FREE QUOTE

Timber Lime Wash in Melbourne

Transform your home with a soft, milky-white liming finish that highlights your timber's natural grain and does not hide it. Melbourne's trusted liming whitewash specialists since 1994. Free on-site colour samples. Same-day completion is available.
25+ Years Experience
100% Satisfaction
Free On-Site Quote
Licensed Tradesman

What Is Timber Lime Wash?

If you have been scrolling through home interiors and noticed those gorgeous light, coastal-style floors that seem to glow with a soft, creamy-white warmth that is almost certainly timber lime wash. And unlike painting your floors white, liming preserves every detail of the wood beneath it.
Liming (also called liming white or whitewash timber floor finishing) is a centuries-old surface treatment that has been refined for modern timber floors. A specialised mineral-based white finish is worked into the open grain of the timber, then sealed with a clear protective coat. The result is a translucent, pale finish that softens the natural colour of your floorboards while keeping the grain pattern, knots and character of the wood completely visible. Our formula is fully water-based which means it will not yellow over time, unlike oil or solvent-based alternatives. The natural beauty of your timber stays true for years to come. 💡 Lime wash is not a paint. It does not sit on top of the timber; it lives within the grain. Your floor keeps its natural texture, depth, and character.

Benefits of Lime Washing Your Timber Floors

Homeowners across Melbourne are choosing limed floors for good reason, they look beautiful, perform well and require surprisingly little maintenance. Here is what makes them stand out:
💡 Brighter Rooms
The pale limed finish reflects light, making spaces feel larger and airier perfect for smaller rooms or areas with limited natural light.
🌿 Preserves Timber Grain
Unlike paint, liming is translucent. The natural grain, character and texture of your timber remain fully visible through the finish.
💧 No Yellowing Over Time
Our water-based liming white finish will not turn yellow a common problem with older oil-based or solvent-based coatings.
🟫 Fills Cracks & Gaps
The liming process fills small cracks, holes and minor surface imperfections in the timber, resulting in a smoother, even more finish.
🛠️ Low Maintenance
Lime washed floors are durable and easy to keep clean. They handle everyday foot traffic, pets and active households with minimal upkeep.
📅 Same-Day Completion
Most standard residential lime wash jobs can be completed in a single day, meaning minimal disruption to your home or schedule. 
Lime washed floors are particularly popular in Melbourne's inner-east and bayside homes, where the Scandinavian, Hamptons and coastal interior styles are sought after. They work equally well in contemporary new builds and heritage homes with older Victorian Ash or Tassie Oak floors.

Our Timber Lime Wash Process: 5 Steps to a Stunning Finish 

At Doncaster Floors, we have been applying lime wash floors across Melbourne since 1994. Every job follows a careful, proven process to ensure the result looks as good in five years as it does on day one. Step 1: Free On-Site Assessment & Colour Sample Before any work begins, one of our licensed tradesmen visits your home to assess the condition of your floors, identify the timber species, and prepare onsite colour sample patches on your actual floor. You approve the look before we proceed; no surprises. Step 2: Floor Sanding & Surface Preparation The floor is thoroughly sanded back to bare timber using our professional belt sanding system. This removes any existing finish, stains or surface damage, and opens the grain of the timber ready to accept the liming finish. Any cracks or gaps are filled at this stage. If your floors need more extensive repair work, our team can assist with timber floor restoration prior to liming. Step 3: Bleaching (Where Required) For darker timbers or floors where an especially light, even tone is desired, we apply a professional-grade bleaching treatment. This gently lightens the natural colour of the timber and ensures an even, consistent base for the liming white finish, particularly important for timbers like Spotted Gum or Jarrah. Step 4: Application of Liming White Finish We apply our premium water-based liming white wash finish using a technique that works the product deep into the grain of the timber. One or more coats are applied depending on the level of opacity and whiteness you prefer. The more coats applied, the denser and more pronounced the white effect, though even a single coat delivers beautiful, subtle results. Step 5: Clear Protective Seal Coat Once the liming finish has dried, we apply a clear water-based polyurethane topcoat to lock in the colour, protect the surface from wear and tear, and give your floor its final sheen available in matte, satin or semi-gloss. This seal coat is what gives your lime washed timber floor its lasting durability against daily foot traffic, pets and the general demands of family life. ⏱️ Most standard residential jobs are completed in a single day. Larger areas or floors requiring bleaching may take two days. We give you a clear timeframe at the time of quoting.

Is Lime Wash Suitable for Your Timber?

