Lime Plaster for Old Kent Homes, Cottages, Oast Houses and Town Houses

Short answer. Many of Kent's older homes, including timber framed cottages, Georgian town houses and converted oast houses, have walls that need to breathe, so lime plaster and lime finishes such as Marmorino and limewash are a natural fit. Marmorino also follows the curved walls of an oast roundel without joins. If your home is listed, ask your council's conservation officer before booking, as listed building consent can be needed for internal work.

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

Would you rather have it done for you? Our own applicators provide decorative plaster installation across the UK, including Venetian plastering in Kent.

Kent's old housing

Kent is often called the Garden of England. Its countryside has many medieval timber framed houses, including the Wealden hall house, a type with a tall central hall named after the Weald. It also has weatherboarded cottages, clad in overlapping timber boards, and oast houses, the buildings once used to dry hops, many now converted into homes. In the towns and along the coast there are rows of Georgian and Victorian houses.

Why lime suits these walls

Old walls built from timber, brick, flint or rubble were finished in lime because lime lets moisture pass through. When a hard cement render or modern plaster goes over them, damp can get trapped. The result is often blown plaster, salts coming through the surface, or rot in hidden timbers.

Lime plaster stays breathable and is softer than modern plaster, so it copes better with small movements in an old frame. Damaged areas can usually be cut out and patched with new lime, keeping as much of the original as possible.

Marmorino for curved and uneven walls

An oast roundel has curved walls, which are awkward for panels, tiles or wallpaper. Marmorino, an Italian lime plaster containing marble dust, is laid on with a trowel, so it follows the curve in one continuous finish. It works equally well on the gently uneven walls of a timber framed cottage, where it keeps the soft character of the room instead of making it look newly built.

Limewash for a simple finish

Where you want colour without plaster texture, limewash is the traditional choice. It is lime mixed with water and pigment, brushed on in thin coats. It dries to a chalky, matt finish with natural variation. Our guide to limewash problems and fixes covers what to expect.

Before work starts

• Find the cause of any damp first. A surveyor who knows old buildings can advise.
• Check whether old walls carry modern paint, as it may need removing or preparing.
• Check whether your home is listed on the National Heritage List for England.

Listed building consent can be needed for internal work. Ask the conservation officer at your district, borough or city council before you book.

To see lime finishes in your colour, order a sample board, call 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk. More on our work in the county is on our Kent page.

Questions we get asked

Can Marmorino go on a curved wall?

Yes. It is applied with a trowel, so it follows a curve in one continuous finish without joins.

Is my converted oast house listed?

Some oast houses are listed and some are not. You can search the National Heritage List for England and ask your council's conservation officer.

Does limewash rub off?

Limewash can leave a little chalky residue at first, especially when brushed against. A properly applied and fully cured coat is much more stable.