16th century listed farm house in need of complete restoration. In need of a new roof, new floors. All walls had to be stripped back to to bare bricks. Some walls and chimneys needed underpinning and structural consolidation. All walls required lime replastering. External walls needed thermal insulation.
At the beginning of the renovation process we have done an in-depth survey to better understand the condition of the building. Measurements taken included gravimetric testing (drilled samples from the core of the walls) and salt measurements. Based on the findings we proposed the building owner the initial specifications, who has been very proactive throughout the process keen to select the best materials and solutions for a high-quality sympathetic renovation job.
As the walls were very damp and contained a high amount of salts, replastering them with a plain lime plaster would have been a risky proposition, which would have resulted in a relatively quick degradation of the lime plastering due to the presence of salts. To mitigate this problem and to ensure a long-lasting building-friendly renovation, a salt-resistant Roman lime base plaster has been applied first, before applying the main plaster coat. This lime base coat not only acts as a breathable salt filter, but also protected the lime plastering from water ingress and high humidity, while also regulating the indoor humidity.
Some chimney walls needed underpinning due to their weight which caused some cracks in the structure.
Then, after 400+ years of moisture and salts, some bricks near the base of the walls were blown, in need of stabilization and structural consolidation. The Betoncino MGNÂ Roman lime plaster, a form of Roman concrete, was used to stabilize the frail masonry in a building-friendly way while retaining its breathability.Â
The building had a cement floor from some previous renovation, decades ago. The cement floor has now been replaced with a lime floor. We proposed a high-performance slim lime floor with improved specifications - improving the floor's thermal insulation, breathability and energy efficiency.
Here is a photo gallery highlighting some aspects of this comprehensive project.
Here is the customer’s own feedback about the project:
I agree, I can see with my own eyes how the Rinzaffo is dealing with moisture. I’m actually amazed by the product. It’s a difficult product to work with initially, but we have to understand that this is not the finish. I have seen with my own eyes how it is dealing with moisture. There are a couple of walls that I can see need 3 or 4 mm extra.
To breathably tank a building like Romford farm is unknown. I must admit I was dubious at the start, but open to the idea. There is no modern building products that I am aware of, or am used to that could possibly be an alternative.
I can see with my own eyes and other senses how the dampness in that building is disappearing the more work that we do. … You have to understand …. I entered that building early on…. It was rotten with moisture. I would say inhabitable. Day by day it gets better.
These solutions were implemented during the project:
Here are the products used during this project to resolve the problem:
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