Recent content by Martin Brown

Looks straight forward, we regularly supply for over setting 500 year old earth plaster ceilings that would normally be condemned. Limecote in two tight passes, will polish up and tighten like a drum! Anybody wants to try some let me know. Happy to send out samples.

The three black areas on the face of the render, under the tiles, toward the gutter, suggest to me that water is either running through a gap, or tracking around. There also appear to be cracks nearby. The problem with a cement render, especially on porous soft red bricks, is that any moisture...

Hi, I’d say the best option would be restored brickwork, but it may have been covered for a reason and the brickwork may have been scutched (keyed) when the render was applied. Limewash is an ok option, great from a breathability point of view, but if the brickwork looks tatty, the limewash...

Absolute no to both, so that’s two less quotes to worry about. PVA forms a vapour barrier, therefore stops breathability. Cement same. There are plenty of ways of ensuring a sound background and control suction without resorting to glue. A good lime plaster should set with plenty enough...

Hi Jackbracks, The biggest headache with the ‘traditional’ lime putty/sand approach is the issue of carbonation, the absorption of CO2 that gives the plaster setting strength. This is totally separate to drying out, so you need control of suction, not letting the plaster dry too quickly. Old...

Ring is next time Ritch, it’s not a dark art, it’s spreading gear up the wall! We like speedskims, plaxiflex and time served plasters that haven’t done lime!

Modern lime putty is industrially pure (very high free line content) and I think it’s safe to say that historically that wasn’t the case. If you look at a Victorian OS map, you’ll find lime kilns everywhere, really everywhere, like four in a small town. The setting speed and cured strength, as...

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Or us, Haverhill based.

Hi Joe, I’ll attempt your questions in order. Firstly, there isn’t a ‘true’ lime plaster mix, historically there are lots of mixes, it’s about finding the appropriate one for the purpose. Plaster mixes fit for use in a Victorian building are the most commonly available, the standard being three...

I think your customer is being a bit unreasonable, you’d generally only use lime because you want a breathable system, but breathability equals moisture movement and that sounds like a bad idea in a cellar with a carpet. If you’ve really no option, then try NHL5, with a fine sand about 1:2, not...

Thank you Joe, very kind, glad you liked them

Hi Nick, that’s a difficult one. If you want a breathable floor system, you need to remove the cement. Limecrete floors are commonly used, they can be installed with insulation and with UFH systems. Track down Myles Yallop at The Limecrete Company near Norwich.

Hi Simmonz, this seems like a good moment to introduce myself. I've been involved with lime plasters, renders and mortars for about 20 years, as well as building conservation, breathable paints and breathable EWI systems. Lime should really be used on anything pre-cavity (1920ish)as it allows...