Hemp and Lime

Gloves for working with lime

2011-05-02T15:29:00.003+01:00

Just answering a query: what gloves to wear when working with lime? Gloves are part of your kit, and like any other tool should be appropriate to the work. I have no shame in wearing marigolds, rubber gloves for house work, when working with hemp-lime plaster ; ) Just make sure they fit well. There are 2 gauges available here, I use the heavier black ones for hemp and lime. But the lighter ones are useful too, if you like working with your hands. Many builders we have worked with prefer the kind of woven gloves that are rubberised on the fingers and palms. Josh likes using them for stone work. Make sure your hands stay dry though or you may need to see my post on lime burns. Much depends on how messy you are, if your tools stay nice and clean then your hand will too. Finally for pargetting and other fine work I like to use surgical gloves so that I can feel my small tool and sometimes use my fingers too. They do break easily, so I usually have a box full, and replace the pair I'm wearing often. Other types of gloves should last well if you wash them as you go. Another tip I'd recommend is applying a coat of vaseline in the morning before work, so that it has time to absorb into the skin. So to summarise, professional plasterers and builders will usually wear woven rubberised gloves. Beginners and artists may prefer lighter gloves. The most important thing is to have an adequate level of protection.

Have you seen this plant?

2011-04-25T18:31:00.005+01:00

I am planning an experiment on the terrestrial algae known as Trentepohlia. I am looking for plasterers who have had experience of this rusty red plant material, which is very commonly seen growing on the outside of buildings in Galway and other parts of Ireland. If you have any thoughts on why and how it grows, particularly regarding the type of render, please get in touch. Thank you,

Save Irish Forests

2011-04-25T18:24:00.002+01:00

A bit off topic, but we'll need all the signatures we can to stop the sale of Irish forests. Please sign the petition on the website http://woodlandleague.org/ This is a matter of urgency. Please pass it on

What aggregate to use in ecobuilding

2011-02-25T11:15:00.002Z

I want to talk about the sand and other aggregates we use in hemp and lime plaster. This should apply to other mixes too. Firstly Sand: where does yours come from? A neighbour of mine told me that in the recent past people would collect sand from the river and wash it out in barrels. This seemed fairly low impact to me, so we gave it a go. The sand we collected had been dredged out of a harbour a mile or so from our house. So transport and environmental damage was low. If we had disturbed the delicate river bank this wouldn't have been such a good idea. The sand we collected was very fine. This led to some cracking of the plaster which had no hemp in it. But I would use it again. We have also used ground sandstone from the local quarry. (Commercial quarrying is not my favourite to be honest, which is something to bear in mind when deciding how much lime you want to use in your build. Making your own lime putty in the traditional way is preferable. And using as little as possible) A few weeks ago I attended a talk about eskers and their biodiversity. I didn't know an esker is a deposit of sand and gravel laid down by melt water rivers beneath glaciers. They look like low serpentine hills running across the landscape. Because of the relative high drainage compared to the surrounding fields they tend to have very interesting plant, insect and other species. They are also commonly excavated for building aggregates. This is usually small scale for local use (think less miles) however the mining can upset species populations. This is quite a problem, particularly in some areas. I won't go further into the politics! So what sand can be used? We know beach sand is a bad idea because of salt and also habitat destruction. A nice idea is to use recycled glass. Have a look if there is someone producing glass "sand" near you. Another thing to remember is that waste on your building site can often be ground up and used in a mix. We have been able to use our slate waste for a path. A couple of minutes in a cement mixer will knock off the sharp edges. Does anyone else have any ideas?

Hemp Event in Spain

2011-02-21T08:48:00.002Z

This looks really great, I'd love to go! http://www.internationalhempbuilding.org/event.html

Cost of Hemp bales in Ireland

2010-12-01T12:05:00.003Z

If you are about to mix your own hemp and lime plaster, you'll want to know how much hemp hurds cost. Things change depending on availability, and type of hemp you are choosing to use. Usually the transport is the most significant cost, since no one is producing hemp here on a large scale as far as I know. Hemp is fairly bulky so the cheapest way to buy is to buy from those who are importing large quantities on a regular basis. My advice is to order well in advance so that suppliers have an idea of quantities to get in each harvest. Each bale should be in the region of 12 euros. I also advise over ordering, there's always someone who has run out and needs an extra bag. Any spare is useful in the garden as a slug suppressing mulch (much cheaper than slug pellets), or use it as animal bedding!

What happens when you use cement on an old building?

2010-11-29T13:32:00.003Z

If the old building is built with lime (or any other breathable material) and the outside is covered in a non breathable material, water will tend to accumulate in the walls. This can cause structural damage,cracks, damaged stone and brick work and damp problems. If then the inside is treated to keep damp out, more water stays in the walls. Like a straw. Water moving upward through the building will try to escape any way it can, usually between floors into timber and ceilings and even roof spaces. Is the roofing felt breathable? Probably not. We have seen so many houses in a complete state of damp and rot that have breathed a sigh of relief when the cement is removed, and lime is used instead. They dry up and are much easier to heat. It's as simple as that. How much does it cost? Very little. The builders day rates should be the same as with cement renders. The materials are coming down in price all the time. And just imagine the savings in terms of not having to do structural work. Please look after your homes, and save them for generations to come.

