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Lime Render

This picture (left) is of an oak framed house with brick infill panels, that has been very poorly repaired using little knowledge or the skill required to carry out the restoration work.

 

You can see that the builder has used modern bricks to the infill panels and has also used a cement mortar mix.

 

You can also see the modern cement render that the builder has used to render the external wall. This has retained moisture in the wall masonry allowing damp and rot to set in.

 

The restoration work to this house requires specialised oak frame repair skills and materials, hand made bricks, lime mortar and three coat lime render work to the external wall.

Period houses were traditionally rendered in lime render for a very good reason. Lime render is permeable which allows any moisture in the wall to pass through the lime render which in turn allows the wall to ‘breathe’. Modern cement rich rendering is impervious and prevents the masonry wall from breathing allowing moisture to get trapped behind the cement rendering causing damp to the inside wall. This then can go on to cause rot to set into the timbers, stone or masonry wall.                                                                        

Lime rendering relies on good background preparation work and the dubbing out of all damaged joints. The first coat is done by casting or harling a suction bond and then mechanical keying is used which allows the lime render to adhere to the two subsequent coats. 

Lime render is the only render that should be used on listed buildings restoration or renovation projects, because of its durability, elasticity and vapour exchange capabilities.

Lime render can be used on the following backgrounds

Cob                              Earth                            Stone

Wooden lath                Soft bricks                    Porous blocks

Medium brick               Dense bricks                 Dense stone

 L.Packer builders of Leamington Spa are committed to offering high quality service and  workmanship in specialised listed building and period house restoration work.

les@lpackerbuilders.co.uk

Tel : 01926 426242 Mobile : 07980 199963

written quotations       All work guaranteed

Quality Assured                 

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