Bournemouth property owners come to us when a modern finish has failed. Cement render and gypsum plaster trap moisture inside cob, and in the wet, wind-driven rain typical of the South West that shows up as damp patches, salt blooming and rotting timbers. We put it right with breathable lime across Dorset.
Bournemouth's building stock reflects the history of South West England, and cob, rubble stone and granite make breathability non-negotiable. Applying gypsum or cement to these walls traps moisture; lime lets it evaporate freely, protecting the fabric of the building for decades.
Around Bournemouth you will find cob and thatch cottages alongside later Georgian and Regency terraces. Both were built with lime, and both suffer when a modern impermeable finish is applied over the top — the moisture has to go somewhere, and it goes into the masonry and the timbers.
Solid-wall buildings in Bournemouth were designed to absorb and release moisture. Lime keeps that cycle working; cement seals it in. That single difference explains why so many Dorset homes develop damp after a modern refurbishment.
Every Bournemouth job begins with diagnosis: identifying where moisture is entering before any plaster goes on. We then remove failed material, prepare the cob, and build the lime up in coats, allowing each one to cure before the next.
Because cob, rubble stone and granite make breathability non-negotiable, Bournemouth throws up a particular set of problems. These are representative examples of how we resolve them in lime.
cob and thatch cottage — Cracked and cement-patched panels on a cob and thatch cottage in Dorset. Failed infill was cut out, laths and staves renewed where rotten, and the panels made good in haired lime so the frame can move without splitting the finish.
Regency terrace — Owners of a Regency terrace in Dorset wanted warmer rooms without sealing the walls. We installed a woodfibre or cork-lime background and finished in lime plaster, improving comfort while keeping the wall vapour-open.
harbourside fisherman's cottage — Blown gypsum plaster and tide marks on the ground floor of a harbourside fisherman's cottage in Dorset. We hacked off the gypsum, applied a haired lime base coat and a lime putty finish, and specified clay paint so the wall could keep drying.
Yes. We regularly work on listed and conservation-area properties across Dorset and can supply mix specifications and sample panels for Bournemouth conservation officers where consent is required.
Yes — stripping failed cement render and replacing it with a breathable lime render is one of the most common jobs we carry out in Bournemouth. It is usually the fastest way to resolve persistent damp in a solid-wall building.
External lime work is best carried out between spring and early autumn so it can carbonate before the first frosts. Internal lime plastering in Bournemouth can be done year-round with adequate heating and ventilation.
Our lime plastering, render and pointing teams also cover these towns and cities close to Bournemouth in Dorset and the wider South West England area.
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