Lime plasterer builder Leic/Cambs/Lincs/Notts/Rutland

[JoceAndChris]

We're just outside Grantham - any recommendations?

Big job: remove concrete render, repoint stone, remove plinth, refix plinth in something breathable. Rerender in lime and score to resemble ashlar.

I've now decided I can no longer wait for Skillingtons who said they wanted the work, just been through my email and see I asked them to come in September, I've been waiting for them to visit and give a firm quote since then, and I have sent little reminder emails. I badly wanted them to do it but appreciate these specialist companies have bigger fish to fry. It seems a shame to miss another summer for this project.

 

[skier-hughes]

Try contacting Julie and mention me
http://www.limerepair.com/
07989 600 525
For a big job she might come that far. She came to us. We put them up and paid towards travel time etc, but she was no more expensive than other quotes we had.
A damn fine workforce and quality work.

http://www.limerepair.com/projects/projectff.html

 

[Penners]

So you've got the bit between your teeth on this now, Joce - good for you!

I can't make any personal recommendations, but for what they're worth, here are a few ideas.

These people supply lime materials near you. If you contacted them they might be able to suggest one or two local tradesmen:-

http://lincolnshirelime.co.uk/hemp--lime-plaster-22-c.asp

Alternatively, here's a list that might bear fruit:-

http://www.buildingconservation.com/directory/prodlist.php?category=Plasterers%2C+lime

And another one:-

http://www.limedirectory.co.uk/lincolnshirelimeplasterers.html

Do keep us in touch with progress.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

One good thing is that your roses are looking fantastic!!

Good luck--why not try just one more phone call to Skillingtons a gentle 'so disappointed' type nudge and hopefully get a definite yes and date or 'sorry no can do' from them.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I did Joss, I get voicemail and no reply to the email. Sadly.


That's extremely helpful thank you! I will work through the list and hope someone is interested. I had a very worrying conversation with a seemingly well respected lime plasterer in Rutland yesterday, he said if Skillingtons have done a disappearing act there's probably a good reason why, seeing as we're a peach if a location for them, and he thought that reason was along the lines of it being an impossible house for lime render to survive upon, and that it's very awkward when customers ring up three years on and complain that the render's failed. Therefore, he said, he would not want to undertake it. I can't decide if he's just deeply scarred by the complaining horsey women of Oakham or if he actually hates lime, or what. It's true we're very exposed.

I suppose all I can do is get a range of opinion.

Graham, I'll call your lovely sounding team - thank you! I can't put anyone up though as we have barely any water, and are unlikely to until next winter now. The well was drained for works and it needs a winter to re establish itself.

Thanks again gents!

 

[plasticpigeon]

Perhaps Skillingtons aren't very good, and they think you might be too fussy for them. For someone to say that they wouldn't do a job because Skillintons won't do it also sounds incredibly lazy and stupid. I've not had a lot of luck with trades, I hope you find someone. It is definitely worth following up on Mr Hughes recommendation!

 

[Penners]

I get the impression that the building trades in general are very busy at the moment. I suspect, therefore, that they're more liable to cherry-pick the plum jobs (a veritable fruit salad of metaphors there!) and won't bother with the more demanding, time-consuming stuff.

Under such circumstances, the industry's normal policy seems to be either to ignore requests for quotes or to quote ludicrously high prices.

 

[skier-hughes]

In which case, do not mention you've spoken to Skillingtons to any further potential contractors.

Start afresh, here's my conversation............I'm thinking of doing this, Skillingtons? Who are they, I could try them as well, but in the mean time do you want to come and quote? You do, lovely, when, next week, great I'm in on Tuesday..... super, see you at 10. don't be late as the tea will be ready!!

Might be difficult for Julie unless you pay for a B&B, much too far to travel unless staying over.

 

[Flyfisher]

I get the impression that the building trades in general are very busy at the moment. I suspect, therefore, that they're more liable to cherry-pick the plum jobs (a veritable fruit salad of metaphors there!) and won't bother with the more demanding, time-consuming stuff.

Interestingly, the conversation I had in January with a specialist restoration building firm suggested that their backlog for lime work was somewhat less than normal this year because the very mild winter meant they could work work later into the colder months. Make of that what you will, I'm sure circumstance must be different for different firms around the country. I would say, though, that if a firm cannot be bothered to be straight with a potential customer, whether it be about their workload or their concerns about the job then I would not bother with them.

