Traditional Lime Plastering

We work with natural lime plaster here at Stuccolux. Lime plaster is a type of plaster composed of sand, water, and lime, usually non-hydraulic hydrated lime. Ancient lime plaster often contained horse hair for reinforcement and pozzolan additives to reduce the working time.

Why should you commission us to use lime in your next project? Because it is an incredible product. Let us tell you why we love it...

Benefits of lime plaster

Breathable

Breathability is essential in older properties, and properties built using traditional materials and methods. It helps to preserve the structure of the building, reduce damp and create a healthier living environment inside.

Durable

Its flexibility and elasticity allows for the inevitable movement of structures, reducing shrinkage and cracking.

Vapour permeable

Alllows buildings to breathe, so that when moisture forms it can escape.

Strong

Lime surfaces and materials can become stronger over time through the formation of calcite crystals that form in lime-rich environments.

Humidity control 

Lime can remove moisture from the air when there’s too much, and release it back when the air gets too dry, all of which makes for healthier and more pleasant living conditions. This helps to reduce condensation problems and regulate humidity.

Environmentally friendly

The plasters are natural, they allow for the recovery and reuse of building materials, and they re-absorb carbon dioxide as they cure.

The right material for the job

Traditional plasters provide an attractive and appropriate finish for heritage properties – and one that has been proven to last! Lime plaster offers advantages over cement based mortars and gypsum plasters for the lime plastering of traditional properties. 

The history of lime plaster

Before the twentieth century building techniques and materials were very different from those employed today. Traditional properties need to "breathe" to allow moisture inherent in a solid wall construction to evaporate from external stonework or render. Lime Putty was the base product widely used to produce mortar, plaster and limewash for traditional buildings. Lime putty mortars offer advantages over cement based mortars for external rendering of these properties, especially when decorated with a breathable paint such as limewash. 

In contrast to these breathable lime materials, too many traditional buildings are repaired and renovated using harder and impermeable materials designed for modern buildings of completely different construction methods. The result of this is often worse damp problems. 

Stuccolux Lime Plaster Projects

 

Get in touch to discuss your lime project today.