Building with Lime

[johnM]

I was wondering if anyone could help with a couple of questions on using lime.

Does anyone know anything about using lime based mortars and plasters with modern building techniques?

What are the pros and cons of using hemp with lime to render the inside of walls for insulation?

Thanks for any ideas or information.

[Davie Crockett]

Hi John,

have a look here: http://www.ecomerchant.co.uk/ they imply on the fact sheets that you can use lime mortar in modern builds.

with regards to insulation, mixing hemp fibre with mortar wouldn't necessarily give much insulation as the trapped air is largely excluded but it would increase it's structural integrity as horse hair does.

There's a range of natural fibre insulation here: http://www.ecomerchant.co.uk/index.php? ... ex&cPath=8

You could also have a look here: http://www.ben-law.co.uk/
Interesting topic, thanks, it's given me much food for thought with a project I've got in mind.

[caithnesscrofter]

i believe hemp in plaster wouldn't do a huge amount for insulation although it does work well as insulation in say earthen floors. After tamping your drain rock in the floor u would mix hemp with a clay slip & pack this in a layer several inches thick, let dry then continue laying your mud subfloor on top. If u laid underfloor heating in the subfloor as well it would be toasty! I've thought about the same w hemp plaster for lowering u value in cob walls however, i concluded from different info that the only way 2 'possibly' make a dent in the value would be thru a whole northwall cob bookcase plastered with a thick layer of hemp plaster! Eek! Isonat also make a hemp batten insulation which is good i hear. If u find any different figures 4 the hemp plaster/insulation i'd be interested in hearing about it.