Lime Render vs Cement Render

Lime render can give period homes a nice look and ensure their walls breathe. Learn more about choosing the right lime render material

Using a quality properly specified lime render can protect against water ingress.

Learn more about choosing the right lime render material.

Period solid wall houses can be quickly damaged by cement renders and thick textured plastic coating.

A good quality lime render will allow walls to breathe. Renders made with lime are much less prone to cracking than cement renders.

Lime render also looks more in keeping with period houses. A good quality lime render can last for many decades Choosing the correct material for a lime render such as the base coat strength, can be a complicated business.

Natural Hydraulic Lime renders (NHL) are available in  different strengths and when it comes to setting behave more like cement renders.

Mature lime putty renders can be made without cement or NHL lime by using pozzolans which set the mortar.

Remember lime renders are not a waterproof coating they absorb moisture and then allow it to dry out. It’s important especially if the walls are prone to water ingress (, exposed S/W orientation, thin solid brick walls, old barn conversions, double brick solid wall)

The problem with incompatible or too thinly applied lime renders is that they can allow too much water into the walls. Its important to specify the correct lime material and the thickness of the base and finish coats

All4walls will make sure your lime render allows your walls to breathe but will keep the wind and rain out.

Depending on the wall type it may be better to specify a 15-20mm thick 3-coat lime render, with nylon mesh or hair reinforcement.

Read more about penetrating damp

  • Here we remove cement render and textured paint
  • We then apply a new soft white 15mm thick white-coloured lime render
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