Traditional render
Lime Render
Breathable hydraulic and hot-mixed lime render for period, listed and solid-wall properties.
Lime render is the correct specification for buildings built before roughly 1919, and for anything solid-walled, stone-built, cob or timber-framed. Those buildings were designed to take on moisture and release it again. Seal them in cement and the moisture has nowhere to go but inward — which is exactly how a well-meaning cement re-render creates the damp problem it was meant to cure.
We work in both natural hydraulic lime, graded NHL 2, 3.5 and 5 depending on exposure, and traditional hot-mixed lime for conservation work where the specification demands it. Coats are applied thinner and slower than cement, with much longer waiting times between them, and protected from sun, wind and frost while they carbonate. It is a slower and more expensive process, and on a historic building it is the only one that does not cause damage.
When it is the right choice. Choose lime for any pre-1919, listed, stone, cob or solid-wall property — and wherever a conservation officer is involved.
Specification at a glance
| Typical guide price | £95–£150 per m² supplied and installed |
|---|---|
| Applied thickness | Three coats, 8-12mm each |
| Curing / drying | 7-14 days between coats |
| Guarantee | 15 years |
| Category | Traditional render |
Guide prices are indicative only and exclude scaffold, stripping and repairs. Your written quote follows a free survey.
What is included
- Fully vapour permeable
- NHL 2, 3.5 and 5 specifications
- Hot-mixed lime available
- Suitable for listed buildings
- Haired coats for stone and lath
- Self-healing hairline cracks
- Sympathetic to historic fabric
- Limewash or mineral paint finish
- Conservation-officer friendly
- 15-year workmanship guarantee
Get a quote for lime render
Tell us about the property and we will call you back to arrange a survey.
Related services
What happens next
Four steps from enquiry to finished wall
Free survey
We visit, test the substrate, measure up and identify what caused any existing failure.
Written quote
An itemised fixed price with the system named, materials specified and scaffold included.
Booked in
An agreed start date, scaffold arranged, and a clear run of days set aside for your job.
Finished and guaranteed
Site cleared, scaffold struck, guarantee documents and system warranty issued.
Coverage
Lime Render by county
We carry out lime render across all 74 counties below. Pick yours to see local detail.
East of England
South East
South West
North West
North East
East Midlands
Yorkshire
London
West Midlands
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
FAQs
Lime Render — your questions
Why use lime render instead of cement on an old house?
Because solid walls manage moisture by letting it evaporate. Cement blocks that route, driving damp inward and often causing timber decay and spalled stone. Lime keeps the wall breathing.
How long does lime render take to cure?
Far longer than cement. Allow seven to fourteen days between coats and several months for full carbonation. It must be protected from frost and direct sun throughout.
Can lime render be painted?
Only with a compatible breathable coating — limewash, silicate mineral paint or clay paint. Standard masonry paint seals the surface and defeats the purpose.
Is lime render suitable for listed buildings?
Yes, and it is usually required. We work to conservation specifications and can supply mix details and samples for listed building consent.
Can you render over existing render?
Sometimes, if the existing coat is completely sound and well-bonded. We hammer-test it first. Anything hollow has to come off, because covering failure just hides it.
Are you insured?
Yes — full public liability cover, and we can send the certificate before we start. We are happy to provide RAMS for commercial and contractor work.
What areas do you cover?
We work UK-wide, with teams across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If we are not the right firm for your location we will tell you rather than waste your time.
Thinking about lime render?
Book a free survey and we will confirm whether it is right for your walls before you commit.