Lime Rendering
Lime Rendering in Swindon and Wiltshire
Lime render protects old walls while letting them breathe. It is the traditional finish for rubble stone, cob, chalk and many timber-framed and brick buildings, and it is the answer when cement render has cracked, trapped damp and started to damage the wall behind it.
At Limeway Wiltshire we remove failed cement render and apply lime render by hand, in traditional coats, on houses, cottages and gable ends across Swindon, Wiltshire and the neighbouring counties.
What Is Lime Rendering?
Lime render is a coating of lime and sand, sometimes with added hair or fibre, applied to the outside of a wall in several coats. It sheds most of the rain that hits it, but it is porous, so any moisture that does get into the wall can evaporate back out. It is also slightly flexible, so it copes with the small movements old buildings make through the seasons.
Cement render works the opposite way. It is hard and waterproof on the surface, but it cracks as the building moves, lets water in through the cracks and then stops it drying out. Replacing it with lime is one of the most effective repairs you can make to a damp old building.
Signs Your Render Needs Attention
- Cracked, hollow-sounding or bulging cement render
- Render coming away from the wall in patches
- Damp or mould inside, behind rendered walls
- Staining or salts on the surface
- Old lime render that has eroded or been patched in cement
How We Lime Render
- Removing the old render. Failed or cement render is carefully taken off, and loose material is cleaned from the wall.
- Repairing the wall. Masonry is rebuilt where needed, whether brick, stone or chalk, and hollows are filled.
- Dubbing out. Uneven areas are levelled in lime, following the natural lines of the building.
- Scratch coat. The first coat is applied and scored to give a key for the next.
- Top coat. The finishing coat is applied and finished to suit the building, from smooth to lightly textured.
- Curing and finishing. Each coat is protected from sun, wind, rain and frost as it cures, and the render can be finished with limewash.
Related Projects
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you render over cement render?
No. Lime render needs to bond to the wall itself and let it breathe, so failed cement render has to come off first.
How long does lime render take to cure?
Each coat needs several days to firm up before the next, and the render keeps curing for weeks afterwards. We protect it throughout, which is why timing and weather matter.
Can lime render be painted?
Yes, but it should be finished with limewash or a breathable mineral paint. Modern masonry paints seal the surface and undo the benefit of the lime.
Will lime render cure my damp?
Where damp is caused by cement render trapping moisture, replacing it with lime usually makes a big difference, as the wall can finally dry out. We will always look at other causes too, such as gutters, ground levels and leaks.
Areas We Cover
We carry out lime rendering throughout Swindon and Wiltshire, including Marlborough, Chippenham, Devizes, Malmesbury and Cirencester. See all the areas we cover, or get in touch for a quote.
