addition. Historically, pig's [[blood]] was added to give the colour [[Suffolk#Suffolk Pink|Suffolk pink]], a colour still widely used on house exteriors in some areas of the UK. If animal blood is applied excessively, its iron oxide can compromise the lime binder's strength. [[Pozzolan]]ic materials are occasionally added to give a much harder wearing paint finish. This addition creates a short open time and therefore requires timely application of the altered paint. [[Linseed oil]] is sometimes added (typically 0.5-2%) to improve adhesion on difficult surfaces. [[Cement]] addition makes a harder wearing paint in [[white]] or [[grey]]. Open time is short, so this is added at point of use. Cement restricts the breathable aspects of the limewash and is inadvisable for preserved historic buildings. Dilute [[glue]]s improve paint toughness. [[Wheat flour]] has been used as a strength enhancing binder. [[Salt]] is often added to prevent [[Mold (fungus)|mold]]. === Limitations === Basic limewash can be inadequate in its ability to prevent rain-driven water ingress. Additives are being developed but these have the potential for affecting free vapor permeability. For this reason [[Silicate mineral paint|silicate paints]], more common in Germany, are gaining popularity in the UK over limewash.
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