Traditional Lime Plastering
& Rendering
Specialist Breathable & Architectural Wall Finishes in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds
Historic and period properties require an approach to maintenance and decoration. Unlike modern buildings, solid stone and traditional brick structures rely on the natural movement of air and moisture to stay dry and structurally sound.
Lime works with nature not against it, as a natural material, to manage moisture.
At Hughes Heritage, we combine our extensive on-site experience with advanced training from industry leaders Carrington Lime to deliver scientifically backed, fully breathable plastering and rendering solutions. Whether you are restoring an ancient ceiling or looking for a luxury, eco-friendly interior finish, we provide a premium service tailored to your property’s unique fabric.
Internal Lime Plastering
All properties needs materials that handle moisture seamlessly while accommodating the natural movement of a structure.
Multi-Coat Internal Plastering: We apply two-coat and three-coat lime plastering systems directly to masonry or timber. This ensures a flexible, durable finish that moves naturally with your building, eliminating the cracking associated with rigid modern gypsum boards.
Historic Lath & Plaster Repair: We specialize in the careful consolidation, stabilization, and sympathetic repair of original timber lath and plaster ceilings and walls, preserving as much fabric as possible.
Traditional Fibre Reinforcements: To ensure strength and longevity, we follow traditions by binding our backing coats with natural materials, animal hair (horse or goat hair), and plant fibres (milled hemp or cardoon fibres)
Wood Wool and Wood Wibre Board: Where appropriate and permitted (typically on unlisted period properties, retrofits, or new extensions), we install breathable wood wool boards as a high-performance alternative to traditional timber lath. These boards provide an exceptional mechanical key for lime plaster while adding thermal and acoustic insulation to the room.
External Lime Rendering
Exterior walls bear the brunt of the weather, requiring robust protection that doesn't trap moisture within the structural masonry.
Weather-Resistant Rendering: Our exterior rendering services protect your home from severe Cotswold weathering. We offer beautifully textured or smooth finishes using high-quality hydraulic and non-hydraulic limes that allow the building to breathe.
Breathable Mineral Paints & Washes: To ensure the exterior coat remains entirely vapor-permeable, we finish our render with mineral paints and traditional lime washes that age gracefully.
Insulated Lime Plasters
Insulated Lime Plasters can improve the U value of a solid wall by around 40% to 60%.
Solid stone properties are notorious for feeling cold and drafty in the winter, but installing modern, synthetic insulation boards traps moisture and causes severe structural rot. We provide a highly effective, heritage-approved solution: Insulated Lime Plastering
Space Saving: Insulated Lime Plasters can be applied directly to the wall, without the need for boards or framing, improving insulation, without compromising internal space, or wasting unecessary additional material.
Damp Reduction: Moisture can still escape naturally, giving you a warmer, healthier home without the risk of trapped damp or mold.
Damp Manegment Solutions
Moisture is the biggest threat to historic and period properties. Modern damp-proofing methods often rely on sealing moisture in, which inevitably pushes the problem elsewhere. We provide breathable, permanent solutions that work with your building's natural fabric.
Eradicating Mould at the Source: By utilizing vapor-permeable lime, we allow trapped moisture to escape naturally. This permanent ventilation eliminates the humid conditions required for black mould to grow, creating a healthier living environment.
Breathable Fabric Recovery: We carefully remove non-breathable gypsum or cement that is trapping water against your masonry, allowing the stone or brickwork to finally dry out and recover its structural integrity.
Managing Natural Movement: Older solid stone properties draw moisture naturally from the ground. Our traditional lime systems accommodate this natural capillary action, ensuring walls remain dry to the touch without trapping hydrostatic pressure behind waterproof membranes.
Woodfibre Insulation Systems
External Wall Insulation (EWI) & Internal Wall Insulation ( IWI )
Woodfibre board are fixed directly to masonry or timbre frames, finished with a breathable lime or silicon system.
This can also be used as Roof and Floor insulation
Benifits of woodfibre board
Heat Absorption: Thermal mass absorbs and releases heat slowly, keeping building warm in winter and cool in summer.
Vapor permeability: Moisture is allowed to pass through safeley, protecting structures from damp and mold.
Eco friendly, and acoustic performance.
Lime Plastering for Modern & New Build Properties
While lime is essential for historic homes, it is increasingly specified in modern architecture and premium new builds. Utilizing lime plaster over standard gypsum offers massive structural, environmental, and health advantages.
Flexibility & Crack Resistance: New build homes undergo a natural period of settlement as structural materials dry out, usually resulting in unsightly hairline cracks across standard plasterboard. Lime plaster is inherently flexible, allowing it to absorb micro-movements without cracking.
Condensation & Mold Prevention: Modern builds are highly insulated and tightly sealed, which can trap stale air and humidity. Lime plaster is naturally vapor-permeable, acting as a humidity regulator that absorbs excess airborne moisture and releases it safely when the room dries, preventing toxic mold growth.
A Healthier Living Environment: Lime has a naturally high pH level, making it fundamentally antibacterial, antifungal, and resistant to dust mites. It contains zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) or synthetic chemicals, vastly improving indoor air quality for families and allergy sufferers.
Eco-Friendly & Low Carbon Footprint: The production of lime requires lower firing temperatures than standard cement, and during its curing process, lime plaster actually re-absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It is entirely non-toxic and fully biodegradable.
Premium Organic Aesthetic: Modern gypsum plaster dries flat, lifeless, and cold. Lime plaster offers a soft, subtly textured, ligh.t-reverberating finish that brings an undeniable element of warmth and luxury to contemporary spaces