What makes whitewash white

If it does, it will freeze in the stone, brick, or mortar, and will cause fractures. These fractures can serve as ideal locations for insects to lay their eggs, or enter your home. Should this happen, you will be in danger of an insect infestation.

Fortunately, whitewash can protect your stone or brick from both bad weather and pests alike. In addition to this, whitewash naturally repels insects, so there is no fear of them laying eggs or infesting. Whitewash is completely non-toxic. In many ways, whitewash is superior to paint, and if you want your brick or stonework whitewashed, contact a Tulsa whitewashing company near you.

How Does Whitewashing Differ from Painting? The Kingdom of England had been plagued by two fires in the Middle Ages, one in which leveled many buildings, and another in , which supposedly killed people.

In the s, townsfolk were commanded to whitewash their homes as a precaution against fire. Whitewash was made in a variety of ways throughout history. Still, sometimes it was made with egg, oyster shells, or even flour. People utilized whatever could help keep its look and texture. Whitewashing seems to have been most common in the Colonial Period.

In Colonial Times, whitewash paint was a necessity for barns, houses, and churches, interior and exterior. The main reason for its popularity was because it served as mildew prevention. The coating was not only antibacterial, but also discouraged pests from making a home inside their houses and barns. As such, the kitchen was commonly whitewashed, not just as a measure against vermin, but as a disinfectant and a means against odor.

Furthermore, making whitewash was far cheaper than making regular paint. Not only was it cheap, but one did not have to be a skilled laborer to apply it. There is some truth in the fiction, as back then, whitewash was left in the hands of children due to its simplicity to apply. When applied to the interior, whitewash paint brightened the room, and made it appear more spacious.

The light color and pleasingly imperfect aesthetic of whitewashing makes rooms appear more comfortably lived-in, even friendlier—making it popular in modern farmhouse, charming cottage, and relaxed beach interior schemes. Although its results are out of the ordinary, whitewashing differs only slightly from run-of-the-mill painting. Whitewashing works best on raw wood. Do so by thoroughly sanding the surface you intend to whitewash. Sweep or vacuum the area, if appropriate; otherwise, use a damp cloth to wipe the surface clean.

Now formulate the whitewash. Dilute water-based white paint with water and dilute oil-based white paint with turpentine or paint thinner. Before you whitewash the entire surface, first experiment with the mixture in an inconspicuous spot. Be sure you like the way that it looks before committing. Load your paintbrush or roller, and apply the white color on in long strokes following the direction of the wood grain.