Sympathetic materials…
Old buildings need to breathe, which means water vapour can enter the wall and dry out again without causing harm or decay. e walls of earth buildings were often coated with a thin skin of earth plaster and covered with limewash, both of which are breathable materials that help to smooth the surface to deflect rain. Central heating, thick insulation and modern materials can take their toll on older buildings, so returning to traditional building materials is a smart solution for dealing with damp. In the past, renders, paints and mortars were often lime-based which, though less waterproof than modern alternatives, are usually more breathable. Diathonite plaster, a cement-free mix of cork granules, hydraulic lime and diatomaceous earth (a naturally soft sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into fine powder) is a modern material designed with traditional methods in mind, and has been used for the interior plasterwork of Miranda’s house. For this project, it was supplied by Ecological Building Systems. “It’s super absorbent and breathable so it’s an ideal solution for an old building like Miranda’s”, says builder Stephen Gebbels.