Phoebe needs to vent!

2010-11-29T13:15:00.002Z

Hi all, Some of you will know that the reason I haven't been blogging so much is that I am a student now. So I find myself in a rented house during term time, and guess what? Yes it's an old house, that has been covered in cement and is about to fall apart. Today I just met my land lady's trusted builder. Cue conversation along the lines of: no damp proof course, dry lining, the brick is the problem and those old chimneys shouldn't be in use, they let in all the water. (Incidently the fire is our only heating) It isn't in my nature to hold back, but my suggestion that the problem is caused by the cement just fell on deaf ears. Arrgh! Frustration! This old cottage which really should be listed is crumbling behind the facade. Thanks for listening. Stay warm, and keep spreading the word about lime!

Hemp and Lime in Australia!

2010-08-03T19:37:00.002+01:00

I'm so happy to hear from Paul, down in Oz. It cheers a girl up to hear of people doing sensible work to make the World a better place. Check it out at http://thehempbuilder.com/about

Lime burns

2010-07-27T00:05:00.003+01:00

Ouch! This happens to the best of us and they a usually more sore than you'd expect from their size. I had one last week which was like a tiny blister that is slow to heal. To avoid lime burns: wear gloves at all times, and keep your tools clean so they won't snag you gloves. My tip is to put on some vaseline half an hour before I work so that it absorbs into the skin. I don't like that dry feeling after a day's work. If however you find a piece of sand has been rubbing away in side your glove, and a little tear has happened wash your hand really well. Josh swears by a vinegar water rinse. I take some homeopathic hypericum and leave the blister open to the air. It should be gone in a few days. If you are reading this because you just spent all day working with lime with no gloves on and your skin looks red, go to hospital before it all starts coming off! However I've only ever seen that with cement, which is just as alkali. Likewise if its quick lime you just got covered in, oh my goodness you must be crazy!!! When you mix wear a mask and goggles. I find the powder builders lime can give me a sore nose. Washing out lime from the eyes be careful not to scrub around too much. The sand particles could cause more damage that way. It makes you wonder how the Romans managed!

Questions about Lime plastering

2010-07-26T23:44:00.002+01:00

I'd love to help those of you who find yourselves here looking for some basic information about lime plastering. First of all I'd advise that a course where you actually see and feel the material is much better. A good supplier is a must. They can often help with advice and run courses too. Material on line can be confusing as I've found each country has different names for things, particularly in referring to which layer. I stick to first and second coat, but you may of course apply more. The first coat usually has plenty of coarse sand, or other material such as hair or hemp, to stop the (top) second layer from cracking, and to even out the wall a little. It is applied to a damp- wetted down wall. You could use a ready mixed "coarse stuff" for this. See other entries for information about Hydraulic lime or lime putty. The drying time is slowed down by misting or creating a humid atmosphere close to the wall by hanging dampened hessian cloth a few inches away form the plaster in such a way that it won't blow and bump your work. This is removed! The second coat, some may call skim, will have a more finished look. This is achieved by the work, but also the mix may be heavier on lime, and the sand finer. Ready mix "fine stuff" is lovely to work with. This layer will be fairly thin. Watch out for cracks by the same methods of misting and damp cloth. Don't forget to use lime wash or lime based paint or the whole thing will be a waste of time. Lime plaster mixes are typically 1 part lime or to 2 or more parts sand.

French Lime Advice

2010-06-17T10:30:00.001+01:00

Just came across this little forum which may be of help to those of you in France http://www.totalfrance.com/france/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5401&start=60&sid=d2d0f8e46baf9f043a53d88b15e93569

Hemp and Lime course 2010

2010-05-18T10:45:00.001+01:00

Tuesday June 8th Training in hemp and lime with Henry Thompson This is sure to be a very good course for anyone wanting to learn about hemp and lime. An Gairdin, Portumna. €5 For further information and booking forms for the course please contact Sue Clarke, Galway Rural Development on 091 844335, email: sclarke@grd.ie

Lime events in Portumna

2010-05-18T10:39:00.001+01:00

TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS – INFORMATION EVENING Monday, May 31st at 7pm., Shannon Oaks, Portumna. A panel of speakers will talk about traditional buildings and traditional building methods. Máirín Doddy, Conservation Officer, Galway Co.Council Edward Byrne, Traditional Lime Company Christy Cunniffe, Fields and Monuments Adviser, Galway Co.Council Ursula Marmion, South East Galway IRD After this public lecture Galway Rural Development are running a practical course for people in the building trades to introduce them to the use of lime. This will be run on four separate days in June, in An Gairdin, Portumna. Days can be booked individually at €5 per session or as a series for €20. TRADITIONAL SKILLS TRAINING – USES OF LIME Tuesday June 1st Training in lime rendering and mixing with Ed Byrne Tuesday June 8th Training in hemp and lime with Henry Thompson Tuesday June 22nd Decorative Plasterwork with Seamus O Heocha and site visit to Portumna Castle Tuesday June 29th Stonewall building using lime mortar with Philip Quinn and Damien Conlon. There will also be site visits to buildings in Meelick and Laurencetown that have used traditional techniques. For further information and booking forms for the course please contact Sue Clarke, Galway Rural Development on 091 844335, email: sclarke@grd.ie

