FAQs

Dilution is the act of adding water to the concentrated paint product and mixing it to create an ideal paint solution. The amount of water to use for each specific Romabio paint product is included in the instructions on the back of every Romabio bucket and in each individual product Technical Data Sheet (TDS).

No. Color pigments do not dissolve in water, however, wet paint is always several shades darker than dry paint. Therefore, the only change in color will be when the paint dries.

Visit our Where To Buy  page to see if there is an independent paint retailer near you or for online, check out our online retailers. 

Detailed technical information for application is available on each of Romabio product’s Technical Data Sheet (TDS). Visit the appropriate product page to download the TDS you need.

They have a long shelf life (approximately 5-10 years) in their concentrated form. Shelf life will shorten if mixed with water, due to impurities in the water you mix it with. It is recommended to only dilute the minimum amount of paint you will use and store the remaining concentrated paint in a dry and temperature-controlled space.

No, Lowes and Home Depot do not offer custom color tinting in-store. You can contact one of our independent paint retailers to custom tint or if you can’t find one in your area, contact Rings End and they can ship directly to you. 

Classico Limewash and Lime Slurry can be painted on the inside but we don’t recommend it because it will be susceptible to charring and soot. You can not use our other paint products on the inside of a fireplace. 

Classico Limewash is formulated to be easily applied onto Interior or Exterior unsealed, unpainted, and absorbent brick, stone, or masonry surfaces. It can also be applied to natural raw wood for artistic purposes. Contact us for more info at [email protected]. 

No, not for Exterior. For the Interior, it can be used for certain types of artistic purposes on natural wood. Contact us for more info at [email protected]. 

Romabio has the perfect product, our Algae and Moss Cleaner to naturally remove algae, moss, and mold at the roots, cleaning them from exterior surfaces. Unlike other products, it will not discolor surfaces painted with mineral or acrylic paints, and the results are long-lasting. The eco-friendly formula is safe to apply and will not cause harm to children, pets, or gardens. Apply it to get rid of the roots of algae, moss, and mold prior to painting and after as needed to maintain the clean look of exteriors. Read more on this blog post about it and if it's a porous masonry surface, then use Romabio Mineral Shield to protect against water and weathering. 

Classico Limewash calcifies to the surface and will not chip, peel, or flake off and does not loose depth of color. It continues to patina based on weather elements. Touch up is very easy and can be done at any time.  No need to repaint the whole surface again, just re-wet the dried area and reapply according to application instructions. Touch-ups may require a greater dilution of Classico Limewash than what was used for the 1st application to ensure the new touchup will not be visible. 

Yes, there are ways to apply to drywall. Email us at [email protected] for more details.

Classico Limewash comes in seven pre-tinted beautiful whites and neutrals in the Classico Color Collection. Classico Limewash is only a white-based paint, so it can be custom tinted to other light or white-based colors by a participating independent paint retailer.

The seven colors in the Classico Color Collection range from bright white to a soft gray, and Tuscan-inspired beiges. They are listed here by color undertones: 

• Bianco White: Cool undertone, base white. The brightest white. 
• Avorio White: Neutral undertone, our most popular white. It will pull either warm or cool depending on trim color and other architectural features. 
• Cristallo White: Also, neutral, but off white or antique white. 
• Nube Gray: Cool undertone, very light gray. 
• Toscana Beige: Warm undertone, medium beige color. 
• Tropea Beige: Warm undertone, darker beige color. 

Those are most likely tannin-related stains coming through your bricks. You could go over those areas with Romabio MicroGrip Primer, then another coat of Classico Limewash to both help block the tannins and touch up the stained areas.

It depends on what you want to achieve. For an authentic “OId World” feel, Classico Limewash is a beautiful, one-coat product that allows you to  distress and create an exposed brick finish. Classico Limewash is formulated to continue to patina over time, adding to that antique limewash look.

For a permanent, solid, opaque finish, Masonry Flat and Masonry Textured are our most durable masonry paints designed for longevity and creating a traditional painted finish. Both Masonry Flat and Masonry Textured are a two-coat process and if applied properly, have a 20-year warranty. 

No. Classico Limewash is not recommended for areas which may be exposed to pooling water, including floors, patios, driveways, sidewalks, steps, horizontal surfaces, and high traffic areas.

