09/03/2026
Working on a Grade II listed building means modern shortcuts aren’t always an option.
On the internal walls we’ve created a 30mm fire break using a traditional 3-coat lime plaster system — base coat, medium coat and finish coat. Each layer has to be applied and left to cure before the next goes on. Slow work, but essential for the building.
Historic buildings like this were originally built with lime mortars, which allow the walls to breathe and move naturally. Over time, modern cement repairs and non-breathable paints stopped that process, trapping moisture in the walls.
That’s why we’ve taken everything back to brick, raked out the joints and reinstated the walls using lime-based materials, following guidance from York conservation to protect the fabric of the building.
On the external walls we’re using a different process — keep an eye out for the next video to see that.
