Lime plastering
Lime Plastering in Bath
Breathable, lime-based plastering for older properties, Bath stone homes and solid walls, where a dense modern finish isn't the right answer.
The problem
Older Walls and Modern Plaster
- A solid stone or brick wall with no cavity behind the plaster
- Modern gypsum plaster blowing or coming away from an older wall
- Patches that keep marking or staining through the paint
- Salting or crumbling on a wall that was skimmed a few years ago
- A period property where a dense, sealed finish feels like the wrong answer
A lot of houses around Bath are built from solid stone or brick and were originally finished in lime. Those walls were designed to take up moisture and let it go again. Seal one up with a dense modern plaster and the moisture tends to find somewhere else to come out.
The options
Which Finish Suits the Wall
Lime isn't automatically right just because a house is old. It depends on the background, its condition and what the room is used for.
Lime-based breathable plaster
Systems such as Breathaplasta, which we have used on a Victorian property nearby. A lime-based, breathable finish suited to solid walls and traditional backgrounds where you want the wall to keep handling moisture rather than be sealed.
Traditional coats on lath
On older lath backgrounds, coats built up in a way that stays compatible with what is already there — rather than a hard finish over a soft background, which is where a lot of failed repairs come from.
Standard plaster where it suits
Plenty of rooms in older houses have been altered, boarded or built in modern materials, and an ordinary skim finish is perfectly appropriate. We won't sell you lime where it isn't needed — see our plastering services.
How we work
How We Approach a Lime Job
Older walls reward patience. The programme is built around drying times rather than against them.
- 01
Look at the background
We check what the wall is actually built from and how the existing plaster is behaving before recommending lime or anything else.
- 02
Strip and prepare
Failed plaster comes off, the background is cleaned back and any loose material dealt with so the new coats have something sound to key to.
- 03
Build the coats
Lime-based coats built up and given the time they need between them, rather than rushed to get off site.
- 04
Finish and advise
Finished to a flat surface, with straight advice on drying times and what to decorate it with.
A real job
Breathable Lime Plastering in a Victorian Property
On a Victorian property we applied two coats of Breathaplasta to the walls, leaving a breathable plaster finish ready for the next stage of decoration.
Whether a breathable system is right for any particular wall depends on the background and its condition, which is why we always look before quoting.
Questions
Lime plastering questions
How do I know if my walls need lime rather than gypsum?+
It comes down to the background. Solid stone or brick walls with no cavity, older lime backgrounds and buildings that have always been finished in lime are usually better kept breathable. We look at what's there before recommending anything.
Is lime plaster more expensive?+
It generally takes longer and the materials cost more, so yes, usually. Whether it's worth it depends on the wall — on the right building it lasts, and on the wrong one a dense modern finish can cause problems later.
How long does lime plaster take to dry?+
Longer than gypsum, and it shouldn't be rushed or force-dried. We'll tell you realistically how long to leave it before decorating, and what paint is suitable.
Can lime plaster fix damp?+
No. A breathable finish lets a wall handle moisture more sympathetically, but it isn't a cure for a leaking gutter, failed pointing, a plumbing leak or ground water. Those have to be dealt with first, whatever plaster goes on afterwards.
Do you work on listed buildings?+
We do work on older and traditionally built properties. Where a property is listed or in a conservation area, any required consents are the owner's responsibility and we'll work to what has been agreed.
Related services
- Plastering services in Bath
Walls, ceilings, skimming and full renovation plastering.
- Cold walls and condensation
Why solid walls run cold and what can be done about it.
- Cork insulation in Bath
A thin, breathable insulating coat for solid walls.
Request a quote
Get a Lime Plastering Quote in Bath
Send photos of the walls and your postcode through the quote form. Tell us roughly how old the property is and we'll advise on the right finish.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 07437 217926.
Or send photos with the quote form