Using Natural Finishes: Lime and Clay Based Plasters, Renders and Paints - A Step-by-step Guide(3 Sustainable Building)

Using Natural Finishes is now available under the new title Clay and lime renders, plasters and paints. With the increasing awareness of eco-building techniques alongside the desire to make our homes healthier, the historical benefits of using natural renders and paints are being rediscovered. Using Natural Finishes is an in-depth guide to the selection, mixing and application of lime and clay based plasters, renders, paints and washes. Providing step-by-step instructions with detailed illustrations to show the practical elements of working with lime and clay-based finishes, the authors demonstrate how these natural breathable plasters and paints can be used on a wide variety of wall surfaces, including traditional and eco-build materials like cob, strawbale and stone, as well as modern plasterboard and concrete surfaces, with stunning results. Easy to follow DIY projects guide the reader through all aspects of using these natural finishes, with beautiful photographs of techniques and examples from the UK and abroad. Key words: cob, eco-building, natural building, strawbale, earthen plasters, earth plasters, clay plasters, natural paints, sustainable building, lime plasters, lime paints, lime wash, alis, casein, clay paints, eco paints, green paints.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Wall Structures, their Properties and Design Details Tools, Techniques and materials Lime-based Plasters and Renders Earth-based Plasters and Renders Paints and Washes Finishes around the World Resources Bibliography

About the Author :
Adam Weismann & Katy Bryce work with lime and clay on a daily basis through their company, Clayworks. They learnt these skills through restoring ancient vernacular buildings in Cornwall, and then began to apply the traditional techniques and materials to contemporary ‘eco’ builds. They have a passionate belief in the power of using these natural materials to benefit the health and well being of people, buildings and the environment. Adam and Katy are the authors of Building with Cob and Using Natural Finishes for Green Books.

Review :
An inspiring vision and practical guide to one of the oldest and most versatile building materials David Pearson, author of The New Natural House Book Felllow architects frequently tell me they don't like "hairy buildings", and so they consign natural building to some fringe activity carried out by a few self-build enthusiastic amateurs. Adam and Katy's book will hopefully lay this nonsense to rest, once and for all. With the level of technical detail and the beautiful photographs it is plain for all to see that buildings, using natural materials, can demonstrate a high degree of excellence in finish as well as providing answers to crucial issues such as indoor air quality and environmental impact. They demonstrate a level of professionalism and aesthetic sensibility that is a very valuable contribution to knowledge in the field Tom Woolley, Architect and professor at the Graduation School of the Environment, Centre for Alterna This highly informative and sumptuous book shows how the threat of climate change is also an opportunity to make buildings more beautiful Sunand Prasad, President, The Royal Institute of British Architects