German Smear/Limewash
Austin Professional Painting
German Smear
A type of mortar wash, German smear is achieved by tactfully smearing a mixture of mortar and portland cement onto the brick, leaving some of it exposed.
Typically this process is done with white mortar. You can also achieve a variety of looks with the German Smear depending on how it’s applied and the thickness of the coats. With this decorative wash you can expect a more “textured” look with some thinner and thicker spots.
Most noteworthy, you’ll usually only see German Smear on high-end construction and historic properties.
Austin Professional Painting
Limewash / Whitewash
White wash is a mixture of water and paint, the thinner the paint, the more the brick color will show through. Furthermore, you can get a variety of different looks just by testing different thicknesses of paints. Whitewashing is generally the lightest coating of the three brick wash methods and is typically done two ways.
An overall coat of thinned paint covering all of the brick and mortar. Tactfully coating areas with thin and thick paint, and then scrubbing or washing away the wet paint in some areas. As a result giving the brick a worn look.
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Slurry Wash
Slurry is another type of mortar wash that is done by completely coating the area with a thick layer. Slurry uses the same materials as a German Smear but differs in the application.
With a slurry there is full coverage of the masonry producing a stucco-type look but still allows the brick texture to show through. Typically, slurries are done with slightly tanner mortar colors. This is an excellent way to achieve the stucco look without the maintenance and cost of traditional stucco.
Each of these mortar wash looks have become increasingly desirable in recent years as a way of giving the home a rustic but modern look.
The Benefits of this
German Smear Style:
- Changes the appearance of your brick home
- Can be waterproofed
- Double as a tuck-pointing alternative
- Add to the structural integrity of your home
- Can receive prominent accent colors
When to go with the German Smear style:
- You want to enhance the curb appeal of your home
- Your home is in need of tuckpointing
- You wish to go a step further and utilize accent colors
- Your home is in overall good condition
Austin Professional Painting
What Decorative Wash
Is Right For You?
You may be wondering which decorative wash would best suite you. However, before you dive into choosing what look you like, we recommend a few preliminary steps.
Decorative wash faq
Yes, but you can also cut your own hair…
Due to the labor-intensive nature of this work, and the skills, tools, and materials required, we have found this is a job best left to the professionals.
That being said, there are plenty of DIY methods and tutorials available online. If you do decide to do this yourself, do a test sample first and make sure to buy all your material at once to avoid slight color variations that can occur in the mortar mixes.
Our mix is a specially created formula made to achieve the best look and lasting results.
Typically, a German smear or slurry is made with a mix of Portland cement, lime, sand, and water.
All of our exterior decorative wash jobs include;
Preparing the home – covering windows and doors, removing exterior features (ex. shutters, light fixtures, etc.) as necessary and possible.
Preparing the brick veneer surface with power washing and crack repair as needed.
Application of custom decorative wash to brick veneer.
Application of industrial strength water repellent to seal custom wash.
Our mix is a specially created formula made to achieve the best look and lasting results.
Typically, a German smear or slurry is made with a mix of Portland cement, lime, sand, and water.
All three of our decorative wash applications can be done on brick and stone. In many occasions, a wash can be applied to painted brick also.
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