Author Archives: byrnesurfaces

About byrnesurfaces

conserver and repairer of historic surfaces

Lime wash colour matching

Posted on July 13, 2018 by byrnesurfaces

Occasionally an interesting job comes along; in this instance just a little limewash order but the colour had to match a rather bright green nylon fabric, the colour is close to a bright green apple. It was certainly not within … Continue reading →

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renovation of our lounge

Posted on October 30, 2017 by byrnesurfaces

The walls were still lime plaster, some on masonry and some on lath but all were painted with purple emulsion. They were pitted, some of the top coat of plaster was peeling off and the walls had been chased for … Continue reading →

Posted in Lime Plaster | 3 Comments

The 1:3 ratio

Posted on April 5, 2017 by byrnesurfaces

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/mythmix/mythmix.htm This article by Gerard Lynch was published in 2007. It’s been ten years and still the ready mixed lime mortar producers haven’t fully taken it on board. The most enlightening statement for me is this: “under analysis, the majority … Continue reading →

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Stamped plaster work

Posted on March 13, 2017 by byrnesurfaces

Stamped plaster work. Initial trials of stamping lime plaster with wooden blocks using an innovative plaster recipe. The plaster can be used as an ultra fine lime finishing plaster which can be applied 3-4mm thick and simply trowelled smooth but … Continue reading →

Posted in decorated plaster, Lime Plaster | 1 Comment

how to plaster a wall (first coat)

Posted on January 21, 2017 by byrnesurfaces

start with a bare wall, loose material removed, brushed down and lightly wetted . apply plaster around the edge like a frame ; i got the left hand one flat then some horizontal ribs to project the levels to the … Continue reading →

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my Japanese plastering trowels

Posted on January 13, 2017 by byrnesurfaces

These are the only plastering trowels I use.  Starting at 9 on the clock: a medium sized Jigane laying on trowel,  next a little really flexible polishing trowel, at the top a larger jigane, recently used for laying on the … Continue reading →

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Renovating old domestic plaster surfaces

Posted on January 12, 2017 by byrnesurfaces

A testing job for my own recipe JBLime finishing plaster but one that any other lime plaster may well have not managed so easily. The walls are generally old lime plaster but have been painted with emulsion, wall papered and … Continue reading →

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Recipe for course stuff

Posted on December 17, 2016 by byrnesurfaces

My recipe for course stuff: 3 parts lime putty 1 part horse hair about 30mm long 6 parts sharp sand method: put the lime putty in a mixing tub such as a large trug, add the hair and stir it … Continue reading →

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Tricks of the trade number 1

Posted on August 27, 2016 by byrnesurfaces

This wall, being damp, had over the years been repaired with a host of materials, plaster board, metal lath and cement, universal one coat and gypsum. All that was removed and the wall was pretty undulating and there was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Lime Plaster, technical stuff | 1 Comment

Lime for beginners training course. Cotswolds Rural Skills.

Posted on August 24, 2016 by byrnesurfaces

So another course has come and gone. We had fun. and sun. and got a lot of work and learning done. So what happens on a John Byrne led lime workshop? We start with an introduction to the ingredients: limestone, … Continue reading →

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