The superior breathability and durability of Roman lime plaster makes it the ideal finish for walls following a basement conversion or remedial damp work. Choosing the right plaster is about more than just how it looks – it’s about protecting your building and conserving the life of your property too.
So, why does Property Conservation use Roman lime plaster?
Protects against humidity
For walls suffering from rising or penetrating damp, and in particular basements we deploy a two-step lime system. First, a Roman-style salt-resistant base coat tackles humidity and hygroscopic ground salts. Over this, a main coat composed of lime and volcanic pozzolans forms a microporous, salt-resistant, and extremely long-lasting barrier.
The two layers work together to create a lovely warm and dry environment in otherwise high-humidity rooms. It has a natural ability to resist chlorides, nitrates, and sulphates, and possesses natural breathability, allowing moisture to evaporate.
Combination of strength and flexibility
Roman lime plaster gets its strength from being reinforced with fibres, and made from natural air lime, natural hydraulic lime, volcanic pozzolans, marble powder and clean river sand. The components are notably all natural and there is no cement or added chemicals in the make-up.
Certified under UNI-EN 998-2, this flexible material can be widely used not only as a structural consolidation layer (capable of integrating with reinforcing systems like Fibre Reinforced Polymer or steel mesh), but also as bedding, pointing, or crack-stitching mortar.
Roman lime plaster results in a beautiful finish
With a nod to heritage building materials, lime plaster looks stunning in a converted basement and period property; it’s even approved for use in listed buildings.
The soft finish offers your room subtle colour variations and works with the light to produce a soft and warm feeling. Over time a natural patina will develop which only adds to the charm of this unique finish.
It’s natural qualities means you don’t have paint it, but if you do want to, make sure you retain its breathability by choosing a limewash or silicate paint – conventional paints are non-breathable and will trap moisture once again.
Roman lime plaster is well-suited to modern basement conversions that demand longevity and high performance, and above ground walls that have previously suffered lateral water ingress from high ground or flooding, or vertically penetrating damp from a bridged or damaged damp proof course.
If you’d like to make enquiries on using Roman lime plaster on your home or project, please get in touch.