Lime Plaster Decorators in London
Painting lime plaster with modern acrylic emulsion is one of the most common — and expensive — mistakes made in London period homes. It traps moisture, blows the plaster off the wall, and creates damp where there was none. We work exclusively in breathable systems on lime substrates.
Lime Plaster Decorating across London
London has more lime-plastered period homes than any UK city — Georgian townhouses in Islington and Camden, Victorian terraces across Hackney, Highgate and Muswell Hill, and listed buildings in Hampstead and Kensington. Almost all of them were built to breathe: moisture moves through lime plaster into the room, out through the wall, and evaporates. Seal that system with modern vinyl matt and the moisture has nowhere to go — you get bubbling paint, mouldy corners, and eventually blown plaster.
Our lime-plaster work covers three families of coating. Limewash (traditional slaked-lime paint) for the most authentic finish — soft, chalky, and self-healing. Silicate mineral paints (Keim, Beeck) for a more durable finish that still breathes. Casein and clay paints (Auro, Edward Bulmer Natural Paints) for a low-VOC, breathable, matt finish with a beautiful chalky depth. We spec the right one for each room, substrate and use.
We also carry out lime plaster repairs where the substrate itself has failed — patch repairs in lime putty, hair plaster for larger sections, and full re-skims where required. This is skilled slow work; we don't rush lime because you can't. Working with heritage consultants and listed-building officers is part of what we do — we're comfortable with LBC applications and conservation-area consent.
Why homeowners choose our lime plaster team
Breathable, correct-for-lime coatings
Limewash, silicate or clay paint matched to the substrate and room — never trapping modern acrylic over lime.
Lime plaster repair in-house
Patch, skim and full re-plaster in traditional lime putty and hair plaster. No calling in a second trade.
Heritage-consultant friendly
We work regularly with conservation officers and specify products acceptable for LBC.
Reverses damp problems
Removing modern paint from lime walls is often the single biggest fix for chronic damp in period homes.
How a typical lime plaster job runs
- 01
Substrate survey
We probe the wall, identify original lime vs. later gypsum patches, and test breathability.
- 02
Strip incorrect coatings
Modern acrylic gently steamed off or poulticed — never scraped hard on soft lime.
- 03
Repair the plaster
Cracks and blown patches repaired in lime putty and hair plaster, cured slowly under damp hessian.
- 04
Mist coat (limewash) or primer
Weak-mix limewash for the first coat, or the correct fixative primer for silicate/clay systems.
- 05
Topcoats
3–4 thin coats of limewash, or 2 coats of silicate/clay paint — no build-up of film, just a beautiful chalky finish.
Lime Plaster Decorating in your area
We cover all of Greater London. Popular areas for our lime plaster service include:
Lime Plaster Decorating questions, answered
Can I use normal emulsion on lime plaster?+
No — or rather, you can, and lots of people have, but it's the reason so many London period homes have chronic damp. Modern vinyl matt seals in the moisture that lime plaster is designed to release. Use limewash, silicate or clay paint instead.
How much does limewash cost per m²?+
Materials are similar to premium emulsion (£25–£40/L for professional limewash), but application takes longer — 3–4 thin coats rather than 2 thick ones. Budget roughly 30% more than a standard emulsion job for the labour.
Does limewash come off on clothes?+
Fresh limewash rubs off for the first 2–4 weeks while it carbonates (hardens by absorbing CO₂). Once cured it's stable. In high-touch areas (hallways) we spec a silicate paint instead for the same breathable look with a harder finish.
Can you match a colour in limewash?+
Yes but the palette is naturally limited — earth pigments, ochres, umbers, natural whites. If you want a punchy modern colour on a lime wall, a silicate paint like Keim will give you a much wider range while still breathing.
Will you work on my listed building?+
Yes — regularly. We're used to specifying products acceptable for listed building consent and working alongside heritage consultants.
Related services
Useful reading
Ready to book your lime plaster job?
Call for a chat, or send us the details and a couple of photos — you'll have a written quote the same working day.