Hemp building products Dublin

2010-04-13T10:21:00.003+01:00

Just came across this nice place. They sell hemp bedding, and insulation too http://www.hempcompany.ie/node/186

When your lime plaster cracks

2010-03-12T13:18:00.003Z

Hi some one was asking about cracks, so I'll have a go at trying to explain. Without getting too scientific about it, cracking is due to the plaster loosing water in the first step of curing. You want to aim for it to slowly loose water, in order to minimise shrinkage. So the first step is thoughly wetting the background. This is best achieved with a mister type spray. You spray repeatedly until the background can absorb no more water and the spray just begins to flow down the wall. If its a dry or windy day, or the background is very porous, such as old bricks or cob, this will have to be done again and again. The plaster can pull moisture from the wall as it dries, and that will result in delamination. Secondly the plaster should go on as evenly as possible, so that thin areas dry at the same speed as thicker areas. If the plaster is made from lime putty as opposed to hydrated powered limes, the plaster will have to loose a lot of water and will shrink. This is why plaster with lime putty is made up months before it is used, and also why traditionally some type of fibre is added to resist shrinking and cracking. Thirdly, it is important to keep an eye on the plaster after it is applied. It helps to protect it against wind and sun, (and rain!) Again to slow down the drying. It's a good idea to very carefully mist the plaster when you finish and possibly again if you see tiny cracks appearing. Finally tiny cracks aren't the end of the world, lime is somewhat self healing, and a second coat will help.

New hemp building site

2009-12-08T12:45:00.001Z

Steve Allin has set up this new site after the success of Septembers symposium http://www.internationalhempbuilding.org/news.html

What happens if you don't use lime on your stonework

2009-11-27T21:04:00.003Z

Here are some pictures I took in France of the damage that can happen if your pointing mixture is much harder than the soft stone of your wall. This shouldn't happen if you use lime. Lime pointing and plaster should be thought of as sacrificial, in order to save the structure.

Types of hemp for building

2009-11-10T21:19:00.002Z

Thanks to Deb and Pili for drawing my attention to the need for some basic info. And thanks to all the readers of this blog, which has had over 10000 hits now. The hemp we use for builiding is the centre part of the stem, after the fibres are removed. They're called the hurds. There are three types of hemp for building that I know of. Building type such as St Astier sells, which looks like wood chips, the particles are clean and pretty uniform, and around 1cm. The Horse bedding type is rougher say up to 3cm, but varied and may contain bits of fibre, and the odd seed or leaf. As I understand, this is what's left from a high quality fibre extraction. I use this for building. It binds together nicely, goes on thickly, and gives a prety good insulation. You can work it very smooth, see Neil's work on these pages. alternatively if it looks too bumpy, pop a smooth lime and sand coat over the top. The third type of hemp is a 2mm screened fibre, left over from cloth making I suppose. This is whats in Hempire skim coat. You can use anything in lime plaster that will resist cracking, in the past people mostly used horse hair, but occasionally straw, or jute. Goat and human hair are ok too. Someone tried nettle fibres, with an ok result. Hemp is just todays waste, so this is a handy use for it! Good luck

Hemp and lime plaster with leaves

2009-10-27T19:56:00.002Z

Here are some photos forwarded from that talented sculptor Neil. He has added various leaves and bracken to his hemp and lime mix. Hope to be linking to his blog soon!

Hemp Plaster on Straw Bale

2009-10-27T19:41:00.002Z

This is a reply to a query from Deb in Australia, about a mix for straw bales. I don't post a mix usually because it depends on a few things. The exposure and how thick the coat will be; deeper than 1 cm and you'll need hydraulic lime to help it absorb co2 and so harden. I'd suggest either using a Nhl 2, or mixing a Nhl 5 with hydrated lime in 1;5 ratio. If you use hemp to create a smoothing coat, you mix 6 parts lime with water to a cream, add 3 parts ground lime stone, 1 part sand, and as much hemp as you can work with usually 8 parts maybe less. The mix should be sticky. Go over this when its half dry- looks yellow, with a lime and sand layer, one lime to 2.5 sand. Keep misting this as it dries to avoid cracks. If you want to use putty use it in this coat, but be sure to mix it up with the sand 3 months before you want to apply it. I don't use wire mesh on straw bale- you may want to paint on a slurry coat of lime and sand to get started.

