Current lime render costs.

[Schoolmarm]

My daughter has put an offer in for her first house today. It is an old stone end of row cottagey thing.

The front and the gable are made of large nice stone.
The back and the return inside an extension are rubble stone.

It is currently pebble dashed and very loose with the bottom few feet bare where it has been removed/fallen off.

I have told her that it has to be lime rendered. Does anyone have a very rough idea of cost per square meter done by an expert?
And does anyone have any good contacts who could do the job in lancashire?

 

[Nemesis]

Send Gervase an e-mail - he can give you an idea of costs.

I can't help with someone to do it, but SPAB may be able to help.

 

[Nemesis]

I've sent Gervase your post through so I have no doubt you'll get an answer soon.
x

 

[Schoolmarm]

Thankyou 8)

 

[Jon Maine]

Lime render is typically £60 to £120 per square metre. Dependent upon extra scaffolding/protection/ preparation costs etc possibly more.
You could try talking to Julie Haddow, former Spab Fellow who is a lime plastering expert. Although she is based in Somerset she may know someone or be prepared to travel. She currently lectures for Spab. You can email her on limerepair@hotmail.co.uk

 

[Pford75]

May depend on the location.

At a previous property in Essex, we employed the craftsman on a day rate basis as there was other work to do as well. He charged us £250/day...but then the weather risk was ours and we had to supply the materials.

Might be worth seeing if this is a viable option

 

[borischarlton]

Unless there are specific problems, using a specialist, I think, may be unnecessary. Applying render is relativley easy with a bit of practise. I would find out all about lime, then make an informed decision about what aggregate and mix to use and then look through yellow pages for a local plasterer or even have a go yourself!! I did, and it stayed on!!! I would also offer to supply all the materials and make the mix myself.
Rob

 

[Pford75]

Agreed - but the cost of a local plasterer will depend heavily on local demand.

Removal of the pebble-dash could also be problematic...and may require scaffold...how tall is the building?

 

[Schoolmarm]

Thanks for all the replies.

Not sure of height etc.

Defo requires scaff.


With regard to doing it herself/myself. It seems to be easy to get on but the care and maintenance until it sets seem to be far beyond my capabilities.

Even covering a teeny bit in my front room and spraying it twice a day and squishing it back together resulted in the most awful cracked effort you ever saw.
There is no way I would attempt a large area.

I have looked for courses but the best look like they are too far away. The best being lots of hands on for a few days.

 

[jason.p]

Unless there are specific problems, using a specialist, I think, may be unnecessary. Applying render is relativley easy with a bit of practise.

Yes maybe the actual application of lime render is relatively easy, but there are many pitfalls and decisions based on experience that have to be made. Which lime to use (putty, Hl5, Hl3.5, Hl2), the mix, the aggregate. How many coats and how much hair to add, are the conditions right for the job, and possibly most important of all, the aftercare, which is where a lot of problems can arise.
It's like most specialist work. Under perfect conditions things may go well, but this is not always the case.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Yes, it is the aftercare that is awful.

 

[Jon Maine]

Ideally you need a scaffold which is sheeted down to stop the drying wind or tipping rain affecting the render.

Correct time of year, ideally not to hot and again not dipping below 5 degrees C will be most likely to achieve a lasting job.

Definately someone who knows what they are doing who could lead the way.

I agree in principle with the opinion that any one can do a bit of rendering, but there is a lot to know and watch out for for a sucessful job. By all means muck in and help with someone who knows what they are doing to start to learn.

After all first time I tried putty rendering I struggled to get it right after 20 years experience of general building inc at least a year or two on a gypsum plastering gang. Gervase also had teething problems and he is an eminently practical man.

You certainly dont want to use NHL 5, may as well do a 6/1/1 cement lime render mix as that could be softer.

Preferably Putty lime although if you went for hydraulic nhl 2 or 3.5 this may be a more stable result than a putty lime which has not been tended to properly or has been hit by the wrong weather conditions.

Get a few names, try calling up the local lime suppliers who should have many of their clients who they could recommend, the local CO or Spab. Get a minimum of 2 or 3 quotes if possible asking them to be detailed of what they are going to use and do.