Damp, blown plaster and failing render are common complaints in Swindon'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 Wiltshire.
Damp in Swindon homes is usually caused by the wrong material rather than a faulty building. Where cement render has been applied over local limestone and sandstone, stripping it back and re-rendering in lime normally resolves the damp within a single drying season.
The older parts of Swindon 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.
Lime is flexible, breathable and self-healing. On Swindon properties built from local limestone and sandstone, it moves with the building instead of cracking away from it, and it protects the masonry rather than the other way round.
You get a single point of contact from survey to final coat. We agree the specification for your Swindon property in writing, prepare and apply the lime in the correct build-up, and advise on breathable decoration once the work has cured.
Every Swindon property is surveyed individually, but these examples show the kind of Wiltshire buildings and use-cases we are called to most often.
cob and thatch cottage — Blown gypsum plaster and tide marks on the ground floor of a cob and thatch cottage in Wiltshire. 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.
stone-built chapel conversion — Consented repairs to a listed stone-built chapel conversion in Wiltshire. Sample panels were prepared for the conservation officer, mortar analysis informed the mix, and the historic surface was conserved and patched rather than replaced wholesale.
Regency terrace — Eroding masonry faces on a Regency terrace in Swindon 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.
Yes. We regularly work on listed and conservation-area properties across Wiltshire and can supply mix specifications and sample panels for Swindon conservation officers where consent is required.
External lime work is best carried out between spring and early autumn so it can carbonate before the first frosts. Internal lime plastering in Swindon 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 Swindon 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 Swindon in Wiltshire and the wider South West England area.
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