Yeovil property owners come to us when a modern finish has failed. Cement render and gypsum plaster trap moisture inside local limestone and sandstone, 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 Somerset.
Yeovil'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.
Around Yeovil 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 Somerset walling of local limestone and sandstone 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 Yeovil's older homes.
Every Yeovil job begins with diagnosis: identifying where moisture is entering before any plaster goes on. We then remove failed material, prepare the local limestone and sandstone, 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, Yeovil throws up a particular set of problems. These are representative examples of how we resolve them in lime.
Regency terrace — Blown gypsum plaster and tide marks on the ground floor of a Regency terrace in Somerset. 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.
limestone rectory — Peeling modern masonry paint on a limestone rectory in Somerset. The impermeable coating was removed, minor render defects were patched in lime, and the elevations were finished in several thin coats of limewash.
cob and thatch cottage — Consented repairs to a listed cob and thatch cottage in Somerset. 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.
Yes. We regularly work on listed and conservation-area properties across Somerset and can supply mix specifications and sample panels for Yeovil conservation officers where consent is required.
Where damp is caused by trapped moisture in a solid wall — very common in older Yeovil properties — replacing cement or gypsum with lime allows the wall to dry out. We always identify the source of moisture during the survey before recommending work.
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 Yeovil project so breathability is not lost at the final coat.
Send us the details of your Yeovil 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.
Our lime plastering, render and pointing teams also cover these towns and cities close to Yeovil in Somerset and the wider South West England area.
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