Building a new van and I want it to be as environmental and as plastic free as possible. Decorating is very dirty work and needs a lot of research.
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Lime is a calcium-containing inorganic mineral in which oxides, and hydroxides predominate. In the strict sense of the term, lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. It is also the name of the natural mineral (native lime) CaO which occurs as a product of coal seam fires and in altered limestone xenoliths in volcanic ejecta.[1] The word lime originates with its earliest use as building mortar and has the sense of sticking or adhering.Wikkipedia
Lime is derived from limestone or Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3), which has been burnt in a lime kiln at over 800 degrees centigrade to produce quicklime or Calcium Oxide (CaO).
In this process carbon dioxide and any water is driven off.
Quicklime is potentially dangerous having an avid thirst for water. This process creates a lot of heat and produces Slaked lime or Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)2).
Builders merchants stock this material having been reground to a fine powder and called Hydrated Lime.
read more about making and using lime mortars here.
Whitewash
Whitewash, or calcimine, kalsomine, calsomine, or lime paint is a low-cost type of paint made from slaked lime (calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2) and chalk (calcium carbonate, (CaCO3), sometimes known as “whiting”. Various other additives are also used.
Lime Wash
Making
Limewash is made from lime putty, just dilute the putty 50/50 with water.
Lime putty can either be bought or made from bagged lime.
From Bagged Lime
Take bagged lime from any builders merchant, B&Q etc, (this is hydrated non-hydraulic lime) and mix with water to form a putty. Leaving the putty in a sealed container or under water for a couple of days is optional, some say it improves the texture.
Dilute it 50/50 to make limewash.
From Putty
Dilute the putty 50/50 with water. You now have limewash.
Recycling Cans
If I did a lot of decorating I would, if possible, buy paint in tins then recycle it through the Dulux can recycling scheme. The following was copied from their website
It’s easy to recycle with Dulux Decorator Centres
We’re all aware of the need to recycle cans – there’s no sense in waste and landfill just isn’t an option with a future.
The pressing need to providing a viable, sustainable alternative for UK industry has led directly to Dulux Decorator Centres’ Can Recycling Service. And crucially, it’ms a scheme that also adds up in business terms. Many large decorating contracts now specify that cans must be recycled, so being able to offer a proven, professional recycling policy has the benefits to be a genuine business winner
Everything is reused or recycled – nothing will go to landfill
The most comprehensive can recycling service in the UK
Handles solvent and water-based paints
The only service that can process wet cans as well as dry
The only service able to recycle woodcare product cans
Bring us your cans or have them collected
You can choose to bring your used Dulux Trade, Glidden, Dulux Trade Woodcare, Cuprinol and Sikkens cans to Dulux Decorator Centres, or we’ll pick them up on site if we’re delivering an order to your team. The vast majority of cans and residues can be handled, as shown below.
The cans we CAN recycle
Decorative paint cans
Security sealed wet cans
Dulux Trade or Glidden paint cans
Up to an inch or paint residue
Woodcare – Dulux Trade, Cuprinol and Sikkens
Water or solvent-based paint
Dry open cans (water-based)
The paints we CAN recycle
Emulsion
Satin
Floor paint
Gloss
Undercoat
Masonry paint
Eggshell
Primer
Exterior paint
The cans we CAN’T recycle*
Leaking cans
Nasty contents e.g. paint thinners/paint stripper
Wet paint with no lid
Cuprinol Sprayer and Sprayable Plus
Specialist or industrial paints
Aerosol
Paintpod & attached can
* Dulux Decorator Centre decision to reject cans is final and cannot be disputed.