Lime Plaster and Coving for Victorian Homes in Birmingham

Short answer. Most Victorian and Edwardian homes in Birmingham and Solihull were built with solid brick walls and finished inside with lime plaster, so lime based finishes such as lime plaster, Marmorino and limewash are the safest choice because they let the walls breathe. Original coving and cornice can usually be repaired or matched rather than ripped out. If the house is listed, ask the council's conservation officer before you book any work.

For every decorative finish we install in Birmingham, from Venetian plaster to limewash, gilding and murals, see our decorative finishes specialist in Birmingham page.

Zavoré lays this for you too. Our own team provides cornice and coving installation across the UK, including Venetian plastering in Birmingham.

The older housing around Birmingham

Birmingham grew quickly in the Victorian period, and a great deal of that housing is still lived in today. Edgbaston has large Victorian villas set back from tree lined roads. Moseley, Kings Heath and Handsworth have long streets of Victorian and Edwardian terraces and semi detached houses. Bournville, the model village built by the Cadbury family, has its own cottage style homes with gardens. Further out, Solihull, Knowle and Dorridge mix older village houses with homes built through the twentieth century.

What many of the older homes share is solid brick walls with no cavity, plastered inside with lime. That matters when you choose a new wall finish.

Why lime suits solid walls

A solid brick wall takes in a little moisture from outside and from the rooms, then lets it dry out again. Lime plaster is porous, so moisture can pass through it. Modern plaster and many plastic based paints slow this down. When moisture is trapped behind them you can get damp patches, flaking paint and blown plaster, which means plaster that has come away from the wall behind it.

For decorative work on these walls, Zavoré supplies and installs lime based finishes.

• Marmorino, a lime plaster mixed with crushed marble that gives a smooth, stone like surface.
• Polished plaster, also called Grassello, a fine lime putty finish trowelled until it feels like polished marble.
• Limewash, thin coats of lime and pigment with a soft, chalky look.
• Clay plaster, which is also breathable and has a warm, earthy texture.

Saving coving, cornice and ceiling roses

Coving and cornice are the mouldings that run where the wall meets the ceiling. In Victorian houses they were often run in lime plaster on site, or cast in fibrous plaster, which is plaster reinforced with hessian cloth and timber. Ceiling roses are the round mouldings in the centre of the ceiling.

In many homes these mouldings have been painted over so often that the fine detail is clogged. Others have cracks or missing lengths after rewiring, a leak or an old extension. In most cases the original can be cleaned back and repaired, and any missing section matched to the existing profile. Zavoré fits, matches and restores plaster cornice, coving and ceiling roses. Our guide to Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian coving explains how to tell the styles apart.

Listed homes and conservation areas

Birmingham has a number of listed buildings and conservation areas. If your home is listed, listed building consent can be needed for internal work, including changes to plaster and mouldings. Ask the local council's conservation officer before you book anything, so you know what applies to your home before work starts.

To see a finish in your own colour before deciding, order a sample board trowelled to match. You can also call 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk, and find out more about our local work on the Venetian plaster in Birmingham page.

Questions we get asked

Can I put Venetian plaster on a Victorian wall?

Yes, as long as the wall is sound and dry and you choose a lime based Venetian plaster such as Marmorino or Grassello. These stay breathable, which suits solid brick walls.

Should I replace damaged coving with new?

Repair is normally the first option to look at, because original mouldings are part of the character of a period room. Missing lengths can be matched to the existing profile.

Do I need consent for plaster work in a listed house?

Listed building consent can be needed for internal work. Ask your local council's conservation officer before you book, as they can confirm what applies to your home.