Advice needed please - Victorian house

[Spicypumpkinlatte]

Hello everyone would someone give me a bit of advice please? I need to get the external walls of my Victorian property re-plastered because the current one (original plaster) is crumbling away in the top (3rd floor) sitting room. I have a quote from a plasterer who suggested putting insulation boards in place because the place is constantly freezing with original single glaze windows. Then I have done a bit of reading and some places seem to suggest lime plaster is the recommended option to prevent damp problems and some say it's fine to have modern plastering in top rooms. There is no damp in the house apart from a very small stable area next to the kitchen, with the kitchen being the warmest place in the house (which has modern plastering). Does anyone have any experience with a similar situation? Many thanks in advance!!

Your builder might be recommending fixing insulated plasterboard on timber battens. The plasterboard could then be skimmed for a nice finish. This would allow the walls to breathe. In any case though, I thought it was only solid stone walls than needed to be lime plastered, might be wrong though. Insulating the walls would not stop heat loss through the single glazed windows obviously. I would just double check where the plaster is crumbling, make sure it isn't damp due to a blocked gutter or downpipes or something.

Hi, a solid walled property should ideally always be lime plastered and lime rendered or pointed. Although you may not currently have any issues with damp, if the equilibrium chances, then damp may quickly appear For example, if the external render cracks. Do you know whats on the outside? Cement or lime? Breathable paint finish? If its lime, then you may get away with using gypsum inside.

To help with the cold, I would recommend an insulting lime plaster. We like using Warmcote by Best of lime or Cornerstone by Cornishlime. If you opt for boards, you could use Woodfibre boards with a lime plaster on top. Detailing is really important when using boards through. The window surround needs to be considered as its unlikely you will be able to board it. I would suggest using an insulating lime plaster on the reveals to help with the cold bridge. If you don't you could end up with condensation in these areas.

hope this helps