Plastering an old stone wall with hemp and lime

2009-10-09T18:49:00.003+01:00

Sorry I should have posted these ages ago. Here are Caroline and Shelley wetting down the wall. You can see a platform to help us reach up to the top of the wall. The conduit for the electrics are in place. And the ceiling is plasterboarded. Be careful not to get a cold gap on the wall between the floors. Put a spot board up or have something to stand your bucket on. Hand apply and wooden float as you go. In this room we need 2 coats in places as the walls were very uneven. This wall dried out in a few weeks although we had up to 10cm hemp and lime. Thanks to Eugene and Caroline for their help.

Grouting with lime workshop oct 2009

2009-10-09T18:45:00.000+01:00

We will be running a workshop, Grouting with Lime Mortars, with Douglas Johnston (LICW) at the Traditional Lime Company on October 16th, 8.30am to 5.00pm. This will cover the use of lime and natural cements in the grouting and pointing of masonry buildings, bridges and quay walls. The issues of mortar strength, compatibility of mortars with sea water, and grouting techniques will be covered. Cost including lunch €80.00 If you wish to attend could you please confirm as soon as possible as there are limited places. Kind Regards Vincent Coller Traditional Lime Company Ltd. Tel. 059-9151750

Lime plaster on reed over sheeps wool

2009-10-09T18:36:00.002+01:00

Hi, This is a photo of Stiofan's self build. The structure is timber frame covered in reed mats, which are great for forming curves. The mats are lime or clay plastered, with ready mix from Otterbein in Germany. If you know a german speaker get them to help you look at all the lovely mixes on offer. As you can see from the photo Stiofan and Christine have used sheeps wool insulation in the cavity.

Natural Building at the Hollies 2009

2009-07-02T09:44:00.003+01:00

Hi all, Bumped into Jo Forsythe in Killaloe last weekend. She is teaching at the Hollies this summer, and having had a brief but very interesting conversation with her, I highly recommend popping in to visit. http://theholliesonline.com/courses-2009/

Increase in hemp, decrease in jute

2009-06-07T09:50:00.002+01:00

While we all love hemp and the benefits growing hemp can bring, spare a thought for the decrease in jute growing in impoverished areas of Bengal, India and Bangladesh. The market for jute has been waning since the 70's, but some areas have had up to 50% reduction in the last year alone. Maybe its time we all go and buy some new hessian to protect our drying plaster.

Fresco painting on lime plaster

2009-06-07T09:26:00.002+01:00

Just realised we've had no pictures for a while, so here's some of frescoes! So easy to do, very little pigment required for a bright colour that lasts. Perhaps better to do it onto a lime plaster skim than direct onto hemp and lime plaster which could be too rough for fine work. The following pictures are of Medieval frescoes in Carcassonne, image of the fresco at Holy Cross, and fresco painting at last years Electric Picnic

Lime course in Letterfract

2009-06-07T09:14:00.002+01:00

There will be a lime course by Conservation Letterfract. Please contact Sven or Janet for more details http://www.conservationletterfrack.ie/

First International Hemp Building Symposium Sept 2009

2009-06-07T09:02:00.003+01:00

Steve Allin is organising a Symposium in Kenmare 16-18 September. It sounds very exciting, check out his site for more details http://hempbuilding.com/ There are still places for stall holders and speakers, and many people are flying in from all round the world to share their work with hemp. Sadly I can't go! So I hope you'll let me know how it goes.

Learning from my mistakes with hemp and lime plaster

2009-05-24T08:22:00.002+01:00

I am about to start hemp and lime plastering in my own home, so I'll be updating this blog regularly on our progress. We have been living in our barn renovation for 5 years so I'm able to see what I'll be doing differently this time. Regular readers will know that I'm not so into the bumpy finish. It gets dusty with a dog and underfloor heating. So I plan on covering up all the hemp and lime with lime render this time. I also hope to use more decorative techniques. There are some places that I would call problem areas, that are prone to too much humidity. We have chosen to use clay beads in the place of hemp low down near the floor, since there is a high water table. They are not so easy to apply, but then maybe I haven't got the technique right yet. Henry Thomson gave me the idea when he said he would recommend them for a lime floor in the place of hemp. Talking of humidity, Steve Allen says in his book that hemp and lime plaster isn't suitable for areas with over 20% humidity. Because we all know lime is good for damp houses, it's easy to make the mistake of thinking lime will fix all damp problems. It won't! A basic check list before you start might be; 1 Remove any cement render or pointing from the outside first. Ed Burn says this is the most important step. If you trap moisture in your walls by stopping it from moving outwards, you will run into problems. 2 Point or preferably render externally with lime. I've seen a lot of damage from weeping stones, and where birds have picked out the old points. 3 Make sure your guttering is good, and leaf free! I have a fault between roofs that has made a whole wall wet. It looks awful, but easy to recognise the real damp from condensation mottling. 4 Dig a french drain around the building. Pretty obvious, to lead water away from your walls. Works wonders. Then there's no need for horrid injections of damp proof courses. That's all for now, more on this soon.

Courses at Ballymaloe with Stoneware Studios this Summer

2009-05-24T08:15:00.002+01:00

Hugh Dorian is holding a course a month at the Ballymaloe cookery school in Cork this summer. The first in June is about using lime in renovation. There are also courses in natural plaster finishes and understanding natural paint. Stoneware Studios is in the contacts.

