St Austell 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 Cornwall.
Exposure matters as much as material. St Austell sits in the wet, wind-driven rain typical of the South West, which means external work has to shed water and then dry out again quickly. That is exactly what a correctly built lime render does, and exactly what a sealed cement skin prevents.
Around St Austell 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.
Softness is the point. Traditional Cornwall 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 St Austell's older homes.
Every St Austell 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, St Austell throws up a particular set of problems. These are representative examples of how we resolve them in lime.
cob and thatch cottage — Owners of a cob and thatch cottage 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.
limestone rectory — Eroding masonry faces on a limestone rectory in St Austell 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 — A Regency terrace in St Austell where a cement plinth was holding water in the base of the wall. We removed the plinth, lowered adjacent ground levels, and re-rendered the base in a sacrificial lime coat designed to be renewed periodically.
Yes. We regularly work on listed and conservation-area properties across Cornwall and can supply mix specifications and sample panels for St Austell conservation officers where consent is required.
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 St Austell and provide a written, no-obligation quote.
Send us the details of your St Austell property through the contact form and we will arrange a free survey. You will receive a written specification and quote with no obligation to proceed.
External lime work is best carried out between spring and early autumn so it can carbonate before the first frosts. Internal lime plastering in St Austell can be done year-round with adequate heating and ventilation.
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 St Austell project so breathability is not lost at the final coat.
Our lime plastering, render and pointing teams also cover these towns and cities close to St Austell in Cornwall and the wider South West England area.
Browse all areas we cover across the UK
Get a lime plastering quote in St Austell