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This means that no further coatings, whether that’s lime wash, paint, or any other product, should be applied until it has had sufficient curing time.
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If you are applying new lime your supplier or specialist plasterer should be able to advise on curing times, but as a general ‘rule of thumb’ we suggest that for every 5mm thickness of lime it needs a minimum of 4 weeks to cure (sometimes longer). Unlike modern gypsum plaster, lime plaster not only has to dry but also cure, so any ‘coverings’ for lime plastered surfaces should be carefully considered. Its high level of breathability makes it ideal for renovation or restoration projects of older buildings where it would have been used traditionally. New lime plaster is highly caustic and usually requires specialist application, but when successfully applied it provides a highly breathable, flexible but very durable substrate. In fact there is evidence of lime being used for ancient Egyptian monuments, and the Romans used it regularly. It has been used for thousands of years, and when fully cured is extremely durable and hard-wearing. Lime plaster is a traditional building material which, in basic terms, is made by burning limestone, then slaking it with water to form a plaster that hardens with age.
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