Book Reviews

Using Natural Finishes by Adam Weismann & Katy Bryce

Review by Dr Gerard Lynch (July 2008)

This is an interesting book providing, ‘… step-by-step instructions with detailed illustrations to show working with lime and clay-based finishes… including traditional and eco-build materials…’ and, ‘Easy to follow DIY projects guide the reader through all aspects of using these natural finishes, with beautiful photographs of techniques and examples from the UK and abroad’.

Chapters cover:
· Wall structures, their properties and design details
· Tools, techniques and materials
· Lime-based plasters and renders
· Earth-based plasters and renders
· Paints and washes
· Finishes around the world
· Resources
· Bibliography

Achieving a balance between practical and technical information and the case for ‘green’ materials and eco-build made with accurate support. Why natural finishes are successful, yet new constructional materials and methods marginalized them, is discussed, as are the range of natural materials and their correct identification and selection; with information about where obtainable. Good drawings and colour photographs illustrate preparation and application of the natural finishes, though occasionally there is a failure to observe health and safety rules: like working with sandals!

The information is generally well researched and accurate, but statements like, (p19), ‘Modern materials simply do not work alongside traditional materials…’ contradicts (p.13), ‘A case can be argued for the use of lime- and earth-based plasters, renders and paints… on some… modern, conventional building materials…’

Some omissions, technical errors and misconceptions, result from broad generalisations and, perhaps, limited experience of certain aspects of those subjects. No mention of NHL 1, available from Singleton Birch since 2007. The prolific use of feebly hydraulic lime, from grey chalk, is not explored, nor its successful use for limewashes. Most limewashes, were applied hot, straight from slaking, enhancing absorption and grip to the substrate by contracting on cooling, creating an excellent, durable coating; not three-month old putty.

In presentation, this book appears skewed towards middle-income DIY enthusiasts, who can afford what was once cheap and commonplace, motivated by green technology and eco-build. It, unintentionally, adds to a widespread misconception that the use of traditional materials is a novelty, a pity, because this vitally important subject, to be meaningfully realised, depends on educating the general public and building trades.

To which Adam Weismann replied (August 2008):

As active practitioners, as well as authors/researchers into the use of lime and clay finishes, it is always interesting to hear how other practitioners carry out the same practices (such as your mention of limewashing, paragraph 6), with slightly different methods and materials. I think that your suggestion of the use of different types of lime to those that we put forward in our book accurately reflects the spirit of our message – that ‘traditional’ building methods always have been, and will hopefully continue to be diverse and regionally specific across the country, and indeed the world. There is never one-way to carry out the various techniques that we describe. This is indeed their value and charm. For example, please read the introduction to chapter 6 on page 235. Because of this, we feel that your use of the words “omissions”, “technical errors”, “misconceptions” and “limited experience of certain aspects of those subjects” are rather misrepresentative of the information we have presented, especially in regard to your point about different materials that can be used for limewash.

We are fully aware of the method of hot, freshly slaked limewash, but did not feel that it was an appropriate or worthwhile method to dwell on for modern day application. We are, afterall, despite what you say in your last paragraph (“…depends on educating the general public and building trades.”) hoping that our book will reach and make accessible these techniques for everyone interested in the use of traditional lime finishes.

With regards your point surrounding the use of ‘Singleton Birch’ lime (paragraph 6: “No mention of NHL 1 available from Singleton Birch…”), we think that you may have overlooked that we do in fact introduce this valuable (and currently sole) UK manufacturer/supplier of natural hydraulic lime (please see page 99, paragraph 4). You may not have picked up on this because we are generally not able to advertise specific supplier names in our text, so have referred to them as “…a company producing hydraulic lime in North Lincolnshire”. If you consult our online resources section you will certainly find them listed there. It is our understanding that the NHL 1 that Singleton Birch provide will not technically have its European classification until 2009. For this reason we decided not to include its strength grade in our first print of the book. This is certainly something we will mention in our updatable online resources section when it has been approved, and in a future reprint of the book. We will also certainly mention your experience of it as an excellent limewash. Thank you for sharing this.

Please do bear in mind that there is such a plethora of information surrounding the use of lime finishes, and we are sure that as a fellow author you will appreciate the challenge, that comes with writing a book, of what information to include, and what to exclude. The use of feebly hydraulic lime from grey chalk was one such area that we chose not to talk about so as to keep our information more straightforward and less overwhelming. Our main aim was to demystify this complex subject. Again, this reflects out desire to educate “…the general public and building trades”.

Your comment in paragraph 5 perhaps reflects that you need some clarification on our comments surrounding the use of traditional and conventional materials together. We think you presented your argument here rather out of context with how they were presented in the text. The point that we make is that when ‘harder’, less ‘breathable’ finishes, such as cement and synthetic paints, are applied onto traditional walling materials, that are generally subject to more movement and need to ‘breathe’ to remain healthy, problems can ensue. It can, however (through our personal experience), work very well to do it the other way around. The two points that you isolated are indeed two separate points, and therefore not, as you suggest, contradictory statements.

Finally, we are all for a bit of constructive criticism. It is always interesting to hear other people’s opinions, ideas and impressions of your work, as well as different ways that people do things. Your last paragraph, on the other hand, just does not sit well. We don’t understand in what way this book could be “…..skewed towards middle-income DIY enthusiasts, who can afford what was once cheap and commonplace, motivated by green technology and eco-build.” We agree with you that these methods were indeed once cheap and commonplace. The fact that it is now more expensive to buy a bag/tub of lime than a bag of cement, and a tub of limewash than a tin of ‘Dulux’ paint, however, is nothing to do with our book, nor the burgeoning ‘eco-build’ market. Rather it is a larger issue to do with the society that we live in today. One of the main reasons that we wanted to put this book out was precisely to dispel the image of the use of traditional materials (especially lime) as being a ‘novelty’. By making this information more accessible it will hopefully make it more commonplace among not only the “…middle income DIY enthusiasts..”, but also the “….general public and building trades.” (By ‘general public’ we assume you are referring to those of a lower income bracket). If you re-read the introduction to the book more throroughly, especially the last section (pages 9-10), we think you’ll probably understand our desire to do precisely this. It would probably also be good to re-read the paints chapter (chapter 5), which describes how to make safe, traditional, breathable paints out of ingredients such as milk, borax, mud, white wheat flour etc. - all exceptionally cheap and available to all.

It is also our understanding that if you make things more accessible, more people will feel empowered to practice them. If more people are doing them, materials for these things will be more in demand, allowing the companies supplying them to achieve greater economies of scale. Prices will hence come down, making them in turn more accessible to wider income brackets and so on. We also hope that the book will reach many of those in the general building trades whom we have spoken with personally, and who always say that they tried using lime once, but it didn’t work, so they didn’t bother again. This book will provide them with the few tips they need, so that they can transfer their skills of applying conventional finishes to those of applying the traditional techniques with success. We have already received many positive comments from general builders about how the book has enabled them to use these traditional materials effectively.