Hicks Plastering have a wide experience in specifying and applying durable breathable exterior lime renders & lime harls. Lime harling is the traditional coating for masonry buildings throughout Scotland. It is a mixture of sand and lime which can be either cast on by hand or spray applied to create a textured weatherproof finish. The texture creates a larger surface area and also allows the wind to catch the surface which helps keep the walls dry thus allowing the walls to better retain heat.
We have successfully applied thousands of square metres of lime harling throughout Scotland, from Grade A listed buildings and churches to humble cottages and a large number of straw bale houses plus many other natural backgrounds with a need to breath. We have vast experience using different types of limes including hot high calcium lime mixes, NHL limes to modern pre-bagged  technical lime based render.
Lime harling can be left natural, pigmented or lime washed or painted using a breathable silicate paint.
​We are always happy to discuss the options available based on the nature of the underlying stone work and the level of exposure to which the building is subject to.

Blairs Steading, Altyre Estate.
Lime Harling

The Glasgow School of Art now occupy this grade A listed building, which was designed by the Architect Archibald Simpson around 1840. We were asked by Historic Scotland to ​replicate and replace the unusual original pigmented mussel shell Lime Harling .

​Portsoy Cottage
Lime Harling

This delightful traditional fishermans cottage in Portsoy was suffering from damp caused by a non breathable cement render.

Gate Houses, Dunecht Estates.
Thermocromex

​The buildings were originally lime harled and lime washed. The pointing to the front elevations and gate pillars had been replaced with cement. All other elevations had been rendered with cement.