Lime courses 2009 in Ireland

2009-04-14T18:40:00.002+01:00

I guess it's that time of year when people start looking for courses, so I thought I'd point you in the right direction, since I'm not teaching much myself this year. Professional plasterers looking to get into lime should contact Ed Burn, at the Traditional lime company in Carlow. He runs workshops every week for professionals, and he has all the materials there to try. I believe the workshops are free! But any of the contacts listed should be able to help. Another one to add is http://homepage.eircom.net/~mcafee/ DIYers are welcome to e mail me, or come and visit here in June. If anyone else would like to offer a bit of hand holding, or pass on advice they wished they were given before they started, please e mail or leave a comment here. Maybe one day we'll get a forum going! I'd also like to add here that I'm getting so many enquiries from plasterers now, I think the world really has come around to using lime, which is great! Also the price has come down for getting someone in, which I'm certainly pleased about. If you're thinking of employing a plasterer, check their mix. Most plasterers would be happy to try using lime, they already have the skill, just get them to have a chat with Ed or Hugh first regarding materials.

Flint and lime

2009-03-31T10:17:00.003+01:00

Last year I meet Gerry Williams, the best flint wall builder! Here he is with the ruin he created at a friends garden. He worked with the late John Ashurst, and created the ruinette at westdean college. (John Ashurst's book Consevation of Ruins is top of my wish list at the mo.) Gerry gave me many time and money saving tips for working with lime putty. As far as I know he's involved in some Building conservation courses at Westdean this year. They are aimed at professionals. There are lots of great courses at the neighbouring Weald and Downland museum, in cob, brick, flint, stone, and wattle and daub. I noticed they have used a photo of my pargeting in this years brochure. Thanks guys! Fame at last! see www.wealddown.co.uk The great thing about working with hemp and lime is that any other building technique which uses lime is compatible. There are so many possibilities. If your interest in flint is more about making stone age tools, check out www.beyond2000bc.co.uk, I met them at last years Electric picnic, and wished I had time to give it a go.

Hemp and lime plastering workshops June 2009

2009-03-29T12:40:00.004+01:00

I will be hemp and lime plastering here in Clare 8-19 June (except saturday 13th). It will be open house for anyone to come and join in. We'll start at 10 finish by 5. Please bring gloves, something to eat, old clothes to wear, and photo's of your own projects please. If you are traveling far you can camp but let me know in advance. Email phoebeob at gmail dot com

Lime paints

2009-03-29T12:06:00.002+01:00

In response to Ray's question about lime paints. I haven't used Earthborn paint myself, but they do seem quite nice. I would be reluctant to use lime wash anywhere apart from externally and maybe ceilings-not that if it's done well over a good background it should be a problem. I have tried St. Astier lime paint, which comes in various colours, as a dry powder. (Save on transporting water) Its probably the next step in durability. Following that I have used Farrow and Ball's casein distemper, they have really inspiring colours, and are easily available. However they are not suitable in areas of high humidity, bathrooms and kitchens, I have learnt by mistake!! The diffusivity is just not high enough. Every additive compromises breathability. Probably the best paint is from Beeke. Aglaia is the internal paint. I have used the external mineral paint, which importantly has a 30 year guarantee, and is applied after etching (with a fluid bought separately). The etching has the effect of opening the sinter skin, making the surface open, so the lime can attach to the plaster. If anyone wants to lime wash over cement that's the only way you'll get it to work. The other thing to bear in mind when choosing natural paints is don't keep them sitting around too long, they can develop moulds. And some natural paints are not lime compatible, choose one's that make it very clear they are for lime. Finally coverage over rough hemp and lime is not great! I've found using a creamy off white the best solution to keeping costs down. Otherwise cover the hemp with a fine lime coat, choosing light coloured sand if possible. Back at the beginning I tried to lime wash first with builder's lime, then used casein distemper on top. The paint has chipped off where a chair back bumps. The inferior lime wash was to blame, not recommended!

Hemp and lime course with Steve Allin

2009-02-06T12:38:00.001Z

Steve Allin, author of Hemp Building will be teaching a course next month. The days activities will include the theory as to why to use this material, mixing , application and finishes. Hemp Plastering Class with Steve Allin Saturday 14th March 2009 9.30am-5.00pm cost €90 inc lunch venue K.A.T. Gortagowan, Sneem, Co Kerry contact; hempbuilding@eircom.net or phone 064 6641747 Please bring work clothes and strong rubber gloves.

