5 Tips for How To Limewash a Backsplash

[@nanimoniz]

So glad I found someone else doing this before I gave it a try. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@diywithandrew]

Glad it helped!!

[@milliegoins]

Update ??!

[@emiliebova]

Liked it better before the lime wash. Hahah! You did a good job though.

[@diywithandrew]

Haha! Thanks for being honest. And thanks for the kind words too!

[@lennonjon]

Thanks for the video. Now that you're a couple of years in, perhaps you can answer a question for me: Are you concerned at all about sealing the limewash? Everything I've read about limewash is that it's difficult to keep clean in the kitchen, largely because you can't really scrub it down to remove grease. I just finished limewashing brick walls in my kitchen and are trying to figure out if I need to seal it or not. I even contacted Romabio and they've been less than helpful, recommending a sealing product they don't even sell yet.

[@diywithandrew]

Great question! We were also wondering about doing a seal. We haven’t had many issues at all other than a few spots around the sink from water splashes. We just touched it up with white paint and you can’t even tell. I don’t think you’ll regret doing a matte clear coat on it to make it wipeable but I don’t know if it’s much of an issue to justify that step. I’m sure it depends on your usage in the kitchen. Hope that helps!

[@lennonjon]

@@diywithandrew Thanks for the response! My concern is mainly with grease and food spatter rom a range top. I have a copper backsplash directly behind the range, but the brick is on the same wall and splatter happens. According to Romabio, sealers will oftentimes cause yellowing from a reaction with the limestone. They just gave me a recommendation yesterday for something that customers have told them seems to work without yellowing: Modern Masters Decorative Painter's Dead Flat Varnish. I'm going to try it out. I'll respond again a few months in to give people a heads up as to how it seems to have worked.

[@catherinedonovan3186]

⁠@@lennonjonhow did it go with the flat varnish?

[@marv09117]

Maybe it’s good to have an extra pc of tile to practice on. We just installed beautiful new granite and the backsplashes look too busy now 😢

[@diywithandrew]

That’s a good idea! I can say that we have no regrets on turning our backsplash white.

[@pepperstudiosminiatures1397]

Thanks for the helpful video! We are buying a home and I need to update the travertine tile myself. Can the tiles be washed or wiped with water afterwards? Sometimes they can get dirty around a stove and I was wondering how well they can be wiped or if it wipes off the limewash. thank you so much!

[@diywithandrew]

You bet! Great questions. Honestly, if you don’t want the under color to show through and anticipate needing to wipe it down often, we would now recommend a strong primer and paint from Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore. The lime wash wipes away pretty easily even after a long time in our experience. But my wife wanted COMPLETE coverage - as in making the stone WHITE. Some like lime wash because it can be messy and let the under color of stone or brick come through. But if you want complete coverage we would recommend quality paint, not limewash. Hope that makes sense and is helpful.

[@charlenegreyard7628]

We have a long wait for our tile back splash due to schedule issues with our installation crew. Our old backsplash clashes horribly with our new Cambria quartz countertops and I don’t want that look over the holidays so this is a great temporary fix. No prep, low cost and gets rid of the ugly so our new countertops can shine. Thanks for this video super helpful. I did wonder if this comes in different shades of white? I’d love one a little off from bright white but I love the shade of the one you used.

[@diywithandrew]

Totally get that! Sorry to hear about the delay. Not fun. I think this will work well for you. It is definitely not a bright white in person. More like a matte white. Hope that helps!

[@susannaharnhart4910]

We're planning a simple DIY kitchen update. Thanks so much for this detailed video!

[@diywithandrew]

Awesome! So glad it was helpful. I wish you the best on your kitchen update!

[@daCubanaqt]

Is it just me, but if like wash comes off so easily why on earth would you use it on a kitchen backsplash? Especially behind the sink. 🤔

[@diywithandrew]

We were wondering the same thing, that’s why I made the video while we experimented. I’m pretty sure at the end of my video I explain that we might as well have painted it white. However after having it for months, it hasn’t come off at all. All that to say, yes we could have absolutely just painted the backsplash tile white and had same effect with more durability. Thanks for your comment!

[@7alibis]

Wow! It’s brought so much light into your room with a modern industrial vibe! Well done!

[@diywithandrew]

Thank you!!

[@erikac4011]

i want to paint the tile on my shower, limewash or epoxy paint??

[@diywithandrew]

I think I would go epoxy paint for that one.

[@LJ_C.A.R.T.E.R]

Did you apply any sealer to the limewash?

[@diywithandrew]

We did not. We didn’t think it was necessary and have been happy with it since but I suppose you could

[@heatherbernard2600]

Did you use a sealant so you can clean it?

[@diywithandrew]

We did not. I don’t think that’s a bad idea though!

[@ironrme8459]

Seeing as you wanted a solid white look, I assume you didn't knock down the paint by wiping it down between coats? Looks great!!

[@ironrme8459]

Oh ... and do you think it would have taken less coats if you had diluted less? Thanks.

[@diywithandrew]

Great question. That’s correct! And thank you!

[@diywithandrew]

I think so!

[@marissabarney7771]

Hi! Did you use any degreasers on the stone before painting?

[@diywithandrew]

Hey there! We did not.

[@marissabarney7771]

Thank you! For full coverage would you say the consistency of the limewash was similar to regular paint or more watery ?

[@marissabarney7771]

And how long did you wait between coats