We recently completed a full internal lime plaster restoration in Bollington, just outside Macclesfield — a project that covered three floors of a traditional period home. The existing plaster had failed in several areas, so we stripped everything back to the masonry before rebuilding the walls using a 50 mm Best of Lime Warmcoat system, finished with a Chalk Down Lime fine top coat.
The first stage was to hack off all existing plaster across the three floors. This has to be done carefully to protect the underlying structure while ensuring a clean, solid base for new work. Once back to bare masonry, we brushed and cleaned the walls, then applied a natural hydraulic lime slurry to create a good key for the new plaster coats.
Older properties in Bollington, Prestbury, and Rainow often have a mix of stone and brick backgrounds, so taking the time to prepare each surface properly is essential for long-term stability.
We then applied Best of Lime’s Warmcoat, a breathable insulating lime plaster designed to improve thermal performance while remaining completely natural. Applied in multiple passes to a total thickness of around 50 mm, it provides both warmth and breathability — ideal for solid-walled homes.
Once the walls were built up and ruled straight, we hand-formed all square arrises — neat, crisp edges that define the corners and reveals. Forming these by hand rather than using metal beads keeps the finish authentic and sympathetic to the original fabric of the building.
The top coat was completed using Chalk Down Lime fine finish plaster, which provides a beautifully smooth, natural surface ready for limewash or mineral paint. This fine top coat complements the coarser Warmcoat beneath it, giving a durable, breathable finish that looks right at home in period properties.
The transformation across all three floors is striking — the walls now feel solid, warm, and dry, while maintaining the natural character of the building. The combination of Best of Lime Warmcoat and Chalk Down Lime finish creates a fully breathable system that allows moisture to move freely through the structure, preventing damp and ensuring the home remains healthy for years to come.
If you’re in Bollington, Macclesfield, or anywhere across Cheshire, and your plaster is failing or you’d like to improve insulation naturally, Ayres Plastering can supply and apply a full lime system tailored to your building.
View the project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQXAEE9jS_Q/?igsh=MWNzdTJ5Y2NlcnNkYw==
