Plastering Traditional Cottage

Bluscreendream

Hi guys,

Just looking for some advice here, I bought myself a little cottage which is over a 100 years old. It has since been pebble dashed with quite small stones and Im now planning to try and plaster it in the traditional style of the cottages you would see for example on the Aran islands. I've enclosed a pic to show the finish Im hoping to achieve. My question is I'v never done anything like this and would it best to hire somebody to do this or is it something i could do myself. All ideas/info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks guys!

hippychippy

Definitely hire someone in for this, if it's done wrong, it will look brutal. It takes a lot of care to do it the old way. Although plastering techniques haven't changed much in the last hundred years or so, this is one that should definitely be left to the experts

Bluscreendream

Thanks for the reply Hippychippy, The exterior plastering is definately what will make it look authentic so as you advised I'm going to leave it to the pros. If you can reccomend anybody I'd greatly appreciate the info.

Cheers.

slimjimmc

If you're really going traditional then you're probably going for a lime render as opposed to the modern cement render. If that's the case then you'll need a specialist for the job. Your local CC's conservation officer might know someone.

Also ask these guys and you might be able to get a few bob towards the job if you're lucky.
http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/architecture/index.html

muggyog

Are you going to use lime plaster?

I've used this companies products ( They have an Irish distributor )

Great thing about lime plaster is you can lash it on!

Cement is naff!!

Bluscreendream

Thanks again lads for all the great info, I have a better idea now on how to approach this. Muggyog, thanks for the factsheet on lime, it was very interesting and if it's affordable I'm definately going to opt for this.

Cheers!