Peeling Paint On New Lime Render

[JROBNO24]

Hello Everyone,

 

About a year ago, we had the entire outside of the house re-rendered to replace the cement base render with a lime base render. The house is a late Victorian build (1880s) with no damp proof lining. 

 

The rendering was finished around March and painted soon after. Beeck Renosil Fine Mineral Paint (suitable for lime render) was then used after applying a Beeck Fixative first. 

 

Since then the paint has slowly been peeling off on all the walls that face south west (where most of our weather comes from). These walls are now just a mottled, patchy, cracked mess (see close up picture). I can confirm that the render itself is still solid and not shot. There are a couple of small hairline cracks in the render, but otherwise the rest of the cracking is in the paint work. 

 

I reached out to the supplier of the paint to try and find what's going on. I knew lime would be hard work, but I didn't expect this to happen on such a scale so soon. They suggested, I remove the paint and then repaint with a coarser Beeck Mineral paint first to fill the hairline cracks, and then paint with the finer Beeck mineral paint that was originally used. However, what they haven't told me, and what I'd like to ask here is:

- Why has the paint not stuck, like it has on the North Eastern facing walls? 

- How do you remove paint off of the lime render without damaging the render?

- Do I have to apply the Beeck Fixative for both the coarse paint layer and then the finer paint layer?

 

Any insights would be gratefully received. 

 

Cheers

 

Jonny

[Roger440]

Hmmm. Interesting to say the least, but not in a ggod way i guess.

 

Done some limework, but cant suggest anything. 

 

Might be  worth posting on the period property forum, though some are hardcore limeists, who will insist only limewash will do. Though in fairness, it wouldnt have done this.

 

[Gus Potter]

49 minutes ago, JROBNO24 said:

Why has the paint not stuck, like it has on the North Eastern facing walls? 

I suspect it's because you have rushed the process. 

 

The walls will still be drying out. I hope the lime render was Non Hydraulic lime, relies on carbonation from the air. 

 

52 minutes ago, JROBNO24 said:

How do you remove paint off of the lime render without damaging the render?

You probaly can't. Just let time take it's course and suck it up. Wait two years and let the building settle in, the lime mortar and walls adjust to the new regime. 

 

 

[Roger440]

1 minute ago, Gus Potter said:

I suspect it's because you have rushed the process. 

 

 

 

 

 

Indeed. The OP says it was done in March, which is rather early in the year to be doing lime id have thought. And painted straight after, so you might well be right.

[JROBNO24]

27 minutes ago, Roger440 said:

 

Might be  worth posting on the period property forum, though some are hardcore limeists, who will insist only limewash will do. Though in fairness, it wouldnt have done this.

 

Thank you for the tip. 

[JROBNO24]

34 minutes ago, Gus Potter said:

I suspect it's because you have rushed the process. 

 

The walls will still be drying out. I hope the lime render was Non Hydraulic lime, relies on carbonation from the air. 

 

You probaly can't. Just let time take it's course and suck it up. Wait two years and let the building settle in, the lime mortar and walls adjust to the new regime. 

 

 

This makes sense. Thank you. I imagine the walls would have been wetter given the direction they face, and so I can see how not giving them time to dry out before painting it would cause the paint to peel off. I imagine if we give it another year, most of the paint will have fallen off anyway. 

[Gus Potter]

23 minutes ago, Roger440 said:

so you might well be right.

Aye and no.. but that is my first thought. 

 

Often I look at old buildings / renovations SE wise and think.. if we have time on our side then lets use lime mortars and renders and implement the traditional crafts.. be it an elegantly cut timber roof or what ever. 

 

But it's rare to find a sympathetic Client that just wants to do old simple stupid stuff. 

 

It's not actually stupid at all. It's actually practicing an art and a craft using traditional materials.. that you have to often make work to modern design code loadings and deflection limits.

 

The deflections for example become an issue when say getting warranties from glazing providers. This is a dilemma.. you can't have your cake and eat it. 

 

You have to be able to consider the old and the new.

 

I have to, as at some point, folk might ask me to sign off on it. The big challenge for me is to strike a balance, be creative that works for all. 

 

And that is one of the great parts of my job. 

36 minutes ago, Roger440 said:

he OP says it was done in March,

This is the first place to look. 

 

[Gus Potter]

1 minute ago, JROBNO24 said:

This makes sense. Thank you. I imagine the walls would have been wetter given the direction they face, and so I can see how not giving them time to dry out before painting it would cause the paint to peel off. I imagine if we give it another year, most of the paint will have fallen off anyway. 

Don't panic. 

 

Take your time to figure out what is causing the paint to flake. Just ask loads of questions on BH before you spend any money.