Using hempire's skim plaster

2009-01-18T09:48:00.005Z

I have wanted to talk about using Hempire for a while. Hempire have 2 ready mixed products, one they call building plaster which slightly resembles the hemp and lime that I mix by hand, and another that has very tiny particles of hemp fibre, that they call skim. Both products were developed for application with a trowel by a professional plasterer. Also it is hoped that by supplying a ready mixed plaster that u values will be easier to work out. It is definitely quite nice to start work without having to get out the mixer, and we certainly saved some time. However I just prefer my own mix to Hempire's building plaster since I find theirs too wet. Just down to personal taste. Where their building plaster came in handy for me was when the job was basically a skim and only need to built out in a few places. Drying times are quite different since this product is based on lime putty. I do suggest making a few experiments. The skim coat is a whole different story. I used it on our on going renovation in Sussex. This cottage doesn't have a single straight wall, and the first plasterers who came to look where of the opinion that everything should be ripped out. Not an option! I had chat with some building conservation experts who advised keeping as much of the original as possible. I'm still finding a little reluctance about hemp and lime in the UK, but I think this is just because it is a new product. But it is certainly an appropriate material. The biggest problem in the cottage was a ceiling with many cracks and a huge bow, and some loose material. It was horse hair and lime on lath. No plasterer would touch it! Also the weather was very hot, the roof space like an oven. I knew from trials that Hempire skim coat just does not crack even when baked in the direct sun. Now I'm not a plasterer, remember, so applying it was going to the problem. I managed though I don't recommend it! To prepare the ceiling the lose parts were screwed back in to place, flaking bits were removed, and one small part was patched with plasterboard. The whole ceiling was thoroughly wetted. I poured off the extra water in the skin coat bag, since mixing it in seemed to be too wet.You don't want the fibres to separate from the lime. Then I gave the mixture a good chop through, don't be tempted to skip even though it's ready mixed. Finishing was a bit tricky. The web site suggests rubbing down. Again make many trials with this. I wouldn't like to have to sand down any rough parts, the dust would be lime and recycled glass. You can see the results. If you are easily disturbed by uneven plaster look away now!! But in fact that is what we wanted, so it would look original. everyone else seems to like it too, and we have been inundated with requests to rent this cottage.

New Irish group for Traditional Buildings

2008-11-14T09:29:00.003Z

INTBAU is the international network for traditional building, architecture and urbanism. INTBAU Ireland was launched on 28 October 2008 in Belfast. To celebrate this, members of INTBAU Ireland produced an exhibition of classical designs from different parts of the world, including Ireland. The exhibition will remain in Belfast for one week and later this year will be shown in the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin. To see Intbau's work and join look at www.inbau.org

You tube film of hemp building

2008-11-14T09:23:00.003Z

I would like to share with you a you tube video of Helene Vidal's hemp and lime building workshops in France. You can see Helene building her roof with hemp and lime, as well as some tantalising glimpses of tadelakt.I hope it will inspire you! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a9gqzCX_p8 She speaks English well, so do leave her a comment

2008-09-26T09:00:00.003+01:00

Wwoofing

2008-08-06T22:02:00.004+01:00

If there is anybody interested in coming to Wwoof here in Ireland and has a interest in learning about lime, do get in touch, or look at

Ed Burn at the Irish Green Gathering

2008-08-06T16:51:00.005+01:00

Ed Burn of The Traditional Lime Company will have at a stand at the Irish Green Gathering this weekend. Ed supplies most of the materials I use, and is a very knowledgeable and helpful guy. Here he is demonstrating spray application of lime render.

Pargeting with hemp and lime

2008-08-04T20:49:00.012+01:00

I attended a recent course at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum to learn pargeting with a briliant lime plasterer Bill Sargent. Bill Sargent demonstrates pargeting You can see his work here. Bill does his work in a fine sand and lime putty mix, with hog hair finely chopped into it. I thought I'd try out pargeting with Hempire's new fine hemp skim plaster. Here's a picture of the results. Pargeting a heron in hemp and lime plaster.

How to build a cob house in pictures

2008-07-31T20:39:00.006+01:00

Here's a link to some photos showing how the cob house at Irish Seed Savers was built. We'll be adding pictures of how it was lime rendered soon. Regards to everyone involved, and many thanks for your time.

Electric Picnic and Strawbale project

2008-07-27T10:08:00.004+01:00

I'll be at the Electric Picnic this year in the new green craft area. We'll be looking at various lime based finishes and there'll be a chance to try Japanese polished clay plaster, and fresco painting. Come and say hi! In response to demand we're planning a strawbale building here near Feakle. We'll be starting the stone wall base this Autumn, then do the timber frame, and put up the bales next summer. We'll be lime rendering, and doing a shingle roof. I'm offering this project on a share and swap basis. So get in touch if you'd like to be involved in all or part of the process.

Taking the mystery out of white wash

2008-06-13T11:50:00.007+01:00

I have had a few enquiries about white wash lately so here's how to do it. First of all buy or make some lime putty. Buy it from The Traditional Lime Company or Stoneware Studios. To make it yourself buy a bag of hydrated lime from the builder's merchant and mix it up well with water, and leave it for 3 MONTHS. This is really important or it will chalk-rub off onto your finger. Make sure it has a good cover of water once it's settled in the bucket to stop it setting. When you're ready to paint mix the putty with plenty of water. About 1:3, or even thinner for new plaster. Many thin coats is the best. Always thoroughly wet the wall first. Why? So it doesn't flake off. Do that each time. Use a nice big brush. It's not necessary to have a special lime washing brush. Because the paint is so thin it splashes around, so cover up well and wash away splashes with lots of fresh water. Let each coat dry before applying the next, usually a coat a day. And that's it! Lime putty

Fran and Neil's hemp home

2008-06-12T09:56:00.017+01:00

I'd like to share with you some pictures of Fran and Neil's home. This house is off grid with solar and wind power, and rain water collection. Neil has really taken to hemp and lime, and acheives the best finish I've seen. He's adapted the classic mix to suit this highly polished sculpted look. Even more surprisingly he does this on his own very quickly! Neil has some other projects underway, and I hope to show you some more soon.