Also, horizontal surfaces that can collect pooling water (i.e. exterior window sills, chimneys, retaining walls, etc.), would require a top coat of Romabio Mineral Shield to repel water and slow the weathering effect.

Classico Limewash instant wash off effect is an easy 3-Step process. Here are application directions and for more technical details, see the Technical Data Sheet and visit Classico Limewash  on our website for additional information and video tutorials.

Classico Limewash is a one-coat, easy 3-Step process for unpainted, unsealed, and absorbent brick, stone, or other masonry.

It depends on your linear square footage, how many coats you will use, how absorbent your surface is, and how much you decide to dilute your paint. If applied as directed, it is a one-coat process. To calculate linear square footage, multiple the height and width of each wall to be painted to determine approximate material needed.  After square footage is calculated use the coverage guidelines below, by pail size, to determine how much Classico Limewash you will need. 

• 1 Liter size covers 80-100 SQ/FT 
• 2.5 Liter size covers 200-250 SQ/FT  
• 15 Liter size covers 1200-1500 SQ/FT  

No. Classico Limewash is a fully opaque, flat finish lime paint. When it is painted on the brick surface, it will dry to a lighter color, but it does not alter the color of the brick.

Yes.  Classico Limewash is a fully opaque, flat finish lime paint. It is up to you how much of the brick, stone, or masonry surface that you want to expose. Over time, Classico Limewash will age and wear off based on weather exposure. The ways and degree with which the limewash ages and re-exposes the brick, stone or masonry of each home is, much like nature, beautiful and unique. If you’d prefer a solid, full coverage look, check out our Masonry Paints.  

On most unsealed and unpainted brick, stone, or masonry surfaces, it can easily be removed with a pressure washer within 2 days following initial application. Full calcification (hardening) of Romabio Classico Limewash will be reached at 20-25 days after initial application under Technical Data Sheet conditions. You can always paint over Classico Limewash with one of Romabio’s mineral paints.

Between 50-90 degrees. Do not apply Classico Limewash if the surface will be exposed to 2 nights of freezing temperatures after application. 

Do not apply Classico Limewash in direct sunlight when temperatures are above 90 degrees if there is a difficulty keeping a damp surface during initial application.

Classico Limewash can be gently cleaned with mild detergent and water. We recommend avoiding the use of harsh chemicals. For best results, use the Romabio Algae Moss Cleaner.  Easily touch up any needed areas. SEE ABOVE FAQ. And as an additional option: Romabio Mineral Shield as an invisible coating that locks and protects mineral paint finishes from natural patina or weathering created by water.

After 3-4 hours of drying, normal rain will not affect the finish due to immediate calcification. Do not apply Classico Limewash on the exterior if there is a risk of severe thunderstorms or showers during the 12-hour drying time needed for the product to bond and harden correctly.

Classico Limewash will age and wear away as it is intended based on the weather exposure. If you want to reduce the weathering effect and keep Classico Limewash lasting longer, we recommend adding a top coat of Mineral Shield, an invisible, environmentally friendly coating to lock and protect your finish.

No problem, because Classico Limewash requires a pre-dampened surface prior to painting. If the temperature is between 50-90 degrees and it is no longer raining, then go ahead with your plans!

The appearance of Classico Limewash during the drying stage will look translucent due to effects by temperature, dilution, and water wash off, but it will dry to a completely opaque finish.

No. Manganese is the most common stain on brick because it happens at the manufacturing stage when the bricks are exposed to acid during production. These stains will bleed through almost any coating, usually requiring the use of a specially formulated “mineral stain blocker” isolated primer prior to the final application of the Classico Limewash. Contact us at [email protected] for more info. 

 

Classico Limewash is a lime paint made without toxin ingredients. It is classified as Zero VOC based on U.S. regulation and contains 3.9 g/l of VOC which is below the 5 g/l.

Classico Limewash is an authentic limewash paint formulated to patina and will age depending on weather exposure. There is no warranty as it is unknown to how your limewash finish will change based on your natural elements. But there is no need to repaint unless you want a different look.

Classico Limewash is formulated so you can easily create instant wash off effects getting the look of historic Europe and antique limewash. Romabio has a product, though, that will lock and protect your finish and help it last longer reducing the effects of weathering. Mineral Shield is an invisible, breathable coating that repels water droplets but still allows water vapor to pass through, protecting the painted surface and preventing the growth of algae, moss, and mold. Unlike other products, Mineral Shield will not change the sheen of the finish or texture of the surface, thus preserving the beauty of a Romabio paint application. It protects all lime-based coatings such as Romabio Classico Limewash—from the temporary discoloration that occurs when the surface is wet from rain and water absorption.

