BARNHOUSE
Heritage Building Specialists
Traditional lime plastering, restoration and high-quality modern plastering across Cumbria.
Craft-led work for older buildings, using appropriate materials, traditional methods and a proper understanding of how historic construction performs.
What Could Your Project Cost?
Instant Plastering Price Calculator
Planning some work but unsure what sort of budget you need?
Choose the type of work, enter your approximate measurements and get an instant guide price.
Skimming • Boarding & Skimming • Drylining • Lime Plastering • Lime Rendering
Prices are intended as a budgeting guide rather than a formal quotation. Preparation, substrate condition, access and the individual requirements of traditional buildings can affect the final cost.
BARNHOUSE
Project Price Guide
Heritage Building Specialists
Select the work required and enter the approximate area. Add measurements to as many sections as your project needs.
TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP
Bespoke Heritage Features
Hand-run lime cills and moulded details are individually formed to suit the building. Every profile, background and access arrangement is different, so these items are assessed from photographs or during a site visit rather than priced by area.
HAND-RUN LIME CILLSFrom £600Complex profiles, repairs and access are additional.
Price a bespoke feature Please include the quantity, approximate width, postcode and clear front and side photographs.YOUR INDICATIVE BUDGET
This is an initial guide, not a quotation. Final cost depends on the condition and suction of the background, access, preparation, detailing, materials and scaffold requirements. A site inspection is needed before work is agreed.
More Than Plastering
Understanding How Traditional Buildings Work
Older buildings behave differently from modern construction.
Traditional stone and solid-wall buildings were designed to manage moisture through breathable materials such as lime.
Using unsuitable modern materials can trap moisture, accelerate deterioration and create problems that are often wrongly diagnosed as simply “damp”.
At Barnhouse, the building is considered first.
We look at the substrate, moisture movement, existing materials and condition of the property before deciding what system is appropriate.
That may mean traditional lime plaster, lime render, sympathetic repair or, where suitable, modern gypsum systems.
Traditional methods. Appropriate materials. Proper craftsmanship.
Browse our services
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Lime Plastering?
If you have traditional stone walls then modern materials and techniques will only cause further damage, the status que is to water seal with damp proofing and this is the opposite of what your home needs!
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Walls just need freshing up?
Plaster skimming over old plaster, plasterboard, or artex
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Dryling or damp proofing?
Patching holes, fixing water damage, and full drywall installation. Offering free advice on damp proofing, we won’t just turn up and patch over the symptom but look at the cause to make sure it doesnt come back.
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Venetian Decori
Transform your home with luxury Italian wall finishes. From a single feature wall to a full interior
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Rendering
Including sand and cement render & Traditional lime render
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Plaster repairs & maintainance
Fixing cracks, holes, and wear and tear, as well as preventative maintenance.
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Moulding
Decorative Cills, Headers and coving moulds
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Highly recommend Dane and River @ Barnhouse Plastering. Dane was great at communicating over text and in person, helping me to understand my first house far more than anybody else did. He went above and beyond working around other tradesman working in the house and coming up with solutions to problems we faced along the way. Dane and River did a fantastic job plastering, it looks fantastic I wouldn't use another plasterer
Google Review
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"The rooms are looking great for the 1st time in 7 years, looking forward to painting them once they've dried as per the aftercare advice you sent. It was a joy having you here.”
MyBuilder.com
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“Very professional, competitively pricee and punctual, they had to come back at a later date to finish off as a radiator needed removing , this was no bother to them and they did a great job and gave us all the information we needed regarding painting the new plaster, I would highly recommend Dean and his team for any future plastering jobs you may have.”
MyBuilder.com
Meet the Team
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DANE
Traditional Craftsman with over 16 years experience. Focusing on restoring and protecting older properties using appropriate materials and proven techniques. Trained & certified in Venetian plaster finishes.
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RIVER
Qualified Plasterer
Works across modern and traditional plastering, with growing experience in lime and heritage work. Trained on site to maintain standards, with a strong focus on learning correct methods and delivering consistent, quality workmanship. Trained & certified in Venetian plaster finishes -
KELLY
Operations & Project Coordination
Managing Scheduling, planning, and finances behind the scenes. Kelly also assists on repointing works when required
Heritage & Modern Plastering
On-site assessments for older properties & problem walls
What plaster is right for your home?
Plaster breakdown
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✅ Breathability Rating (µ value): 5-15 (Extremely breathable)
✅ Best For: Old buildings, historic restoration, damp-prone areas.
✅ Pros: Flexible, natural moisture regulation, long lifespan.
❌ Cons: Longer curing time, requires skilled application. -
✅ Breathability Rating (µ value): 5-10 (Extremely breathable)
✅ Best For: Eco-friendly and sustainable homes, natural builds.
✅ Pros: 100% natural, regulates humidity well, recyclable.
❌ Cons: Not water-resistant, less durable than lime. -
✅ Breathability Rating (µ value): 50-100 (Very low breathability)
✅ Best For: Modern buildings, external walls, where hardness is needed.
✅ Pros: Strong, weather-resistant, fast application.
❌ Cons: Traps moisture, can cause damp issues in old buildings. -
✅ Breathability Rating (µ value): 8-12, but forms a solid, less permeable layer.
✅ Best For: Interior walls in modern homes, smooth finishes.
✅ Pros: Quick drying, smooth finish, easy to apply.
❌ Cons: Not moisture-resistant, unsuitable for old buildings. -
✅ Breathability Rating (µ value): 15-25 (Depends on mix & application)
✅ Best For: Decorative finishes, luxury interiors.
✅ Pros: Beautiful finish, durable, some moisture control.
❌ Cons: Expensive, requires specialist skills. -
✅ Breathability Rating (µ value): 100+ (Very low breathability)
✅ Best For: External insulation systems (ETICS), modern commercial buildings.
✅ Pros: Waterproof, flexible, resistant to cracking.
❌ Cons: Can trap moisture in traditional walls, leading to damp and decay.
Book a Consultation
We’ll Discuss your project, prepare a proposal and walk you through every step of the process with friendly customer service.