What is lime plastering?
Lime plaster is the traditional internal wall finish used in almost every British building constructed before the 1930s. It is made from lime, well-graded sand and — in older work — animal hair, applied in successive coats over masonry or timber laths. Unlike modern gypsum plaster, lime plaster is vapour-open: moisture in the wall can pass through it and evaporate harmlessly, rather than being trapped against the building fabric.
That single property — breathability — is why lime matters. Solid-wall houses, stone cottages, chapels and farmhouses were built without cavities or damp-proof courses. They manage moisture by letting it move. Replace their lime finishes with gypsum or cement and the wall stops breathing; damp, salt damage and decayed timber usually follow.
Our lime plastering service
- Three-coat lime plastering (scratch, float and set) on masonry and stone
- Haired lime plaster on riven or sawn timber lath, matching original ceilings and studwork
- Repairs and patching of failing or blown lime plaster, keeping as much original material as possible
- Insulating lime plasters and cork-lime systems for breathable thermal upgrades
- Removal of unsuitable gypsum or cement finishes and reinstatement in lime
- Limewash and breathable mineral paint finishes
Lime plaster for walls: how we work
Every job starts with the wall, not the bag of material. We identify the substrate — rubble stone, brick, cob, lath — and how it has been treated over the years. Old cement patches, PVA, and modern paints all affect adhesion and breathability, so preparation often matters more than the plastering itself.
Mixes are chosen to suit the background: feebly or moderately hydraulic lime (NHL 2 or 3.5) where conditions demand it, or fat lime putty with hair for conservation work and lath. Each coat is left to carbonate properly before the next goes on — lime rewards patience, and we do not rush it. The finish can be a fine polished set, an open-textured float finish, or a softer, slightly undulating surface that suits a 300-year-old cottage far better than a laser-flat modern skim.
When lime plaster is the right choice
- Any solid-wall property built before c. 1930
- Listed buildings, where like-for-like repair is usually a consent condition
- Stone, cob and timber-frame buildings that must stay vapour-open
- Rooms with a history of damp where cement or gypsum has failed
- New work — lime clay and breathable finishes are increasingly chosen for healthy-home new builds and extensions
Where we work
We are based near Newport and carry out lime plastering across South Wales and the West Country — including Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Abergavenny, Hereford, Gloucester, Bristol and Swansea. For the right building we will travel further; get in touch and tell us about the project.