Heritage Paint and Finishes in Canterbury

Soft distemper was the standard interior finish for lime plaster until the mid-twentieth century. Modern vinyl emulsion over original lime plaster creates a moisture barrier that causes blistering, peeling, and recurring adhesion failure.

For most rooms, a quality breathable emulsion such as Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion or Little Greene Intelligent Matt Emulsion is the more practical alternative.

Limewash is breathable and compatible with the lime mortars and renders used in pre-twentieth-century construction. It is applied in multiple thin coats, each carbonating before the next.

Where modern masonry paint removal is not practical, a breathable silicate mineral paint such as Keim Granital is the appropriate alternative.

The most important step in applying any heritage emulsion to lime plaster is the primer. Lime plaster type is assessed on site: original hair-reinforced, later lime plaster, or gypsum skim. Each requires a different primer.

Georgian properties suit neutral stone tones, warm off-whites, and pale greys. Victorian reception rooms were often finished in deeper tones: burgundy, Prussian blue, and deep green. Arts and Crafts interiors suit ochres, sage greens, and terracottas.

Our decorating partner works with Keim mineral paints for exterior masonry, Farrow & Ball and Little Greene for period interiors, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint for Arts and Crafts properties, and Earthborn Claypaint where maximum breathability is the priority.