Smooth Finish Hemp and Lime "Logs" ! Starfish sculpture Slate Shelf with Hemp and Lime Bowl

Hi to the students from the Weekend in the Woods

2008-06-08T10:53:00.008+01:00

It's been a while but I wanted to say hi to those who came to the course in the woods. We finally finished the interior of the round house, and although there is still work to be done, there won't be a hemp and lime course in July. I'd like to thank all the participants, and congratulate them on their hard work. Here are some pictures.

Galway Self Build show

2008-06-08T10:28:00.015+01:00

Ed Burn of the Traditional Lime Company

Henry Thompson at the Old Builders stand

Marcus McCabe's Hempire display

My French counterpart

2008-05-27T12:51:00.007+01:00

While on holiday in France I met Helene Vidal who is building a hemp and lime house in the South of France. She teaches lime skills workshops and has a blog. Whether you speak french or not have a look at her site. In the first picture the bowl is made of hempcrete covered in tadelakt (a kind of polished lime plaster originating in Morocco)

Click on this link to see. http://blogs.aol.fr/electronlibre@neuf.fr/atelierbiocreation/

Stop press!

2008-05-23T14:11:00.002+01:00

I will be teaching 2 courses at Irish Seed Savers, 1-2 june and 7-8 june I still have some places available. We'll be applying a lime render to the exterior of the new Cob house, but don't be put off by the cob we'll be covering alot of ground (as usual!) and everything we learn can be used on stone and other backgrounds. Saul the Cob builder will be there to answer any questions regarding building with earth. Please don't forget to bring something to eat, wear old clothes and bring marigold gloves.

Hemp and Lime in UK

2008-04-28T09:35:00.005+01:00

It's been a busy Spring! So there's a lot to tell you. I was invited to do a display at Brighton Permaculture Trust's Green Architecture Day back in March. In some ways there seems to be more knowledge of hemp and lime here in Ireland, so I was introducing the idea to many people. Brighton has many old buildings that are full of damp. Most are built from a mix of flint and chalk. So hemp and lime could be a great way to provide insulation without compromising breathability, and also by using lime protect the building's integrity. Thanks to all those involved, and do check them out if you're in Brighton, they have an interesting earthship project. I had two more buildings to look at in Sussex at Easter. One was an old flint building which was undergoing major rebuilding. The architect had invited me to help them decide how to go about using hemp, as in the UK there are very few companies offering spray application, but no real information to enable people to do it themselves or as in this case get the specialist lime plasters to apply hemp as part of their job. The client was very clued up on breathability and had specified lime use throughout including as a mortar on an area which required blocks. He was also keen to use local materials, and was pleased to use UK grown hemp, and crushed chalk instead of ground limestone. Rather unusually several people we met using lime in Sussex were importing it from Ireland. We demonstrated a mix, which was applied thickly to the flint wall. The question was how to get the required U value without having to apply 2 coats by hand, and whether a ready mix system, such as St Astier would be more cost effective. The plasterers had also tried some test panels using lime putty but it was felt that it was drying too slowly and could not be applied thickly enough. It's great to see people so willing to try something new when all the red tape seems to be against it. The next cottage was built in 1707. This cottage had suffered from various bad building practises over the years and had been stripped back as far as possible within constraints of time and money, to improve breathability. We hemp plastered a lath and plaster party wall that was only 2" thick due to renovations on the other side during the 60's. It had been the neighbours hope that there was a cavity which could be filled with vermiculite, but we found no cavity at all. So hemp and lime was applied as a solution. Some original plaster, similar to hemp and lime The other job was having removed the cement pebble dash render on the front external wall, to re render with hydraulic lime on to brick and block work. Unfortunately although we began work on what seemed like a fine day we were struck with high winds lashing rain and finally sleet. The plaster's OK though, it has a nice rustic finish which suits the property!

Visits to hemp homes

2008-02-26T09:06:00.009Z

I had a trip down to Cork at half term, so I visited Steve Allin's home in Kenmare. Steve was out but his beautiful wife Aia showed me around. I was amazed at all the different types of plaster and finishes, some of which I had seen in Steve's book. It was great to see them for real.

