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natural plaster in timber frame









 

Getting Plastered 16th February 2019

I am frequently asked 'How did all this begin?' I have many answers to this question, depending on who’s doing the asking. They range from ‘it’s in my blood’ to ‘couldn’t help myself’, both of which are completely true.

I was born in a medieval timber frame house. Timber frames were my mum’s passion. She was a Local Recorder. No great surprise then that my very first renovation project was a two up, two down 17th century timber frame cottage. It had been empty for twenty two years and was a bit down on its luck (understatement). I was just nineteen but Practical.

Long story, but we took the roof off, floors up, piped potable water over a mile, installed a septic tank and some new-fangled connections by way of electricity and telephone! We put windows in, found a giant inglenook and finally, two adventurous years later we were ready for the final finishes.

It was at that stage I taught myself to plaster. Not yummy palatable lime or the slow build earth render that I would use now, but something that I won’t name suffice to say it was pink and came in a packet. Oh, and it set very quickly.

Due to my inexperience I started in the kitchen and worked my way round the tiny house. Now if you come to undertake such a project please learn from my mistake. To say that the final finish in the kitchen was ‘rustic’ is an understatement. However, by the time I had reached the back of the cupboards upstairs, you’ve guessed it, I was proficient in plaster management and the walls were perfectly slippy smooth. And the moral of my story is ..... to start somewhere that isn’t going to be readily seen, practice, practice, practice. I'm not saying you won't get plastered on the way, but little by little more stays on the wall and ceilings and there are less adornments to hair and clothes.

Photo on left shows daub panel in between timber frame. I'll write more about plastering with mud and brick dust next time! Interested in learning about building with materials from the local landscape? Book yourself onto my Natural Building Experience and learn from the mistakes I've made in my 40 year career with mud, sticks and timber frames.