Lime Plastering in East Kent

Old-school three-coat methods for period and listed homes

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Old School Methods

TG Specialist Plastering carries out traditional lime plastering across East Kent using old-school three-coat methods, including fixing new laths. Lime lets period walls breathe, which is essential for older and listed buildings where modern gypsum causes damp problems. Each lime coat needs roughly 7 to 10 days to cure depending on the weather, so timescales are planned honestly. Quotes are free.

Period properties need lime. It is softer and breathable, moving with the building and letting moisture escape rather than trapping it behind a hard modern skin. Using gypsum or cement on an old wall is one of the most common causes of damp in period homes, which is why conservation work always comes back to traditional materials.

Lime plastering is Tom's passion. The work follows the old methods: new laths fixed where the originals have failed, then a full three-coat build-up of lime plaster, each coat given the time it needs to cure properly. Depending on the weather that is roughly 7 to 10 days per coat, and rushing it is never an option.

From barrel-vaulted lath ceilings to timber-framed cottage walls, restoration work is about keeping as much original fabric as possible and repairing like-for-like. The result looks right because it is right: the gentle undulation of a hand-finished lime wall simply cannot be faked with modern board and skim.

Lime rendering is available for older exteriors too, keeping solid-wall properties breathable while protecting them from the weather. If you are unsure what your walls need, Tom will take a look and give you an honest recommendation and a free quote.

PRICE GUIDE By project
Quotes Free, no obligation
Method Traditional 3-coat lime
TIMESCALE Planned honestly
Curing 7-10 days per coat
Coverage East Kent

Our Work

Freshly lime plastered walls meeting exposed oak beams in a period cottage
Before and after of a barrel vaulted ceiling, stripped to timber laths then smoothly lime plastered
Before and after of a lath wall repair, exposed laths then a smooth plastered wall with beams retained
Period room with exposed oak beams finished in smooth lime plaster
Heritage lime plastering in a period property, walls and beams

Frequently Asked Questions

Lime Plastering Questions

How long has TG Specialist Plastering been trading?

Tom founded the business in 2011 after serving his apprenticeship and working for another firm, and has over 18 years of hands-on plastering experience in total.

Which areas do you cover?

The business is based in Whitstable and covers East Kent, including Canterbury, Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Faversham, Sandwich, Deal and the surrounding villages.

Are quotes really free?

Yes. Every quote is free and without obligation. Tom will look at the job, talk you through exactly what it needs, and give you a clear price before any work starts.

How do you price jobs?

Pricing depends on the size of the job: room dimensions for skimming, wall area for rendering, and the scope of restoration for lime work. You get a clear figure upfront, not an estimate that grows.

Will my home be left in a mess?

No. Cleanliness and tidiness are a point of pride: floors and furniture are sheeted before work starts, and every room is cleaned up and left tidy at the end of each day.

How do I book you in?

Call, WhatsApp or use the quote form on this site. Tom will arrange a convenient time to look at the job and get you a free quote, usually within a few days.

Can you skim over most backgrounds?

Yes, with the right prep work. Painted walls, artex and existing plaster can all be skimmed once they are properly keyed, sealed or made good, and fresh plasterboard can be skimmed straight away.

Can you get rid of my artex ceiling?

Yes. Artex ceilings are either sealed and skimmed over or over-boarded and skimmed, depending on their condition. Either way you end up with a smooth, modern ceiling ready to paint.

What types of plasterboard do you fit?

All of them: standard, fire-rated, moisture-resistant for kitchens and bathrooms, soundproof and insulated boards. Walls and ceilings, dot-and-dab or screwed to timber and metal frames.

How soon can I paint after skimming?

Fresh plaster needs to dry out fully before decorating, which usually takes around a week depending on the room and the weather. A mist coat of watered-down emulsion always goes on first.

Do you do small patch repairs?

Yes. Ceiling patches, cracked walls and damage around new wiring or plumbing are all common jobs. Small repairs are matched carefully into the surrounding surface so they disappear.

What colours does coloured render come in?

There is a wide range, and Tom carries a sample booklet he can show you so you can see real colours before deciding. Because monocouche and thin-coat renders are through-coloured, the finish never needs painting.

Which render systems do you use?

Traditional sand and cement, coloured monocouche, and modern silicone thin-coat systems. Tom is a registered ecorend contractor and installs the full ecorend system. The right system depends on your walls, and Tom will recommend honestly after seeing them.

My render is cracked and hollow. Can it be patched?

Blown or hollow render has usually failed underneath, so patches rarely last. The failed areas are hacked off back to sound brick and re-rendered properly, which is the repair that actually holds.

Will new render need painting?

Coloured monocouche and silicone thin-coat renders are coloured all the way through, so no painting is needed and there is very little maintenance. Traditional sand and cement render is usually painted once cured.

How long does rendering take?

A typical house takes days rather than weeks, depending on wall area, access and the system used. Curing time is factored in honestly so guttering and fittings go back on at the right point.

How long does lime take to dry?

Roughly 7 to 10 days per coat depending on the weather. Traditional three-coat lime work cannot be rushed, so timescales are planned honestly from the start.

Why does my period property need lime rather than gypsum?

Old solid walls need to breathe. Lime lets moisture escape naturally, while modern gypsum and cement trap it, which leads to damp. Like-for-like lime is also what conservation officers expect on listed buildings.

Can you repair lath and plaster ceilings?

Yes. Failed laths are replaced, sound original fabric is kept, and the ceiling is rebuilt with a traditional three-coat lime plaster, exactly the old-school method it was built with.

Do you do lime rendering outside?

Yes. Lime render keeps older solid-wall exteriors breathable while protecting them from the weather, and it is the right choice where cement render would cause damp problems.

Is lime plastering more expensive?

It costs more than modern skimming because the materials and three-coat method take longer, but it is the correct treatment for period walls and prevents expensive damp problems later. Quotes are free.