Lime Plasters

Discover our range of lime plasters and accessories, ideal for traditional and contemporary construction. Lime-based plaster systems offer excellent vapour permeability, helping walls and ceilings manage moisture naturally while providing a durable, characterful finish for renovation and new-build projects.

What is lime plaster?

Lime plaster is a breathable finishing material composed of lime, sand and other materials such as marble dust or fibres, used for coating walls, ceilings and backgrounds like brick, stone, lath or solid boards. Unlike gypsum plaster or cement-based finishes, lime remains permeable, allowing trapped moisture to pass through the building fabric and reducing the risk of deterioration over time.

Difference between hydraulic lime and non hydraulic lime plaster

Hydraulic lime sets through a chemical reaction with water, giving faster hardening and greater early strength. It is often used where quicker curing or higher exposure is expected, such as external rendering or areas subject to wet conditions.

Non hydraulic lime plaster (pure lime) sets slowly by absorbing CO₂ from the air. This traditional binder is highly breathable and flexible, making it suitable for heritage building renovation, older substrates and internal finishes where maximum vapour permeability is required.

Lime plaster and natural insulation boards

Lime works particularly well with natural insulation boards such as wood wool boards, woodwool boards, wood fibre boards and cork boards. These breathable systems allow moisture to move through the substrate and insulation layer, reducing the risk of trapped damp and helping to create healthy, interior environments.

Lime plaster with wood wool boards

When used with wood wool boards and woodwool boards, lime can be applied in thin layers over a scratch coat reinforced with mesh. The open structure of the boards helps the lime adhere mechanically, providing a strong yet breathable surface for further coats and decoration.

Lime plaster with wood fibre boards

Wood fibre boards combine thermal insulation with high breathability. Lime finishes are suitable where you want to replace less breathable systems and create traditional textures with modern performance. These boards are often integrated into full lime insulation systems around roof junctions, walls and high-load backgrounds.

Applications of lime plasters

On this page, you’ll find lime products suitable for interior and external projects, from heritage repairs to modern eco-builds. Lime can be used on brick, stone, lath, plasterboard, gypsum plasterboard, solid boards and many other substrate types, provided they are correctly prepared.

Why choose lime plaster for external and internal walls?

• High vapour permeability helps manage moisture and reduce deterioration of the building fabric.
• Flexible and forgiving, helping accommodate minor movement in walls and backgrounds.
• Works with natural insulation materials for breathable, low-impact systems.
• Allows a range of styles, from traditional textured finishes to modern smooth surfaces ready for painting.
• Ideal for renovation where cement or dense gypsum finishes have caused moisture issues.

Benefits of using lime plaster on wood wool boards

• Excellent mechanical key between lime and wood wool boards.
• Breathable build-up reducing trapped moisture behind plaster.
• Can be applied in thin layers or more thick build-ups depending on the job.
• Suitable for ceilings, sloping roof areas and high level walls.
• Creates a smooth finish after final skim coats.

One coat lime plaster systems

Some modern lime-based systems allow for one coat methods, where a carefully formulated coat is applied to achieve both base and finish in a single operation. These are especially useful on plasterboard, gypsum plasterboard and prepared backgrounds where time and cost need to be managed carefully.

Advantages of one coat applications

• Reduced labour time for plasterers compared with multiple layers.
• Less overall material cost on suitable substrates.
• Faster installation on internal walls and ceilings.
• Can still deliver a breathable, durable finish when correctly specified.

Our range of lime plasters and accessories

We stock a broad pallet of lime-based products including lime mortars, base and finish coats, tanking slurries for rendering, and complementary materials for different techniques and styles. Most products are supplied as dry blends ready for mixing with clean water until the components fully dissolve and form a workable paste.

Explore lime plaster board options

On this category you can find lime solutions to install over cork boards, woodwool boards, solid boards and plasterboard, allowing you to build breathable insulation systems that adhere well and remain stable. These options are suitable for interior and external walls, depending on specification.

Complementary products for lime plaster systems

We also offer complementary items like reinforcing mesh, primers for difficult backgrounds, and lime mortars for associated masonry work around walls, roof junctions and exposed areas. Many lime-based products are typically applied in multiple layers—from scratch coat to finishing coat—to create a robust, breathable build-up ready for final decoration.

Whether you are working on a small job or a full building renovation, our lime solutions provide a sustainable, technically sound way to replace dense, non-breathable finishes with breathable, long-lasting alternatives.