Michael Gaisford

Basically, there are two types are lime.

In French; Chaux Hydraulique and Chaux Aerienne. These limes are used in two different situations and it’s important to realize their differences.

Chaux Hydraulique is used in the undercoat layer when using lime in a render. When lime is mixed with Hemp (Chanvre), Chaux Hydraulique is used in this insulative layer. The properties of this lime make it suitable as it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere when the air is damp, and gives it back into the atmophere when the air is dry. This property means that the conditions inside a house where this lime render is used, are more constant. This phenonomen is known as a house which ‘breathes’.

Read more on Lime…

Natural tiles and rendering with lime and hemp go very well together.

In the above photo you can see the differences in the colour of the render.

This is due to dampness in the wall from the undercoat.

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These tiles were laid in the traditional style.

As the tiles were hand made there was a great deal of difference in size between the tiles.

On average the tiles were 150mm square but there was a difference of 6 or 7mm between the largest and the smallest.

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This room was entirely rendered with two coats of lime and Hemp.

The base coat was a mixture of lime and Hemp cut coarsely.

This was applied by hand and the surface was left rough so as to allow a ‘key’ for the finishing coat.

Read more on Lime Rendering…