Lime Rendering & Lime Plastering
Specialist Lime Work for Period Properties in Suffolk
Lime is not a nostalgic choice. On any pre-1919 building with solid walls, it is the material the fabric was designed to work with. Use cement, and the wall loses its ability to breathe. Use lime, and the building keeps drying out the way its builders intended. Our team works with lime every week, and we are happy to share what we know.
External Lime Render
Hot lime, NHL and lime putty render on masonry, cob, brick and timber frame walls. Specified to substrate and exposure.
Internal Lime Plaster
Three coat lime plaster on laths or masonry. Finishes from a soft trowel texture to a polished, almost Venetian look.
Lime Pointing
Raking out cement pointing and replacing with a matched lime mortar. Often the single biggest improvement to a tired period wall.
Lime Wash & Finishes
Lime wash, breathable paint systems and traditional finishes that complete the job without suffocating the wall.
Mortar Repair
Targeted lime mortar repair and consolidation on old walls, chimneys and architectural details.
Lime Services for Traditional Walls
From external render to internal plaster, pointing to lime wash, our team mixes and applies lime by hand on period and listed homes across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
Lime Specialists in Bury St. Edmunds
Most of our lime work is in Bury St. Edmunds and the surrounding villages. Lavenham, Long Melford, Cavendish, Clare and Newmarket all keep us busy. If you are looking for a lime specialist within reach of Bury St. Edmunds, you may have just found one.
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Contact our Suffolk builders
If you are searching for a lime plasterer for your period or listed property in Suffolk or further afield, get in touch today.
Call us on 01359 240 573
or email us at sales@emmersoncritchley.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-1919 solid walls were built to breathe. Lime render allows moisture to move through the wall and evaporate. Cement render traps moisture in the wall, which leads to damp, salt damage and timber rot. On almost any period property, lime is the correct specification.
Hot lime is a non-hydraulic lime mixed hot from quicklime, producing a highly flexible, breathable finish well suited to very old and fragile walls. NHL (natural hydraulic lime) sets harder and faster, and is often a practical choice for exposed exterior work. The right choice depends on substrate, exposure and the condition of the building.
If your property is listed, almost any change to external render or internal plaster that affects character will require listed building consent. Like for like replacement of an existing lime finish is sometimes treated more leniently, but always check first. Our planning team handles these applications regularly.
Lime cures slowly and that is part of why it works. Each coat usually needs three to seven days before the next, and full carbonation of the finished surface continues for months. The slow set is one reason we plan lime work around the seasons, working in the spring and autumn where possible.
Yes, but only with breathable paint systems. Lime wash, mineral silicate paints and certain clay paints all work. Modern acrylic emulsions trap moisture and undo the benefit of using lime in the first place. We always specify the right finish for the wall.