Lime Rendering and Pointing for Cornish Stone Homes

Cornwall is full of beautiful stone buildings: cottages, farmhouses, barns and boundary walls that have stood for generations. Many were built with stone and lime, and looking after them properly means understanding how they were made.

Cornish Building Company carries out stone rendering, lime pointing and traditional Cornish walling across Cornwall from our base in Wadebridge. In this post, we explain why lime matters on older stone buildings and what to think about before starting work.

Why Lime Matters on Old Stone Walls

Traditional solid stone walls were built to "breathe". Lime mortars and renders allow moisture that gets into the wall to escape again, rather than becoming trapped inside it.

Problems often start when these walls are later repointed or rendered with hard cement. Cement is much less breathable, so moisture can get locked in behind it. Over time that can lead to damp inside the building and damage to the stone and joints. On solid stone walls, lime is usually the right choice over cement, and we will explain why for your particular building.

Signs Your Stone Walls Need Attention

It is worth getting walls looked at if you notice:

• Mortar joints that are crumbling, cracked or missing.
• Cement pointing or render that is cracking or coming away.
• Damp patches on inside walls of an older stone property.
• Loose, bulging or failed stonework or cladding.
• Damaged features such as granite quoins.

Our Stone and Lime Services

• Lime pointing. Raking out failed or cement-based joints and repointing in a suitable lime mortar.
• Lime render. Applying breathable lime render to solid walls, matched to the building.
• Stone cladding and repairs. Rebuilding failed stonework and cladding with the correct support and detailing.
• Traditional Cornish walling. New and rebuilt stone walls, including boundary and garden walls.
• Granite detailing. Replacing and matching features such as granite quoins.

Find out more on our stone rendering and lime work page.

A Recent Example in St Mabyn

At a property in St Mabyn, the existing stone cladding and granite quoins had failed after the original installation by another contractor. We completely rebuilt the affected areas with the correct stone support system and drainage, new stainless steel wall ties and reinstated cavity trays, before fitting new granite quoins to match the original design. It shows how important correct detailing is, not only the visible finish. See the St Mabyn stonework project.

How We Approach Lime Work

1. Site visit. We inspect the walls, look at the existing mortar or render and discuss any damp or failure.
2. Specification and quotation. A clear, written quotation setting out method, materials and timescales.
3. Preparation. Careful removal of failed material without damaging the stone.
4. Application and curing. Lime needs the right conditions to cure, so we plan work around the weather and protect fresh work.
5. Handover. We walk through the finished work with you and give maintenance advice.

Things to Consider Before You Start

Matching existing work. Colour, texture and joint profile all matter, especially on character properties. Samples help agree the finish before work begins.

Timing and weather. Lime is sensitive to frost, heavy rain and strong sun while it cures. Cornish weather can change quickly, so timing is part of the plan.

Listed buildings and conservation areas. Some properties need consent before changes are made to external walls. We can advise on whether planning or listed building consent may apply to your property.

Lime Work as Part of a Bigger Project

Stone and lime work often forms part of larger projects. If you are taking on an older building, it may sit alongside a barn conversion or a full property renovation, where getting the walls right early helps everything that follows. Take a look at our all services page to see the full range of work we carry out.

Stone and Lime Work Across Cornwall

We work on stone buildings throughout Cornwall, from North Cornwall villages around Wadebridge and Padstow to towns such as Truro and beyond.

Common Questions About Lime Work

Can cement pointing be replaced with lime? Often, yes. Failed or cement-based joints can be carefully raked out and repointed in a suitable lime mortar. We will look at the condition of the stone and joints during our visit before recommending an approach.

Is lime render only for old buildings? Lime is most closely associated with traditional solid-walled buildings, but we also carry out stonework on new builds where natural stone is part of the design.

Can you rebuild a garden or boundary wall? Yes. Traditional Cornish walling, including new and rebuilt boundary and garden walls, is part of our stone and lime work.

Talk to Us About Your Stone Walls

If your stone home, barn or wall needs repointing, rendering or repair, we would be happy to take a look. Call Cornish Building Company on 01208 816991 or get in touch through our contact page to arrange a site visit.