plastering?

[jungle_jim01]

So this is probably diverging from the traditional point of this forum slightly, but here goes... we have a victorian brick built annexe which is cement rendered on the outside. I've stripped bak to the brick walls inside ready for plastering. In other parts of the house we're going to use lime plaster but i don't really see much advantage here due to the rendering. In an ideal world we might just go for lime but i'm trying to keep costs down. Our plasterer recommended...get ready for it..."limelite". Having read the discussions on this forum i'm aware that it's not all it's cracked up to be. Would there be any advantage using this over ordinary plaster?

Thanks again.

 

[skier-hughes]

Is this a solid brick wall?
If so, I'd still use Lime so at least one side can breath, and if you do get round to removing cement render you won't have to replaster.

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Given the choice I'd always plaster with lime, simply because it's so much nicer to work with. And if you mix up your own (sand & hydrated lime) it may even be cheaper than using gypsum base and topcoats. Plus you can store any excess until the next day / week if you mix up too much.

 

[Penners]

I'd still use Lime so at least one side can breath

I quite agree.

 

[jungle_jim01]

i had a feeling that might be the answer...the thing is i'm getting a plasterer in for this and i don't want to create lots of extra work...time=money. How much extra work would it be for a plasterer to use lime?

 

[Penners]

I reckon that depends on the plasterer. If he/she is not used to lime, you're bound to end up paying more (for possibly a worse job).

 

[MatthewC]

i had a feeling that might be the answer...the thing is i'm getting a plasterer in for this and i don't want to create lots of extra work...time=money. How much extra work would it be for a plasterer to use lime?

In my recent experience the extra time taken to apply each separate coat of lime plaster adds considerably to the time that you have to pay the plasterer for. They can't just apply the stuff and run, they have to wait until it's gone off enough and has then been re-trowelled before they can go home, so the last part of the day tends to be just watching plaster go off... Hence the effective working day is shorter.

However, I had to use lime on my listed building and the results are wonderful! Yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice.

Matthew
http://houseintheenchantedforest.blogspot.com/

 

[AMc]

1st important point - is the wall damp?
I know that we tend to believe that cement=damp but there are bits of my house that are pointed in cement and plastered in gypsm and as a happy result of the flint rubble/lime foundations and low external levels I don't have damp.

2nd important point - what did you strip off - lath and plaster or something directly rendered onto the wall?

Are you planning on wet plastering straight to the wall or plasterboard and skim?
If you're planning on plasterboard and skim then you might find that using tile batten to create an air gap then board would allow a degree of air movement which would help with moisture. It would be preferable to insulate the wall too but that will reduce the room size and increase the immediate cost as well as more likely than not put an end to the breathability of the wall unless you have a foot spare for breathable wool. If your work is being inspected by building control then they can insist that a replastered wall (aka thermal element) is upgraded with insulation to meet the current U values outlined in Part L1B. If your wall is listed then you may escape that but it would also dictate what approach you should use for plastering.