Coincidentally, we have also decided that this is the year for stripping and rerendering our house, hence my January discussions, and the work started last month - with some trepidation on my part because of what we might find the cement render had done to the underlying timber frame. In the event, it only revealed some fairly minor areas of the sole plate that required repair, and that was within our contingency so a bit of a relief all around.

Early days yet and it will be at least another couple of month work, but so far so good.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks for all the interesting posts. Flyfisher what a coincidence! So glad you've got a good team together by the sounds of it, and no problems so far. Have you put any pics up on here yet?

Plastic your post made me laugh, I feel your pain! Getting good trades people on board can be maddening and feel impossible! But Skillingtons are very good, Philip who would be doing the plastering is very well known.

I don't really see what I can do except wait, as I'd still really like them to do it. Maybe I should ask if they can send the men who'll be chipping off the concrete, even if it means wrapping the house up over winter.

Appreciate all the help and advice.

 

[skier-hughes]

You've applied for the LBC?

 

[Penners]

I don't really see what I can do except wait, as I'd still really like them to do it. Maybe I should ask if they can send the men who'll be chipping off the concrete, even if it means wrapping the house up over winter.

It certainly might be an idea to suggest to them that the hacking off could commence ASAP - this might persuade them to pin down their prima donna plasterer! However, I wouldn't give them the wriggle room of saying that you'd be willing to wrap the house up over the winter.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks Mr P - that's good advice.

No, Graham, no LBC in place yet. I explained to Dr C of Skillingtons that I really really need to see them before applying for LBC, because LBC requires a method statement, which I don't know, and it requires a precise understanding of how the house is going to end up looking - diagrams and sketches- I need Phil's help with that as he'll know about the proportions of the ashlar scoring and how the blocks will meet at the joins. I badly needed a meeting with them back in Sept 13 which I didn't get. I have an informal agreement with my CO that the cement render can come off so I'm not sure about the feasibility of starting the works without LBC - perhaps it would be OK to remove render and then make sure the permission was in place before altering the appearance of the house.

To be fair to Skillingtons they did say their waiting lists can be very long.

 

[JoceAndChris]

OK Skils coming on Weds to have this conversation with me and want to make a start v soon Must be the collective vibes of PPUKe!

 

[Penners]

Must be the collective vibes of PPUKe!

We don't know our own strength!

 

[Flyfisher]

Thanks for all the interesting posts. Flyfisher what a coincidence! So glad you've got a good team together by the sounds of it, and no problems so far. Have you put any pics up on here yet?

No pictures as yet, I thought I'd wait until things are finished and post a before-during-after sequence in a single post.

Regarding LBC, have you confirmed with your CO that you actually require it for the proposed works? You mentioned the need for a method statement, which is fair enough, but a detailed quotation for the works should include a fairly detailed breakdown of the what will be done and how.

That's what our builders provided and I forwarded it to our CO, who was happy for the work to proceed as a repair and thus not require LBC. It probably helped that the firm we're using is well known to our CO and seems to have a good reputation.

As ever, each situation is unique, but I wouldn't automatically assume you require LBC until the CO has confirmed it.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Looking forward to the pics FF!

Good point, though in this case she did confirm LBC would be required when she visited here, really because the house will end up looking different to now - we believe a more authentic finish and closer to the likely original (though there's no surviving evidence). If she insists it retains a plain cream finish then we'll have to accept that, though ideally we'd like it to look like Nigel's.

 

[Penners]

A method statement?!

Hack off old rendering.
Spray wall with water.
Trowel on new lime plaster (X coats).
Smooth off.
Scribe lines.

That'll be a consultancy fee of a cuppa coffee and a Kit-Kat please.

Method statement... tsk! :roll:

 

[Moo]

This probably a very foolish thing to say, but doesn't a tiny bit of you regret getting BC listed before you'd got rid of the cement?

Although I loved living in listed houses, I am rather enjoying the freedom of being neither listed nor in a conservation area.
I can do what I want, without having to ask anyone's permission.

 

[Penners]

I loved living in listed houses

Thought you might be interested to know that the house next door to your last one (west side) is for sale.

And the St Giles wisteria is looking wonderful.