The main reason that lime render fails is that it is painted with unbreathable paint. This causes lime render to fail because it traps the moisture and cannot allow it to get out. The lime render has to be painted with lime wash – a breathable paint. When moisture is trapped between the render and...Read More

The addition of cement to lime mortars is a widespread, almost traditional practice, but few consider why it is done or the consequences. There is also confusion over the substances and chemistry involved. Non hydraulic lime hardens by a slow process of carbonation, reacting with atmospheric carbon dioxide over a period of weeks. Hydraulic limes and...Read More

We get many enquiries to apply lime render to a property, however when asked why they want us to apply lime render to their property? The response is normally “because this is what I have been told”. The reason lime render is normally applied has a lot to do with the brick mortar behind the...Read More

Lime is used to refer to a variety of products made from limestone and chalk (both forms of calcium carbonate). In the context of building conservation, the term is most commonly applied to types of binder used in render and mortar by burning limestone or chalk to make quicklime and then slaking this with water....Read More

Limewash is a traditional interior and exterior finish for many stone and brick buildings, applied either directly to the masonry surface or, more commonly, to a coating of lime plaster, render or harling. As a vapour permeable material, limewash is the most effective and appropriate finish available for traditional buildings: it is also the most beautiful....Read More

In this article, we will introduce the various types of lime available to builders. 1. Non-hydraulic Lime Putty (Fat Limes) Many traditional limes were non-hydraulic as is most modern lime putty that become set/ dry by reacting with carbon dioxide gas in moisture conditions. A non-hydraulic lime mortar is soft, porous, permeable and plastic. They...Read More