Do all victorian properties need lime render?
- Thread starter Dace
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D
Deleted member 292770
Some people think they do. They’ll be along shortly.
Hi,
I'm only a DIY'er, and my opinions may be wrong!
But, I would say no, not all Victorian properties do need lime render!
But as you say, it can depend a lot on the construction methods used and any mitigation measures you put in place.
I have a Victorian terrace, with rubble filled stone walls. It has cement render on the rear walls. I had a massive damp problem until I stripped off the interior gypsum plaster, and repointed the wall in lime.
Before, any moisture that got into the wall was trapped. Now it is protected by the cement render from the outside, and moisture can evaporate away from the inside.
If your walls are a good quality brick and you have a cavity, there may be little difference to rendering a contemporary brick wall.
Having said that, a Victorian property would probably benefit more from having lime render, over cement render; at worst, it won't hurt, at best it will have breathability.
Athough the work will cost more, the finish won't be as crisp and there are fewer contractors around who specialise in lime rendering.
As for finding out what walls you have, that's a whole other issue - have you drilled into the walls? Have you access to a loft space? Are there many other buildings in the area that aren't rendered? Have you asked your neighbours?
Post a picture, and we might be able to give you some ideas!
I'm only a DIY'er, and my opinions may be wrong!
But, I would say no, not all Victorian properties do need lime render!
But as you say, it can depend a lot on the construction methods used and any mitigation measures you put in place.
I have a Victorian terrace, with rubble filled stone walls. It has cement render on the rear walls. I had a massive damp problem until I stripped off the interior gypsum plaster, and repointed the wall in lime.
Before, any moisture that got into the wall was trapped. Now it is protected by the cement render from the outside, and moisture can evaporate away from the inside.
If your walls are a good quality brick and you have a cavity, there may be little difference to rendering a contemporary brick wall.
Having said that, a Victorian property would probably benefit more from having lime render, over cement render; at worst, it won't hurt, at best it will have breathability.
Athough the work will cost more, the finish won't be as crisp and there are fewer contractors around who specialise in lime rendering.
As for finding out what walls you have, that's a whole other issue - have you drilled into the walls? Have you access to a loft space? Are there many other buildings in the area that aren't rendered? Have you asked your neighbours?
Post a picture, and we might be able to give you some ideas!
It would have been built with lime but if either side has since had unbreathable coating ,paint, plaster or render then would have thought it unecessary expense making just one side breathable again.
If just inside is vapour open , moisture can't get to outside as it should in a breathable house and builds up in the fabric doing unseen damage.
RG, I would be interested to know the logic behind using expensive lime render on top of cement as to my mind it wouldn't make the wall breathable.
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Sorry, I should definitely have been clearer!
That was the wrong turn of phrase.
I didn't mean 'over the top of' - I meant over as in 'i would prefer this option "over" another option'!
Aahh! instead of ,perhaps I skipped over it to fastdidn't mean 'over the top of' - I meant over as in 'i would prefer this option "over" another option'!
The vast majority of houses that I work in are Victorian (solid 9" walls), often with red rubber bricks on the front of the house.
Over the 30+ years that I have worked in such properties I have never known of any problems when the customer has gone back to the brickwork, applied bonding and then skimmed with thistle (or whatever it is that they use). That said I am a decorator, and not a plasterer.
Over the 30+ years that I have worked in such properties I have never known of any problems when the customer has gone back to the brickwork, applied bonding and then skimmed with thistle (or whatever it is that they use). That said I am a decorator, and not a plasterer.
D
Deleted member 292770
but generally , you are correct.
They'll tell you what's what - but want pictures.
D
Deleted member 292770
and what to do, but not how to do it.
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Ah thanks all, I can upload pictures of cracked render, but how does that help? No images show what the walls made of, ill ask a neighbour.
Im confused though, theres no point in using breathable lime on just one side? I thought that lime was just used in render though and not plastering inside?
Secondly when reasearchign this I found that plenty of renderers have no experience with lime and in a couple cases used half measures, just adding a small portion of lime when you were supposed to use a specific and majority of "lime"; I dont understand anything chemically about materials or the rendering process so I worry I could easily get scammed. How do i test potential renderers and make sure I choose someone that really understand the point of the lime's utilisation?
Thanks!
Im confused though, theres no point in using breathable lime on just one side? I thought that lime was just used in render though and not plastering inside?
Secondly when reasearchign this I found that plenty of renderers have no experience with lime and in a couple cases used half measures, just adding a small portion of lime when you were supposed to use a specific and majority of "lime"; I dont understand anything chemically about materials or the rendering process so I worry I could easily get scammed. How do i test potential renderers and make sure I choose someone that really understand the point of the lime's utilisation?
Thanks!
Find a specialist
Look up the plasterers guild you will see a list of plasterers and what they specialise in
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okay, so any decent plasterer should be registered there then?
http://www.traditionalplasterersguild.co.uk/
Wait, there are 10 [peoples name there pmsl, I was expecting thousands!!
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