Our lime plasterers cover Chippenham and the surrounding South West England area, working exclusively in traditional lime. From cob and thatch cottages in the older parts of Chippenham to farm buildings out in Wiltshire, we survey the substrate first and then build the correct coats in lime.
Many properties in and around Chippenham sit within conservation areas or carry listed status, so finishes must match the original construction. We work regularly with Wiltshire conservation officers and typically specify hot-mixed lime with coarse local aggregate, built up in generous coats.
Most of our Chippenham work involves cob. In Wiltshire 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 Wiltshire walling of cob 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 Chippenham's older homes.
We start with a free survey at the property in Chippenham, 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 Chippenham.
granite farmhouse — Weather-facing walls of a granite farmhouse 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.
limestone rectory — Sagging original ceilings in a limestone rectory near the centre of Chippenham. Sound laths were retained and re-keyed, missing sections re-lathed in riven timber, and the ceiling made good with haired lime plaster to match the surviving profile.
harbourside fisherman's cottage — Eroding masonry faces on a harbourside fisherman's cottage in Chippenham caused by hard cement pointing. We raked out by hand to the correct depth and repointed in a soft lime mortar matched to the original aggregate and colour of the cob.
We do. Chippenham is one of our core areas and we travel throughout Wiltshire and the surrounding parts of South West England for lime plastering, lime render, lime pointing and heritage repair.
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.
Yes — stripping failed cement render and replacing it with a breathable lime render is one of the most common jobs we carry out in Chippenham. It is usually the fastest way to resolve persistent damp in a solid-wall building.
Our lime plastering, render and pointing teams also cover these towns and cities close to Chippenham in Wiltshire and the wider South West England area.
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