The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
House Painting
The glue may be dissolved without previous soaking in a large glue-pot, or in an oat-meal cooking-pot, or in a small pot hung in a larger pot filled with boiling water; but the method first described is best. After all these ingredients are stirred in, add five gallons of hot water, stir well, and let it stand for a few days, covered from dirt. It is to be applied hot. It is estimated that a pint of this mixture will cover a square yard of surface. This is undoubtedly a good whitewash. The most common whitewash is made by slaking the lime with water as described, then thinning it with more water and straining it.
It is probably not desirable to add glue to it if it is to be used in cellars, but the rice would be less objectionable; in place of rice, flour may be used, either wheat, rye, or buckwheat, but not corn meal; rice is most nearly white. The lime combines with the proteid matter of the rice or flour to make a cement, and this makes it adhere better. In some places it is the practice to thin the whitewash with sweet skim-milk; this acts in the same way and is excellent for outdoor work, as it stands the weather well; the lime unites with the casein of the milk to make a cement. This is not suitable for cellars, but is all right for dry places. Whitewash, as everyone knows, is applied with a wide, flat brush; the operator does not rub it on, as the painter does paint, but lightly brushes over the wall or ceiling with the brush so as to use the ends of the bristles, not bearing on enough to bend over the bristles so that a great part of their length will touch the wall. The brush is held lightly; the arm is not stiff, but bends freely at the elbow; the whole action should show flexibility and freedom. This is equally true of kalsomining, which is only a variety of whitewashing. In whitewashing a ceiling it is well for the operator to begin on the side next the windows, so as to be working away from the light.
The floor should be covered with canvas or building-paper, as lime-stains are difficult to remove. Before beginning work the wall or ceiling to be treated should be thoroughly cleaned; old whitewash should be washed off, scrubbing it with a brush if necessary; and if it is a place where the good appearance is important, as in a room, stains should be removed or covered up, as will be described under the subject of Kalsomine.