Not all timbers respond the same way to liming whitewash, and part of what sets Doncaster Floors apart is our upfront honesty about this. We will always test a sample area on your actual floor before proceeding, so you know exactly what the finished result will look like.
Here is a quick guide to how the most common Australian timber species respond to lime washing:
Timber Type
Suitability
What to Expect
Special Notes
Tasmanian Oak / Victorian Ash
✅ Excellent
Takes liming beautifully even, pale finish 
Ideal starting point; minimal bleaching required
European Oak
✅ Excellent
Open grain absorbs liming wax well stunning result
Premium look; bleaching may enhance tone further 
Pine Spotted Gum / Blackbutt Jarrah
✅ Good ⚠️ Possible ⚠️ Possible
Responds well; knots and grain remain visible  Achievable but denser grain may need extra prep  High oil content; results vary test area first 
Surface preparation is key thorough sand required Bleaching strongly recommended prior to liming  Pre-treatment with a degreaser essential 
Not sure what species your floors are? No problem our tradesmen identify timber types as part of the free on-site assessment. If your floors have seen better days or have structural damage, we recommend addressing those issues first. Our timber floor restoration service can repair boards, fill large gaps and prepare even heavily worn floors to a standard suitable for liming.

Why Melbourne Homeowners Choose Doncaster Floors for Lime Wash 

There is no shortage of floor sanding and finishing companies in Melbourne, so why do homeowners keep coming back to Doncaster Floors? Here is what sets us apart:
  • 25+ years of experience — We have been applying timber lime wash and liming white finishes in Melbourne since 1994. Few others can match that depth of experience.
  • Licensed and insured tradesman — All work is carried out by licensed, fully insured professionals. You are in safe, qualified hands.
  • Onsite colour samples before we start — We never apply a finish without first showing you exactly what it will look like on your own floor.
  • Water-based, premium products only — Our liming white wash finish is water-based, low-VOC and will not yellow over time.
  • Competitive, transparent pricing — We provide detailed quotes with no hidden charges. We can also work within budget constraints to find the best solution for your floors.
  • Same-day completion available — Most residential jobs are done in a day. Minimum disruption, maximum results.
  • Residential and commercial — We work in family homes, rental properties, boutique retail spaces and commercial offices across Melbourne.
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee — If you are not happy with the result, neither are we. We stand behind every job we do.
We are also specialists in timber floor restoration and recoating so if your floors need repair or structural work before liming, we can handle everything under one roof.

Some Examples of our Work:

Every floor we lime wash tells its own story. Browse our project gallery to see the range of results we have achieved for Melbourne homeowners from subtle single-coat effects that barely lift the natural tone, to bolder multi-coat applications with a strong, opaque milky-white finish.
View Our Full Gallery

Ready to Transform Your Timber Floors with a Lime Wash?

Whether you are planning a renovation, preparing to sell, or simply ready to breathe new life into tired, dark floorboards, Doncaster Floors is Melbourne's most experienced team for timber lime wash and liming white wash services. With 30 years behind us, licensed tradesmen and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can book with complete confidence.
We start every job with a free on-site assessment and colour sample, so you know exactly what you are gettng before a single coat is applied. 📞 Call us: 0411 637 123 | 📧 Email: jc_doncasterfloors@hotmail.com

FAQ

How much does timber lime wash cost in Melbourne?
Pricing varies depending on floor area, timber condition and number of coats required. As a general guide, lime wash services in Melbourne start from around $40–$55 per m². We provide a free, no-obligation on-site quote so you get an accurate price for your specific floors.
How long does a lime washed floor last?
When properly applied and sealed with a clear protective topcoat, a professionally lime washed floor typically lasts 8–15 years with normal care. High-traffic areas may benefit from a maintenance coat every few years.
What is the difference between lime wash and white wash?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but technically liming uses a mineral-based white finish rubbed into the grain, while whitewashing is a broader term for any diluted white coating. Both create the characteristic pale, translucent timber look. Our liming white wash combines a traditional lime stain with a clear polyurethane for lasting colour and protection.
Is lime wash suitable for all timber types?
Most Australian hardwoods and softwoods can be lime washed, though results differ by species. Lighter, open-grained timbers like Tasmanian Oak and European Oak take liming beautifully. Denser, oilier timbers like Jarrah may need pre-treatment. We provide onsite colour samples before any commitment so you know exactly what to expect.
How long does the lime wash process take? 
Most standard residential jobs can be completed in a single day. Larger areas, extensive floor repairs, or floors requiring bleaching prior to liming may take a second day. We will give you a clear timeframe when we quote.
Is lime wash safe for children and pets?
Yes. Our liming white wash is water-based, low-VOC and non-toxic once fully cured. We recommend keeping pets and children off the floor for 24 hours after the final coat to allow the finish to fully harden.
Do you do an onsite colour sample before starting?
Absolutely, and we strongly recommend it. We prepare colour test patches on your actual floor before any full application begins. This gives you total confidence in the finish before we proceed.
Contact Us Today For A

Free Quote

How can we help?