The Lime Handbook

This lime handbook has been written and produced by Nigel and Joyce Gervis, founders of Ty-Mawr Lime Ltd.

The handbook sets out to make lime more accessible as a building material giving projects a much better chance of success. There are many comprehensive books on lime available now, this handbook is different, it is very focused in the following areas : 

- the history and properties of lime and the way in which it helps to care for buildings, the environment and our own health;

- guidelines for specifying different types and blends of lime for different applications and attempts to explain the differences using tables and graphs

- step by step illustrations on the stages of lime plastering and pointing/building using colour photographs

- the purposes and application methods for shelter coats and the stages of limewashing and offers up alternatives for those situations where limewash is maybe not appropriate

Finally, it introduces the reader to the latest developments and techniques for using glaster and lime hemp plaster, as well as limecrete floors and how to incorporate lime in upgrading the insulation value of solid wall constructions, new timber-frame buildings and in warm roofs.

The book was developed to support our courses and information seminars but we are now making it available to support our clients in their endeavours to specify and use lime appropriately and successfully, please let us know if you would like to purchase a copy (£20.00) when you place your order (in Special Instructions) or email us. 

It is also available via a limited number of outlets including the CADW bookshops.

Please note - it in no way replaces the need for practical experience of the products, we always advise that a builder/plasterer experienced with applying these products is used but it will hopefully help and re-inforce points to help minimise common mistakes - ensuring the golden rules highlighted in the book are followed will undoubtedly reduce the chances of failures which is what we all want - lime works when the right lime is used for the right situation and applied properly!