Lime/hemp plaster

[bubbles65]

Anyone ever done it?

 

[bubbles65]

No-one?

 

[DannyMac]

Yes, I was going to start a thread on this too though because i have limited experience and want to know more about it.

I have only done around 150m2 onto woodwool boards on ceilings and it was a pig to mix and spread.

I have over a thousand metres of it coming up soon :RpS_scared:

 

[bubbles65]

Lol.............them woodwool boards are 'rather awful' to work on aren't they - especially ceilings :RpS_scared:

Not that experienced meself with it to be truthful, but I enjoy the challenge, and the change. This lime/hemp combination comes up quite nice when you trowel it up, looks a bit like chipboard, quite an 'earthy' finish to it.

 

[Jace]

sounds like and interesting material to work with, the only odd thing ive really done on a ceilin it rendering onto eml with only building paper and mf bars behind it:RpS_cursing: messy s**t

 

[DannyMac]

Yeah we were using the medium grade stuff which had stems in it the size of my little finger. When the trowel skips over one of them it gets interesting.

One of the problems we had was it had to go on over 10mm thick, but put it on too thick then you get an area drop and it isn't easy to patch back up when the board is wet. The woodwool boards have no suction....it's all mechanical key.

Where abouts are you based bubbles?

 

[bubbles65]

I'm in West Cumbria Danny :RpS_thumbup:

 

[DannyMac]

Have you used it over bad walls, if so can you build it up quickly or do you have to let the scratch completely dry? (1mm a day isn't it)

Do you just wet the walls and is there a way of edging it without it dragging all over.

I was considering using one of those I sections when it has dried a bit.

So many questions and i have loads more....:RpS_biggrin:

 

[bubbles65]

Yeah, the place I'm on is very old walls which have been built out 70mm overall!!! It's being used for it's insulation properties with a product called 'Silverlite' which is used as a replacement for the sand as it's very light and has excellent U values apparently. I think it's a kind of volcanic ash, I'll see what I can find for you cos the suppliers ain't too far from you :RpS_thumbup:

 

[mayti]

yes i have used hemp and run courses on it what questions do you have be glad to help

 

[bubbles65]

Are you ELM?

 

[mayti]

?
what

 

[bubbles65]

I wondered if you were the guy who was supplying this job I'm on - in West Cumbria?

 

[DannyMac]

This is the stuff I have been using Products : Mortars & Plasters : Ty-Mawr Lime Hemp Plaster | Tw-Mawr lime and green building products

Alreet Mayti, could you answer a few of my questions above please?

 

[mayti]

yes ty mawr is where i have been running courses

 

[mayti]

stone work needs to be damped down ,you can build out thick but this will take a long time to dry out dont play with it when its wet ,once you lay it on flaten over once then leave to dry ,normaly i come back the next day trowel in with little water depending on how smooth finnish you require you need to let it pick up to quite a hard setting for fine finnish ,a lot depends on what your client wants ,if applying a lime putty finish over the top the hemp must be cured propoerly ,if you dont then can get resin bleeding through to your finish

 

[mayti]

no wouldnt use a staiaght edge as to much tearing from fibers try to lay it flats as possible ,you can put a floating coat of lime morter over scratch if you require staight walls most important thing let each coat cure properly ,a light wetting for following coats .it is a very flexible material very good for old ceiling with movement in

 

[DannyMac]

Thanks, the client wants a finish just with the medium hemp. We achieved this on the ceiling by closing it in gently on day one with a spatula, then using a little water and trowel on day two.

If the wall really needs building out in places how would you go about this? Dub it out where needed, scratch and leave it a few days?

 

[mayti]

yes i would although you can get a course hemp for filling big dub outs ,

 

[mayti]

it is a very physical material to apply, very painful in your eyes ,needs to be mixed for at least 30 min in mixer for best results gently adding water depending on how fresh your material is

 

[DannyMac]

you can put a floating coat of lime morter over scratch if you require staight walls most important thing let each coat cure properly

Do you mean a scratch coat of sand and cement, then an inch or so of the lime hemp?

The property is a big old house about 300 years old and some of the walls are in quite a bad state.

I have been given a number to call to speak to a Mr Ireland down at your place. Are you him?

 

[DannyMac]

it is a very physical material to apply,

Haha you're not kidding, I'll be buying an 11" trowel when I go back to do the next bit.

 

[bubbles65]

:RpS_laugh: What trowel you using atm?

 

[bubbles65]

it is a very physical material to apply, very painful in your eyes ,needs to be mixed for at least 30 min in mixer for best results gently adding water depending on how fresh your material is

Do you mix it up dry before adding any water?

 

[DannyMac]

:RpS_laugh: What trowel you using atm?

I was using a 14" and some of the ceilings were 30+ m2......I was aching a little:razz:

 

[mayti]

no scatch coat of hemp is the same principals has lime mortar no cement as this wii not let your wall breath, no im not mr ireland although he will be very helpful to you ,am self employed and hired in by ty mawr for lime and hemp mortar courses ,they will give you as much help as they can .last big job i done went right through all rooms just scratching in hemp mortar took about a month .then went back around following same route for finishing coat

 

[mayti]

Do you mix it up dry before adding any water?

add some water about 1/4 bucket to start small mixer about half to 3/4 in big mixer

 

[bubbles65]

What mix would you use for finishing coat?

 

[mayti]

What mix would you use for finishing coat?

for more smoother finish can get fine hemp or you can finish with lime putty more rustic look medium hemp ,you can trowel again days after then you will get a smoother closer finish

 

[DannyMac]

no scatch coat of hemp is the same principals has lime mortar no cement as this wii not let your wall breath, no im not mr ireland although he will be very helpful to you ,am self employed and hired in by ty mawr for lime and hemp mortar courses ,they will give you as much help as they can .last big job i done went right through all rooms just scratching in hemp mortar took about a month .then went back around following same route for finishing coat

How much are your courses mate and how long are they?

Do you freehand exterior angles with a queenie?

 

[mayti]

what i do with my clients is show them some different finishes smooth , rustic etc let them pick what they like and also what type of building your in ,hemp can be shaped well around corners to form your own angles ,

 

[mayti]

there is a one day course and a two day course have look on website for price last yr £120 per day

 

[bubbles65]

using this in the finish coat

 

[bubbles65]

and this is the finish after the second day

 

[DannyMac]

Thanks for replies mate, you've helped loads already. I've been reading on here about plastic trowels, they seem quite highly regarded. Have you used one on this material, my thoughts were that they might work quite well for closing in on day one and finishing after. Like this refina plastic trowels and plastering equipment