Interior or exterior stone applications will take longer than brick to calcify and absorb into the surface as it’s usually smoother and less absorbent. We recommend adding a top coat of Mineral Shield, an invisible, breathable coating to lock and protect your finish and reduce the chalking effect.

Yes, you can achieve stunning design on absorbent, unpainted brick, stone, or masonry surfaces inside your home with Classico Limewash. For interior surfaces that may be touched by people’s hands or bodies (such as a fireplace hearth that you sit on) or have to be cleaned (such as a backsplash), you would need a top coat of Romabio Mineral Shield to protect the surface from water and prevent “chalking” which will leave harmless, white residue on skin or clothing.

Yes. You can use a professional-grade airless sprayer (tip of 0.519" - 0.521") or an HVLP spray gun (tip: 1.4mm-1.5mm). New sprayer tips should be used to prevent product waste and provide for a perfect finish. Be sure to clean out the sprayer immediately when done.

Classico Limewash and Lime Slurry can be painted on the inside but we don’t recommend it because it will be susceptible to charring and soot. You can not use any of our other paint products on the inside of a fireplace. 

Masonry Flat provides a smooth finish while Masonry Textured provides a granular/sand finish,  ideal for rough or ‘bark-like’ brick to create a uniform surface appearance, by depositing grit into the cuts and grooves or for a textured Stucco finish on smoother surfaces. Both products, if applied as directed, come with a 20-year warranty.

Romabio Masonry Flat and Masonry Textured are formulated to go on unsealed, absorbent, and unpainted brick, stone, or other masonry surfaces as a 2-coat process with no additional primer. For the following surfaces you should apply two coats after one coat of Romabio MicroGrip Primer first: Pre-painted Brick, Pre-painted Stone, Poured Concrete, Portland or Gypsum Stucco, CMU Block, Cementitious Board, and Wood. Visit our How-to-apply PDF or the product’s Technical Data Sheet. 

Use the original paint product and follow mixing and dilution instructions. Apply a thin light coat, allow to dry, and re-apply another light coat if needed. It is not necessary to pre-wet painted surface prior to touch-up. 

Romabio Masonry Paints are not recommended for use on floors, high traffic areas or horizontal surfaces out in the elements.

No. Romabio Masonry Paints are not recommended for use on floors.

If it is applied as directed by the Romabio Technical Data Sheet which for pre-painted brick includes one coat of Romabio MicroGrip Primer, then two coats of Masonry Flat or Masonry Textured. 

Yes, Romabio MicroGrip Primer must first be applied to Hardie Board and wood siding prior to the use of Masonry Flat.

Romabio Masonry Flat and Masonry Textured can be tinted to a wide range of colors. The two products come in white and transparent bases. To see Romabio curated color collections, visit Young House Love Color Collection + Classico Color Collection), or you can have the products custom tinted at a participating independent paint retailer. If there is no retailer in your area, please contact Rings End as they can custom tint and ship directly to you.

Romabio Masonry Paints have high perm ratings of 70+ allowing trapped water vapor to diffuse and escape from the masonry surfaces. The products have a 20-year warranty when applied as directed by the Technical Data Sheets. You can repaint or touch-up at any time because of the very flat finish.

Yes, there is a very fine grit in the Masonry Flat paint so this is normal and should work as intended. Romabio Masonry Textured has a larger aggregate in it that is great for smoothing etched or “bark-like” brick or stone by depositing the larger grit into the cuts and grooves. It will create a more uniform surface on rough surfaces, or a textured stucco look on smoother surfaces.

Yes, for Masonry Flat you can use a professional-grade airless sprayer (tip of 0.519" - 0.521") or an HVLP spray gun (tip: 1.4mm-1.5mm). New sprayer tips should be used to prevent product waste and provide for a perfect finish. Be sure to clean out the sprayer immediately when done.

No, for Masonry Textured as it cannot be applied with an airless sprayer but with an aggregate hopper.

Yes. Romabio Matte Interior, Low Lustre Interior, and Satin Interior are washable paints. Use a sponge or soft cloth with a small amount of water and mild soap and rub gently to the affected area, then wipe dry. Do not use any abrasive materials or harsh chemicals.