Last week I went up to see Didi at Sunrise Educational Trust. Some of you might have meet her teaching cooking at Seed Savers. I met Didi when she came on the course at the Weekend in the Woods a couple of years ago. She has quite a lot of experience with natural building,and built a sand bag sauna at one work camp at her place. After the course she renovated an old barn with Hemp and lime to create a bakery. (You can sample the goods at Killaloe farmers market.) Last year she began a project to build a cast hemp meditation room. Bob from Celt got them started on the stone wall base, and more recently Saul, the natural building tutor, has been building a reciprical roof.

Diary update

2008-01-31T11:14:00.002Z

There will be a one day hemp and lime plastering day on Sunday 10th of February near Scarriff 10 -4, cost 60 euros, please bring marigold gloves, and a packed lunch. Wear clothes you'd be happy to throw away! I will provide tea and coffee. Please contact phoebeob at gmail dot com I will be attending Brighton Permaculture Trust's Green Architecture Day on 1st March, come and visit the display if you're in the Uk! Check out http://www.brightonpermaculture.co.uk/gad/gad08.html

2008-01-24T19:35:00.001Z

Update Pauli's round house

2008-01-24T19:23:00.000Z

Yesterday I revisited the Amazing Pauli James at her hemp house. The first time I saw this project was two years ago, while the Old Builders (see links) were creating the exterior walls. I've uploaded the photos so you can see how the mix was poured into shuttering from the inside. Pauli's house is now nearly finished to a very high ecological standard. The hemp walls have been lime plastered and painted with breathable paints. Yesterday is was cold and wet, but even without any heating the house was warm. Pauli had also used hemp insulation in the roof. It was lovely to meet someone with such enthusiasm and willingness to share, well done Pauli!

Round House Tulla

2008-01-24T19:12:00.001Z

Using lime on a roof

2008-01-15T10:45:00.000Z

I am in the process of slating my roof, and I was chatting to my supplier of reclaimed Killaloe slate about lime use in roofing. He said firstly that when he is removing old slates if the ridges have been fitted with lime, it is much easier to clean and recycle them, than if they have been fitted with cement. (Chipping away the old cement is more likely to crack the ridge tile) He went on to talk about how you might go about building up layers of a weak lime mix to bed the ridge caps using a stronger mix between them. Something to think about! Last year I met some other roofers who had just finished a job on a listed building they had been instructed to use a lime putty mix on the roof. It was their first time using lime, but they proudly showed me the beautiful results. Lime mortar can also be used to pack the verges and cover flashing round dormers, giving a great traditional finish

The problem with builders!

2007-12-16T09:44:00.001Z

I just had an e mail regarding standards in Lime plastering when you get someone in to do it for you. Apparently there are some builders out there are telling home owners that they are using lime, then doing a cement render with a bit of lime in it. This is a disaster! A lime render has to be done well by a professional and is worth spending that little bit extra in order to insure that your building breathes . You will save all that money in reduced heating bills, let alone the saving of not having to deal with ongoing damp poblems.Also reported were multi coloured finishes and cracking. Has anyone had this experience? Has anyone found a wonderful plasterer? Ed Burn at the Traditional lime company can put you in touch with reputable companies, his number is in the contacts.

How was it for you

2007-12-16T09:27:00.001Z

What are your experiences of building with lime? I have had some reports of people have problems with damp this year. Drying times have been slower. Of course lime isn't perfect, but it's a whole lot better than having mushrooms suddenly growing on your dry lining.... My personal gripe is that some of the hemp plaster I did in my own home when I was learning is a bit too bumpy and catches the dust. Alot! But it does look great when it's dusted...

Steve Allin's course at An Gairdin

2007-11-25T10:46:00.001Z

I participated in Steve Allin's hemp and lime course at An Gairdin yesterday. It was nice to catch up with Steve, who supplied me with materials for my barn, and supported me through my first attempts at getting the stuff to stick! After a discussion and slide show of amazing hemp buildings, a large group of us applied about an inch of Steve's hemp and lime mix to a long plasterboard wall. He rubbed a thin coat of bonding, based on gypsum and vermiculite, onto the wall first. The mix was then very easy to put up. He said he might have used a scud coat of lime had he had more time. He showed us how to float with a cut down plastic float, then a metal float, and finally a white washing brush dipped in water. This will be the final finish. Thanks Steve for a great day! I was very impressed with the Sister's beautiful eco building. I'd recommend a visit to An Gairdin if you're in the Portumna area. They also run courses in vegetarian cooking and organic gardening

Courses

2007-11-15T16:14:00.000Z

I am working out dates for future courses. So far there will be a hemp and lime work shop at my own home in January; a weekend course in hemp and lime plaster, lime plaster and lime paint on Clare Island last weekend in March; and lime plastering a cob building at Irish Seed Savers in May.

2007-11-14T19:12:00.000Z

2007-11-14T19:11:00.000Z

2007-11-14T19:08:00.000Z

2007-11-14T18:22:00.003Z

Hemp and Lime Plaster

Welcome

2007-11-07T13:17:00.000Z

Welcome to my Hemp and Lime page. I hope to discuss all aspects of building with lime here, and share some of the feedback from my courses for DIYers. I am based in Ireland, a great place to be building with lime! I will be posting some photo's of previous courses in the near future.