Damp, blown plaster and failing render are common complaints in Newquay's older housing. Because so much of it is built from local limestone and sandstone and exposed to the wet, wind-driven rain typical of the South West, the fix is nearly always breathable lime rather than another coat of cement. We deliver that work throughout Cornwall.
Newquay'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.
The older parts of Newquay are dominated by cob and thatch cottages, granite farmhouses, Georgian and Regency terraces. These are solid-wall constructions — there is no cavity, no damp-proof membrane and no vapour barrier — so the wall relies on evaporation through the plaster and render to stay dry.
In the wet, wind-driven rain typical of the South West, an impermeable render is a liability: water gets in at cracks and reveals and then cannot leave. Lime render on a Newquay wall handles that water, releasing it back out through the surface instead of pushing it deeper into the structure.
You get a single point of contact from survey to final coat. We agree the specification for your Newquay property in writing, prepare and apply the lime in the correct build-up, and advise on breathable decoration once the work has cured.
Every Newquay property is surveyed individually, but these examples show the kind of Cornwall buildings and use-cases we are called to most often.
stone-built chapel conversion — Eroding masonry faces on a stone-built chapel conversion in Newquay 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.
Regency terrace — Owners of a Regency terrace in Cornwall 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.
granite farmhouse — Blown gypsum plaster and tide marks on the ground floor of a granite farmhouse in Cornwall. 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 Cornwall and can supply mix specifications and sample panels for Newquay conservation officers where consent is required.
Yes, but it must be finished with a breathable product such as limewash, clay paint or mineral silicate paint. We advise on suitable finishes for each Newquay project so breathability is not lost at the final coat.
We do. Newquay is one of our core areas and we travel throughout Cornwall and the surrounding parts of South West England for lime plastering, lime render, lime pointing and heritage repair.
Our lime plastering, render and pointing teams also cover these towns and cities close to Newquay in Cornwall and the wider South West England area.
Browse all areas we cover across the UK
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