Limewash - Getting Started - What is a Distemper?

What is a distemper?

Distemper is a decorative paint and a historical medium for painting pictures. Distemper is an early form of limewash, used as a medium for artistic painting, usually made from powdered chalk or lime and size (a gelatinous substance). Distempered surfaces can be easily marked and discoloured, and cannot be washed down, so distemper is best suited to temporary and interior decoration. It can often be described in two ways; soft and hard.

• Soft distemper is not abrasion resistant and may include binders such as chalk, ground pigments, and animal glue.
• Hard distemper is stronger and wear-resistant and can include casein or linseed oil as binders.

Can you paint over distemper?

Painting over distempers is notoriously difficult and often new paints will peel away. You can try repainting with distemper like paint. For best results try and remove the distemper. If you have a concern over old lead-based paints if in doubt leave them in-situ and paint over but do not sand down.