Lime Rendering Service in Melbourne
INCREASE THE LONGEVITY OF YOUR BUILDING
With 20+ years of experience with buildings across diverse climates, ranging from Ireland to Australia, RPV Construct executes lime renders that deliver enduring value and quality beyond the ordinary.
What is Lime Rendering?
A lime render is a plaster made with lime that is usually applied to external walls. This traditional building material was predominantly used to protect walls made of rubble stones or porous bricks.
The benefits of lime rendering and appropriate use cases
Lime renders are perfect for walls in exposed, windy locations. Lime renders do a great job of acting like a sponge, absorbing rain and humidity in the air and then allowing it to evaporate instead of soak into the wall, making them a better solution than cement in some use cases.
A lime mortar is made using a mix of hydrated lime, sand and water. It typically stiffens overnight (initial set) and gradually attains its maximum strength over time.
Cement mixtures and gypsum plasters are used extensively today to cover walls, but a lime render actually offers better protection. Cement traps water and will start to crack and chip in wet, humid conditions. Lime renders protect the underlying surface by being vapour permeable, absorbing moisture and letting it evaporate. Cement is also unsuitable for older buildings, as it may damage the substrate.
Lime renders are a part of the sustainable buildings movement, thanks to their low carbon footprint. Lime manufacturing produces less carbon dioxide than cement, and the render continues to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over time.
They have better workability compared to cement renders, allowing for improved standards of workmanship. A wide range of textures and finishes are possible with lime renders without affecting the quality of the result. They also paint readily, allowing you to paint structures with colours of your choosing.
Although cement renders often offer a price advantage over lime renders, this doesn’t necessarily translate to an overall cost advantage in all cases, because of differences in durability and weathering.
How to choose the right contractor for lime rendering
Trained professionals who know how to plaster with lime are on the decline these days, with the extensive adoption of drywall and gypsum veneer plaster. The quality of lime renders depends on the method of application and the quality of the substrate. Improper technique and shortcuts during application can result in excessive shrinkage, poor bonding, and compromised durability.
When you choose RPV Construct for your lime rendering projects, here’s how we deliver workmanship that’s a class apart:
- Always checking that the underlying masonry and bedding mortar is structurally sound, to avoid problematic and expensive redos.
- Ensuring that the substrate is adequately dry and properly prepared, free of dirt and contaminants.
- Physically removing any vegetation, including trivial-looking weeds, lichen, and moss, and treating those regions with biocides to prevent premature damage to the render.
- Appropriately repairing any damaged masonry, brickwork or missing stone pinnings to make the surface flat for longer-lasting lime renders.
