Working with cement render on stone wall cottage

LanceVance · 25-11-2025 09:25AM #1

Hi all,

I've recently bought my first home. I'm handy and have some DIY experience, a garage full of tools and the enthusiasm of a man who's just bought his first fixer-upper.

They reckon the building dates back to 1900, was a mews, or a coach house or something and was renovated and turned into a house in 1999/2000. It's solid stone and mortar walls, fully detached, and was rendered internally with cement in the renovation. 3 of the 4 exterior walls remain as exposed stonework (unfortunately not the front facade which is also concreted).

From my understanding, cement is a poor choice for stone walls as it traps moisture, so the best route is to remove it all and replace with lime outside, then dry wall internally. Well I've spent almost all my money on the house so this work won't happen for a few years. In the meantime I'd like to do what I can to make the house loveable, and would like to expose the stone walls internally in a few sections, purely for aesthetics and showing off the age of the building. Would this compromise anything in terms of moisture/heat? The house isn't warm obviously but it does seem dry and I don't want to upset that balance, but at the same time REALLY was my stones in the living room.

If concrete traps moisture, it presumably is stopping moisture from the stone coming in too? Or do I have that wrong?

Any and all help is appreciated.

10-10-20 · 25-11-2025 10:45AM

Congratulations on the purchase, well done on applying the grey-matter before jumping.

Can I ask, what is the state of the walls (internal and external) at present in terms of damp and cracking, and what is the exposure like on the site? Is there a good overhang from the roof over all walls and are you measuring the RH and temperature internally yet? What's the makeup of the sub-floor and what windows are fitted and what do you intend on doing with them, long term? How do you plan on insulating to achieve a reasonable comfort?

charlesanto · 25-11-2025 11:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058381125/old-farm-house-restoration

Sure you'll find this interesting.

10-10-20 · 25-11-2025 11:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124016928#Comment_124016928

That's a great thread in fairness.

LanceVance · 25-11-2025 09:20PM

Walls internally seem dry and free from cracks (in the render at least). 2 of the external walls are pretty inaccessible as it's an urban site and I don't own the access but look ok, could certainly be repointed and have some vegetation stripped off.

Not very exposed but close to the sea, which probably matters.

I have not been measuring humidity yet, need to find my gauge in all the boxes, had issues with that in my last rental so became semi obsessed.

Windows are double glazed, seem newer on the front than back (front PVC, back wood) and will be looking at upgrading back windows.

Attic insulation is due to go down on Friday, there's almost nothing up there currently. Insulation guy told me there's no need to insulate these walls at they're 2 ft thick, which seems like poor advice and I feel he just wanted to sell the attic insulation (I went with someone else as a result).

LanceVance · 25-11-2025 09:21PM

Very interesting thank you. Luckily mine has come in better shape so I don't need to take on quite as much upfront but still lots to learn from his experiences

LanceVance · 25-11-2025 09:22PM

Ok apparently I don't know how to quote reply, sorry guys

monseiur · 26-11-2025 10:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124018770#Comment_124018770

Just click on the 'quote' button of message you want to reply to then add your message - there's no dark art to it😉

LanceVance · 26-11-2025 11:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124022125#Comment_124022125

I swear I did on both, but seems to be working again

looksee · 26-11-2025 11:52PM

I have a (very small) cottage on one end of a newer built house that has been treated similarly and was holding damp, the inside mortar - a mix of concrete and lime in different parts, often on the same wall, has blistered on the most exposed wall. Ideally it should all come off and be replaced, and the outside coat of concrete render likewise. This is not going to happen. It is not on foundations, just large rocks. I improved the drainage outside - water was being held in the walls - which improved things considerably. We have recently started using the room and having a stove lighting every evening and it is turning out to be really good, the room is still warm the following morning.

In these old cottages neither the inside nor the outside should have exposed stone, they were designed to be lime plastered. I would not put dry lining on the inside, I have been told numerous times that it will end up damp and rotten between the wall and lining. Likewise timber lining. If furniture or especially baskets (log basket for example) are left within a couple of inches of the worst affected wall they go mouldy, you do need to leave circulation space.

Not really seeing how you would insulate the walls if they are solid stone/rubble, its not as though they can be pumped.

Diddly Squat · 27-11-2025 03:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124022350#Comment_124022350

Drylining if done correctly is perfectly fine if done by someone that knows what they're at. Theres a lot of disinformation bandied about by "experts" on message boards and Facebook often leading to people who know no better spending more than they should because of bad advice online.

Lime zealots love to preach about breathing walls and damp and very often haven't a clue what they're on about and just shout down anyone with a differing opinion because there seems to be an almost rabid hatred for anyone that suggests alternative and much cheaper solutions. There are always alternatives and people seem to have lost their marbles when it comes to anything to do with old house renovation and breathability lately.

Its a wagon a vast amount of people who dont know enough about what they're talking about seem to have jumped on and nothing is going to stop them preaching to anyone that'll listen about how their way is the only way

Working with cement render on stone wall cottage

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