By David Lee, owner of House Hues
- Location: Treesdale, Gibsonia, PA
- Home: about 30 years old, red brick with natural stone accents and painted trim
- Scope: lime mineral finish on all exterior brick, trim and window refresh, shutters removed
- Product: Romabio Masonry Flat, custom color match, two coats on raw brick
- Completed: September 2025
The goal: new character, not just new color
We were brought in to give this home new character. Most houses in this part of Treesdale are about 30 years old, and almost none have seen paint outside of trim maintenance, because they are mostly brick and stone. That red brick looked like every other house on the street.
Limewash or lime paint?
We walked the homeowners through the two real options for brick you want to change without hurting it: a traditional limewash, or a lime based masonry flat. Both are breathable mineral finishes, and both are very different from ordinary house paint.
Regular paint forms a film. On brick, that film can trap moisture inside the masonry, and when that water freezes it can pop the face off the brick. That is called spalling, and once it starts it does not stop. Lime lets moisture keep moving freely through the brick, so the wall can dry out the way it was built to.
Lime is also the oldest architectural finish still in use. As a coating, it has stood the test of time for millennia, and it enhances the movement and character of the brick instead of hiding it.
We chose Romabio Masonry Flat, a lime based mineral paint. It gives a flat, true stone look when it is finished, and it patinas gently with time instead of peeling. House Hues is a Romabio Preferred Pro.
The process
- Powerwash. The brick was washed to remove dirt, chalk and anything that would keep the lime from bonding.
- Dry time. The masonry was left to dry fully before any coating went on.
- Two coats direct to raw brick. No primer: lime is meant to bond with the masonry itself. The color was a custom match chosen with the homeowners.
- Natural stone left natural. The stone accents around the entry and gables stay as they were, and they read even better against the new finish.
- Trim and windows refreshed, and the shutters came off for good for a cleaner, more modern face.
The result
The house went from a red brick colonial to a soft stone home with real character, and it still looks like masonry up close, because it is.
The homeowner was ecstatic. In her Google review, Ashtin wrote:
We couldn’t be happier with the transformation of our home! We had our brick limewashed by House Hues and it turned out absolutely stunning and exceeded our expectations. David and his team are incredibly talented and took the time to understand the look we were going for and brought our vision to life.
Ashtin, Treesdale homeowner, on Google
Questions about lime on brick
Is limewash or lime paint better than regular paint on brick?
For most brick, yes. Lime is breathable, so moisture can leave the masonry instead of getting trapped behind a film, which lowers the risk of spalling.
What is the difference between limewash and a lime masonry flat?
Limewash is thin and translucent and wears back softly, so more brick shows over time. A lime based masonry flat like Romabio Masonry Flat gives more even coverage and a flat, stone look, and it still breathes.
Does lime need a primer?
No. It goes directly onto clean, dry, raw masonry so it can bond with the brick.
Will it peel?
Lime does not form a film that can peel. It weathers gradually and develops a patina, and it can be refreshed later without stripping the wall.
Can you lime finish brick that is already painted?
Not directly. Lime needs raw masonry, so painted brick has to be evaluated first.
Thinking about changing your brick? See our fine finishing and limewash service, see more painting in Gibsonia, or get in touch.
