AM Renovations

Journal

Understanding old buildings.

Costs, materials and methods explained without the mystery — so you can make good decisions about your building.

These guides answer the questions owners of old buildings actually ask us: what work costs, how long lime takes, which materials belong on a solid wall and why the previous 'fix' made the damp worse. Written from site experience, not sales copy.

  • Costs — honest UK price ranges for lime plastering and rendering, and what moves them
  • Materials — lime vs gypsum, cement render damage, breathable paints
  • Repairs — lath and plaster ceilings, damp in solid-wall houses, bathrooms and kitchens

Every guide carries a published date and gets reviewed as prices and best practice move. If your question is not covered, ask — the next guide usually comes from a reader's building.

All guides

Read the guides.

GuideWhy old buildings need breathable materialsGuideLime plaster vs gypsum: which does your building need?GuideWhy cement render damages old buildings (and what to use instead)GuideHow long does lime plaster take to dry?GuideBreathable paint for lime plaster: what actually worksGuideRepairing lath and plaster ceilings: a practical guideGuideCan lime plaster be used in bathrooms and kitchens?

Got a building question?

Send photos and a description — we will tell you honestly what it needs, even when that is less work than you feared.

Get a quote
AM Renovations

Let’s protect another piece of history.

Tell us about the building, the materials and the work you are considering.

Give at least one way for us to reach you — email or phone.

We only use your details to reply to this enquiry.