Our Specialisms
Lime Plasterers
London
Breathable, authentic lime plastering for heritage buildings, listed properties and conservation projects — using time-honoured techniques and conservation-led specification.
What is Lime Plastering?
Lime plastering is the traditional method of finishing internal and external walls using plaster made from naturally calcined limestone. Architects and conservation officers regularly call on us for lime plastering in listed buildings and conservation areas. Unlike modern gypsum or cement, lime is breathable — it allows moisture to pass through walls rather than trapping it, which is essential for the long-term health of historic masonry.
Used continuously for thousands of years, lime plaster provides a living, flexible finish that moves subtly with the building — preventing the cracking and damp damage that occurs when rigid modern materials are applied to old structures.
For listed buildings and properties built before 1920, lime plastering is not simply a preference — it is often a conservation requirement, and always the most sympathetic choice.
Why It Matters for Heritage Buildings
- Prevents moisture entrapment that leads to damp and structural damage
- Sympathetic to the natural movement of old masonry and timber
- Required by many conservation officers and listed building consents
- Self-healing micro-cracks through carbonation over time
- Authentic visual and tactile character impossible to replicate with modern plaster
- Environmentally lower-impact than cement-based alternatives
Our Lime Plastering Process
Every project begins with a thorough assessment of the substrate and existing fabric. We work closely with architects, conservation officers, and main contractors to select the correct specification.
Assessment
Survey of existing fabric, moisture readings, and specification discussion with project team.
Specification
Selection of lime type, aggregate, and mix ratios appropriate to the substrate and conservation requirement.
Application
Multi-coat application — scratch coat, float coat, and finishing coat — allowing each to cure properly between coats.
Completion
Final inspection, snag resolution, and handover documentation. We remain available for aftercare advice.
Lime Plastering for Listed Buildings & Period Properties
Many of London's most desirable addresses — in Chelsea, Kensington, Belgravia, and Mayfair — sit within conservation areas or carry listed building status. For these properties, lime plastering isn't a stylistic choice; it's frequently a condition of listed building consent, and always the technically correct approach for solid masonry walls built before the 1920s.
We work directly with conservation officers, heritage consultants, and architects to specify the right lime mix — matching aggregate, binder ratio, and finish texture to the building's original fabric and the requirements of the local planning authority.
Beyond compliance, correctly specified lime plaster is what actually protects a period building's long-term fabric — allowing walls to breathe and preventing the trapped moisture that causes timber decay and structural damage behind rigid modern renders and plasters.
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A three-year heritage restoration across 11 luxury apartments — lime and fibrous plastering at scale.
View case studyFrequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions we hear from clients, architects, and designers.
In most cases, yes — listed building consent for internal works on pre-1920s solid-wall properties typically requires lime plaster rather than modern gypsum, since it allows the wall to breathe. We can advise on the specific requirement for your property and liaise with conservation officers where needed.
Get in Touch
Discuss Your Project
Whether you're working on a listed building, a period property, or a new development requiring authentic lime finishes — we'd welcome the conversation.
Request a Consultation