46-48 Covered Market - The rationalisation of the wall finishes
Martin Redshaw surveying the walls and ceiling plaster
Specialist lime plastering
During the works Croft Building and Conservation engaged a specialist plasterer Martin Redshaw, to undertake the lime plastering of the brick walls. From the outset Martin understood what we were trying to achieve. Martin was not happy with skimming over the very thick layers of gloss paint so these had to be removed by hand methods (literally scraping off the paint).
One of the unresolved aspects of the repair was how to resolve a deep hole in the brickwork left following the removal of tile grout. Martin applied a stainless-steel mesh and lime rendered over it. Having understood the philosophy of the restoration, Martin took great care in replicating the brick bonding in the flat plaster – rather than leaving it flush so that the finishes are seamlessly integrated. The overall result was very pleasing indeed.
The art of the plasterer - Martin’s recreation of the brick bonding in an area of damaged brickwork
Background
In order to understand the full scope of repairs an opening up exercise was carried out by Oxford Direct Services in May 2019. The opening up exercise revealed that the condition of the brick walls was poor and a simple solution was require to improve the appearance whilst acting as a suitable finish for the unit.
Rather than introduce modern materials our preference was to find a traditional solution. The proposed solution - a thin lime plaster skim which could be applied across a multitude of finishes, with a pleasing result.
A purpose made specification was developed with the lime centre in Winchester who recommended an eco-mortar by St Astier. The eco-mortar is a modified lime plaster, that is suitable for applications over cement pointing and existing paint which an ordinary lime cannot. The eco-mortar could therefore be applied across the walls improving the overall appearance. The specification was for a thin 2-3mm lime skim so that the appearance of the brick grinned through the plaster.
Final wall finish
james mackintosh architects limited
First Floor, 21 The High Street,
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
OX7 5AD
01608 692 310 / 07880 727 150