Could I please have some opinions please.
What would be the best approach to refinishing the downstairs internal walls in a 200 year old stone built cottage. The current 'plasterwork' is in a varied state from solid through to very hollow sounding/ loose.
About a year ago the upstairs rooms were hacked back to the stone where necessary (50% of the area) also crumbling away several inches of the very soft grey ash like mortar. These walls were rendered in a few stages with a sand/cement/waterproofer then plastered. They have a good solid feel however several fine but long cracks have spread across several areas. This doesn't surprise me and I would put it down to either/both the drying out of a thick render layer and the unflexability of the cement mix.
My current thoughts are:
1) The same again and fill cracks as they appear (But will they keep apearing forever???)
2) Some form of lime render prior to plaster?
3) Provide a structurally strong finish? with the cement render then dot n dab boards & skim?
My concerns are that board may hide future damp evidence/problems and
anything other than a cement pointing/rendering may not give sufficient strength to 'hold the stone together '.
What would be the best approach to refinishing the downstairs internal walls in a 200 year old stone built cottage. The current 'plasterwork' is in a varied state from solid through to very hollow sounding/ loose.
About a year ago the upstairs rooms were hacked back to the stone where necessary (50% of the area) also crumbling away several inches of the very soft grey ash like mortar. These walls were rendered in a few stages with a sand/cement/waterproofer then plastered. They have a good solid feel however several fine but long cracks have spread across several areas. This doesn't surprise me and I would put it down to either/both the drying out of a thick render layer and the unflexability of the cement mix.
My current thoughts are:
1) The same again and fill cracks as they appear (But will they keep apearing forever???)
2) Some form of lime render prior to plaster?
3) Provide a structurally strong finish? with the cement render then dot n dab boards & skim?
My concerns are that board may hide future damp evidence/problems and
anything other than a cement pointing/rendering may not give sufficient strength to 'hold the stone together '.