Cheltenham is one of the larger towns in Gloucestershire, and its older buildings were put up long before modern materials arrived — cob, rubble stone and granite make breathability non-negotiable. Our Cheltenham lime plastering team applies authentic lime plaster, external lime render and lime pointing so those walls stay dry, stable and original.
Many properties in and around Cheltenham sit within conservation areas or carry listed status, so finishes must match the original construction. We work regularly with Gloucestershire conservation officers and typically specify hot-mixed lime with coarse local aggregate, built up in generous coats.
Most of our Cheltenham work involves granite and killas rubble. In Gloucestershire that usually means cob and thatch cottages and granite farmhouses, where original lime plaster survives on lath internally and lime render or pointing protects the wall outside.
Softness is the point. Traditional Gloucestershire walling of granite and killas rubble is weaker than modern cement, so a hard mortar concentrates stress and moisture into the masonry face. Lime is deliberately the weaker material, and that is what makes it correct for Cheltenham's older homes.
We start with a free survey at the property in Cheltenham, opening up a small area where necessary to see the substrate. From there we specify the mix — usually hot-mixed lime with coarse local aggregate, built up in generous coats — and issue a written quote covering preparation, coats, curing time and finish.
From cob and thatch cottages to later solid-wall housing, here is the sort of lime plastering, render and pointing work we deliver in and around Cheltenham.
stone-built chapel conversion — Weather-facing walls of a stone-built chapel conversion taking the full force of the wet, wind-driven rain typical of the South West. We specified hot-mixed lime with coarse local aggregate, built up in generous coats, built the render up in generous coats and protected the work while it carbonated to avoid shrinkage cracking.
Regency terrace — Peeling modern masonry paint on a Regency terrace in Gloucestershire. The impermeable coating was removed, minor render defects were patched in lime, and the elevations were finished in several thin coats of limewash.
limestone rectory — A limestone rectory being brought back into use outside Cheltenham. Because cob, rubble stone and granite make breathability non-negotiable, we plastered internally in lime over a breathable insulating background and left the external stonework repointed rather than sealed.
Lime cures slowly by carbonation. Allow roughly a week per coat as a guide, and longer in the wet, wind-driven rain typical of the South West. We protect the work and control drying so the finish cures evenly rather than cracking or dusting.
External lime work is best carried out between spring and early autumn so it can carbonate before the first frosts. Internal lime plastering in Cheltenham can be done year-round with adequate heating and ventilation.
Every property is different, so we do not publish fixed prices. Cost depends on the substrate, the number of coats, access and whether failed cement has to be removed first. We survey the property in Cheltenham and provide a written, no-obligation quote.
Yes. We take samples of the surviving mortar or plaster from the cob first, then match aggregate, colour and texture so the repair blends into the original rather than patching over it.
Yes. We regularly work on listed and conservation-area properties across Gloucestershire and can supply mix specifications and sample panels for Cheltenham conservation officers where consent is required.
Our lime plastering, render and pointing teams also cover these towns and cities close to Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and the wider South West England area.
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