LIME PLASTERING
Lime is a unique and beautiful natural material for both heritage and modern buildings
We offer expert lime plastering and rendering services for historic restoration, home renovation and new builds.
If you go to the building merchants to buy some plaster you’ll probably have two choices: cement (the grey stuff) or gypsum (the pink stuff).
Both have their place in modern construction, and we use gypsum to plaster most of our internal walls in new buildings.
But before the world discovered cement every building would have used lime plasters, renders and mortars, all made from powdered limestone.
Lime is now a specialist product. It’s particularly important in the conservation and restoration of old and listed buildings, but it can also offer advantages to modern buildings as well.
Breathable, flexible, beautiful lime
We love working with lime. To start with lime plaster is brilliant at managing moisture. It can absorb and release moisture without cracking or failing. With a high PH, lime is also a natural fungicide, making it resistant to mould.
Lime plaster also has some flexibility. This is important if you have a house which ‘moves’ with the seasons (where the building fabric expands and contracts). With lime, the plaster can move with the building without cracking.
Lime plaster is relatively soft when set, so it can be removed fairly easily if needed for repairs or structural works without damaging the building fabric beneath.
Lastly, lime plaster and render is very beautiful; it has a unique patina and texture to it that makes it very aesthetically pleasing. You can also easily add pigments to the lime before applying it to change the colour of the plaster or render without needing to paint.
Expert knowledge, bespoke solutions
Working with lime isn’t just a trade, its a craft. Understanding the right mix, for the right building, at the right temperature, with the right humidity, is an expertise that can only be earned with time and dedication.
Our expert knowledge of lime has been honed during years of experience and experimentation. We’ve worked with lime on countless buildings, from Passivhaus new builds to Grade I listed treasures.
This breadth of work has given us an appreciation of the possibilities unlocked by carefully tailoring the mix to the building. Not only are we excellent at matching the product to the project, we’ve also created our own bespoke mixes that you can’t find anywhere else.
We can match colour, texture and rigidity exactly to your building. We also regularly work with an insulated lime product to add even more benefit to you. On top of its thermal properties, this product is also VAT free, offering cost savings to your project as well.
Our lime services
Lime Plastering
Includes all internal lime plastering work including walls, ceilings and repair and restoration of detailed architraves. We can also offer insulated lime plasters as well as internal wall insulation.
Lime Pointing
We offer a repointing service for old properties with original lime mortars. Sometimes this forms part of a wider project to strip away cement renders which are poorly suited to old buildings.
Lime Rendering
We offer whole house external lime rendering and lime wash finishes. This can form part of an External Wall Insulation project or as a stand alone service for repairs, whole walls or whole house.
Limecrete
We’re specialists in the use of limecrete as an alternative to concrete where needed for heritage/listed building projects or desired for environmental reasons.
"It was a pleasure to work with Dan and his team. Their commitment to sustainable principles and a thorough knowledge of traditional building techniques was obvious. Without doubt the best team we have experience in over 20 years of working on our listed property."
- Keynsham, Lime Rendering on a Listed Building
Selected projects
-
![Newbuild house with black cladding built to Passivhaus standard]()
Yelverton - New Build
A stunning Passivhaus standard timber-frame new build nestled in the heart of Dartmoor.
-
![Bright playroom with wooden dining table, chairs, bookshelves, colorful letters on the wall spelling 'PLAY', wall clock, map, potted plants, and child’s artwork displayed.]()
Colston Road - Retrofit
This whole-house retrofit is an exemplar of what can be achieved with an existing building.
-
![The Hutong Cafe sign on building exterior with glass awning.]()
The Hutong Cafe - Retrofit
We did an extensive retrofit on this popular Plymouth cafe and the flat above, achieving Passive House EnerPHIT standard.
-
![Modern living and dining area with exposed wooden ceiling beams, featuring a wooden dining table with chairs, a blue sectional sofa, a purple armchair, a wooden coffee table, and orange pendant lights. The open kitchen highlights orange backsplash and cabinetry. Large windows and indoor plants add brightness and greenery to the space.]()
Folleigh - Retrofit
This extensive retrofit transformed this 1950’s bungalow into a modern, low-energy and open plan home.
Ready to get started with lime plastering?
Give us a call or drop us an email to have a chat about your lime plastering. Any initial consultation or site visit is always free and no-obligation.