Lime vs Gypsum Plaster in Walthamstow

Lime plaster is the traditional plaster of older houses. It is softer, flexible and breathable, so it lets moisture in solid walls move out rather than trapping it. Gypsum plaster is the modern standard: quicker to apply, harder and smoother, but far less breathable. In an old solid-walled house, lime is usually the right choice for repairs. In a modern house or on plasterboard, gypsum is.

A large part of Walthamstow, around the Village, Higham Hill and the streets off Hoe Street, is late Victorian and Edwardian terraces with solid brick walls and original lime plaster, often on wooden laths for the ceilings. When those walls are patched or skimmed with gypsum, moisture can get trapped, and damp patches and blown plaster often follow.

Lime takes longer. It goes on in layers, needs time to cure between coats and is slower to dry before decorating. The finish is softer and slightly less perfectly flat, which many people prefer in an older house. Gypsum is the practical choice for modern extensions, newer houses, plasterboard and walls with no damp history.

Many jobs use both: lime for the external walls and original ceilings of a Victorian house, gypsum for the internal stud walls. We look at the walls and the house before recommending which.