11812 Lime plaster repairs

Lupo, Manoppello is now myabruzzohome ie has a new User ID. I suggest you pm her.

Thanks Sally: I love blue anything!

Lupins then??? lol I haven't seen them for years .....

[quote=lupo;112572] Can anyone advise on where we can source something appropriate and more or less ready to use, mature lime putty in tubs for example,[/quote]

Hi Lupo,

I too have looked into solutions for plaster coverings. Unfortunatley my Italian is very poor so couldnt find too much.
My father in law is very experienced in UK plastering so would be interested to find more as he is undertaking the task of finishing the walls later this year.

For the time being, in response to your question, is the type of thing you are looking for? .....

[url=http://www.lacalcedelbrenta.it/prodotti.jsp?idLingua=2&idProdotto=128&pgSel=2]La Calce del Brenta - -[/url]

Hope you find a solution.

You should be able to get pretty good advice on suppliers from the people who run:-
[url=http://www.forumcalce.it]Forum Italiano Calce - Home Page[/url]

We also had some useful guidance on suppliers (and indeed builders using lime) through the province authorities - I don't remember the exact name of the department, but it was the office supervising historic buildings conservation.

I know of some suppliers in the Rome area, but there should be something a bit closer to you.

Good luck!

Hi AngelDiMana and Learning By Error! This is good advice and these are two brilliant and complementary websites. The calce forum is a beautiful site, but not just this; it addresses some key theory and is extending my Italian! Yes, Calce del Brenta has almost certainly got what we're looking for - exciting - thank you! It will be some time before I can report back ADM, but I'll try and remember to.

Lupo,

Please make sure to let us know how you get on. I'll probably be looking fo you to give us some advice soon regarding plastering.

Cheers - Nigel

Hi yes I'm still here but I just changed my name !!

We've been doing loads of lime work on our place if you look at the website from 2006 page you'll see some pics.

In Abruzzo it was terribly difficult to find the raw materials.I started by contacting an Architect in Casalincontra who specialise in old buildings.They gave me an address for a builders yard but I still found it really difficult to buy nhl lime dry.I ended up geting large bags of hydrate from the local builders merchants.We mix this with water in large tubs , cover and leave for at least 6 months .This then makes what is known as lime putty and is mixed with just sand to make mortar.

Using lime is very satisfiying and the finishes can be very beautiful.Unlike cement lime mortar can break down and return to the earth again when a structure no longer stands.It can be very strong ( look at the forum in Rome) and you can even use it in damp or waterlogged areas.

If you do use lime though you must only use it between Oct and May. June if its not too hot is just about ok ( This applies to Italy rather than the UK) .High or low temps will prevent lime from 'setting' or going off. AND any lime work needs regular spraying with water to keep it from drying out too quickly.

Another benifit of using lime is that it remains workable for much longer than cement.You can mix mortar in a cement mixer but its tricky.If you do make the mortar too wet you can empty it onto a plastic sheet then leave covered overnight and by morning it will be easier to work.

You might be able to tell I just love it!!Anyone wants more info please email me.

oh and I may be wrong but I think grasello di calce is Italian for Lime putty but I've no idea if its matured? I've seen it in Castorama so it must be easy to find.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njga5Ce1fug]YouTube - Colorificio San Marco - Grassello di calce[/ame]

This guy seems to be using something like it but it doesnt look to me that theres any sand in the mix so perhaps Grasello is just a sort of thick limewash?

Nice to hear from you Manopello! That's just ordinary calce idrata from the builder's yards then?

That's what we use and we've got areas of pointing work (external) that are about 1 year old now and they seem to be very sound! Costs about 3 euros a 25kg sack.One sack will make up to 4 containers of putty ( I use empty containers castorama sells as they come with a lid but I've also found a builders yard who'll just give them away.

Its a bit difficult judging how much water to use at first.I made my 1st batch far too thick as I thought you wanted it to look like mozzarella cheese! BUT that happens as it matures when the extra water will go above the putty and keep it fresh.

Add water to dry lime and mix really well until its like thick but still runny(if you see what I mean) cream.You [B]must[/B] put on a mask as the lime is dangerous if you breath too much in and its amazing how fine the powder is.I dont find its too much of a problem on my skin but if you value your hair cover it up or you'll end up with a brillo pad!

With the patch up you will need to cut back to edges of the plaster so they slope rather than end bluntly and I think I would wet them well too before you apply each new coat.We are doing something like this in this room where because of damp some lime plaster had become 'hollow'.we took this off and i've now applied a harl coat of lime over the exposed stones.

Good luck let us see some photo's!

[quote=myabruzzohome;112841]Unlike cement lime mortar can break down and return to the earth again when a structure no longer stands.It can be very strong ( look at the forum in Rome) and you can even use it in damp or waterlogged areas.

[/quote]

This wikipedia on Roman concrete is quite concise - it might be of interest to some of you. The answer lies as much in the volcanic ash as in the lime!
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_concrete]Roman concrete - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/url]

[quote=myabruzzohome;112844][URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njga5Ce1fug"]YouTube - Colorificio San Marco - Grassello di calce[/URL]

This guy seems to be using something like it but it doesnt look to me that theres any sand in the mix so perhaps Grasello is just a sort of thick limewash?[/quote]

I am glad to see that people are interested in trying to restore their houses in lime, it has a great deal of advantages in protecting old buildings and as a material it is by far the most satifying to use .The information available on utube etc seems to be for more modern products associated with polished plaster finishes.You were right the first time, Grassello di calce is lime putty.You were also ok to use soaked hydrated lime, as a lime putty mixed with sand (although Grassello is preferable) We use it but only soak it overnight and have no problems. Keep up the good work, best of luck