Whitewashing garage walls?

[Ceri JC]

Work on my garage is nearing completion, but before I have electricity put in, I'm going to pain both the inside and one of the exterior walls. Ideally I'd like something that is very bright white (the exterior wall is going to have a mural on it and on the interior walls should help with the lighting). I know nowadays the done thing seems to be just to use white exterior wall paint, but:
a) That's not as bright and more susceptible to staining
b) Tends to chip and crack (needs repainting every few years)
c) Vegetation is more likely to grow on it

I know there are treatments you can get where people come out and spray the walls with stuff that is guaranteed for 15 years, but that's rather pricey for a garage. I've been reading online about making whitewash yourself using lye, tablesalt (and if you want it to last forever, a bit of white portland cement), but can't find much detail on it, where to buy lye, etc. before I spend too much time looking into what might be a dead end I thought I'd check with you folks here. Is whitewashing a viable option or is there some reason it seems to have gone out of fashion?

TIA,

Ceri

[G]

I used B&Q outdoor heavy duty bright white paint over a year ago, it took ages to do and my arm was aching for days but it looks damned good.

I cant see why you would need anymore than that except maybe on the exterior wall. The interior of my garage is still as it was when i painted it, infact it still stinks of paint.

[hovis]

i used that sandtex stuff......... it did not go as far as i hoped, so i needed another tub, i think it was £25 X 2

[G]

1 tub is never enough grrr.

I'm sure they plan it that way, they know the average garage size and the litres it would take to paint it so provide just a little bit to little.

[tinpants]

Try a coloured render? Reasonably inexpensive and easy to put in - if you know how to render, or know someone that can.

[embee]

Dulux Trade Weathershield
DULUX (http://www.icipaints.co.uk/products/duluxtrade/exteriors.jsp)

"trade" often isn't available from DIY outlets, try a Dulux Trade Centre near you.

I hate any textured masonry paint, nightmare to apply. Use the smooth version for exterior, you might consider the gloss version for interior if you want to be able to wash/wipe the walls down occasionally.

Water based versions are much nicer to use than solvent based, I'd recommend them unless you absolutely have to use a solvent based version.

Ensure you follow any preparation instructions, that's the most common cause of premature paint failure (doesn't matter how good the paint is if it's put onto dirt/dust, it'll flake off).

[flibble]

Know this thread is more about exteriors, but as you're doing the iside too... when we moved into ours the previous owner had put up old square carpet tiles part way up the wall. Seemed really strange at first, but as our garage is very narrow it's actually quite useful if we park car inside as it saves the door banging on the walls

[Ceri JC]

Ta embee, that is what I went for in the end. Now, my next question; in preparing one of the more shoddy walls prior to painting I want to wire brush off existing paint etc. being adverse to elbow grease (shouldn't exist in as technologically advance a world as ours!), my old man recommended one of these:

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9288288&fh_view_size=10&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=wire+brush&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1200485921041&isSearch=true (http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9288288&fh_view_size=10&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=wire+brush&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1200485921041&isSearch=true)

Anyone know if this will fit in a drill (I know it's designed for a dremel) or, anywhere I can get one designed to fit a drill?

Thanks once again.

[hovis]

Anyone know if this will fit in a drill (I know it's designed for a dremel) or, anywhere I can get one designed to fit a drill?

Thanks once again.

should do.......... but you can get them for drills if that one dose'nt

try a local DIY shop

[embee]

If you want to do old walls too, then you might need to use some "stabilising solution" if there is loose or crumbly mortar showing. It's usually a solvent type varnish if you like, very thin consistency which soaks into crumbly mortar and binds it together. Do all the cleaning down first though. It's worth doing if necessary, otherwise the masonry paint will tend to come off in the lines where the mortar course is.

Also if you have any already painted surfaces which are basically sound, use "sugar soap" solution (e.g. Mangers) and scouring pads. This will chemically clean the surface. Use rubber gloves if your skin is at all sensitive. Clean it off with clean water after scouring otherwise it will soften paint. Sugar soap is cheapest if you get the powder and mix it yourself (dissolves in warmish water). Liquid stuff works out expensive. If you need to stabilise it aswell it'll need to dry thoroughly first.

I find wire brushes aren't usually the best way to clean down loose paint surfaces, they dont lift the paint flakes very well just brush them in situ. I'd suggets a hand scraper (flat blade type thing) to get the worst off. The wire brush will be ideal for dirty bricks etc. Wear a mask if you use one in a drill (loads of dust) and of course eye protection with any rotary wire brush (the bristles do come off).

[Ceri JC]

I find wire brushes aren't usually the best way to clean down loose paint surfaces, they dont lift the paint flakes very well just brush them in situ. I'd suggets a hand scraper (flat blade type thing) to get the worst off. The wire brush will be ideal for dirty bricks etc. Wear a mask if you use one in a drill (loads of dust) and of course eye protection with any rotary wire brush (the bristles do come off).

Yes, I'll be using hand scrapers for the big bits of flaking paint; this is mainly just for smaller patches of more stubborn paint (not white). Ta once again for all the advice folks, it's much appreciated!