Why Use Traditional Lime Plastering

"Rendering needs to breathe"

Before the start of the 20th century the plastering techniques that were used differed greatly to those that are used today. The use of lime putty and lime plasters benefit a property in many ways

Lime based coverings are porous and allow the property to breathe
They allow for movement in the property
The possibility of cracks and splits is greatly reduced
Adding a lime wash finish helps to disperse moisture from within the render

Much of today's general building practice involves the use of cement and cement-rich products. However these can be very damaging to a structure:

It's rigid nature does not allow for flex in a building
Moisture can enter a property via cracks and cause damp
Render can separate from a wall
Cob walls can misshape with time

The issues listed above are often made a lot worse by the increased use of modern acrylic based paints that can trap moisture and hold it in a wall