How To Whitewash Concrete

When you think of whitewash, you likely think of old picket fences or old kitchen cabinets. However, you can paint wood, stone, concrete and brick with whitewash to achieve that milky white painted surface. Concrete is usually a light gray color that is relatively uninviting. If you whitewash the concrete, it will add a bit of warmth to the surface and give it an aged patina.

Step 1

Clean the surface of the concrete with warm water and a wire brush. Remove any mold or mildew before applying the whitewash and allow the concrete time to completely dry.

Step 2

Mix 8 parts mason's hydrated lime into 1 part distilled water. This will create a whitewash paste.

Step 3

Paint the whitewash onto the concrete with a paintbrush or rub it on with cheesecloth.

Step 4

Dab the surface of the wet whitewash with a dry rag to remove excess paste and then allow the whitewash 24 hours to dry. Apply a second coat if desired.