Plain Lime Plastering

Thursday 2 - Friday 3 July 2026

Day 1: 9.30am - 5.30pm
Day 2: 9am - 4.30pm
 

Join us for a hands-on introduction to lime plastering – perfect for homeowners and DIYers, building custodians and specifiers. 

Our course venue is the custom-designed plastering studio at the National Trust’s Heritage and Rural Skills Centre, where you’ll have your very own plastering bay to practice throughout the course. We also keep our classes small and friendly, so you’ll have plenty of attention from our course team. Tutors Sean Wheatley and Michal Wolf are Master Plasterers with decades of experience working with lime. They will be joined by Marianne Suhr, a chartered building surveyor and co-author of the SPAB's Old House Handbook, with assistance from the Durrant & Daughter team.

If you live in or care for an old house, you’ll come away with the practical skills you need to confidently tackle lime plaster repairs in your own home. 

Can't make this course date? We have another date option for this course: Friday 24 - Saturday 25 April 2026. 

Who is it for? 

This introductory course is for anyone interested in learning about plain lime plastering for their home or old buildings under their care. We also welcome conservation officers, heritage consultants, architects, building surveyors and other specifiers too. 

You will learn

By the end of the course, you will know:

• The basics of working with lime, including slaking, mixing and sand selection.
• How to safely work with lime, including the correct use of tools and PPE.
• How to fix laths and other substrates you might encounter on the job.
• The correct technique for mixing and applying plasters, including the base coat, pricking up coat, float coat and setting coat.
• When and how to use hydraulic lime.
• How to repair lime plaster cracks.
• How to limewash.

You will need

• Please wear warm, comfortable clothing that you don't mind getting dirty or damaged. We recommend you bring overalls or coveralls to wear if you can. Your arms should be covered during the practical sessions.
• You will need to wear sturdy (flat and closed) footwear for the practical sessions, and bring a spare pair of clean, indoor shoes (flat and closed) for when using the classroom space.  
• We will provide all necessary protective equipment, but if you would prefer to wear your own gloves and goggles, please bring them. 
• All tools and materials will be provided. If you would prefer to bring your own plastering tools – hawk, trowel and water brush – please ensure they are labelled. 

Tutors 

Sean Wheatley, traditional plasterer

Sean has four decades' experience as a plasterer specialising in traditional methods, materials and decorative plasterwork. He is a SPAB Guardian on our Education and Training Committee and is a Master Plasterer of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers.

Michal Wolf, plasterer and conservator in lime

Michal is a Master Plasterer of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers and a founder of All Things Lime. He is passionate about traditional methods of working and keeping the craft of lime plastering alive.

Marianne Suhr 

Marianne is a chartered building surveyor, writer and broadcaster specialising in the repair of historic buildings. Marianne is co-author of the SPAB's Old House Handbook and Old House Eco Handbook.

With thanks to Jon and Lottie Durrant for their assistance on this course. 

Accreditation 

The SPAB is an IHBC-recognised CPD provider and attendance certificates for CPD are available on request.

Accessibility 

This is a practical course held in a workshop environment, which can be dusty, cold and noisy. There are some uneven surfaces, such as cobbles, due to the historic nature of the building.  

Please bear in mind that the workshop demonstrations and activities will require standing. 

Accessible parking spaces are marked in the car park. Accessible toilets are available.  

Anything we can do to make this event more accessible for you? Please email education@spab.org.uk. 

Photos and filming: We may take photos or videos at this event to be used in future promotion, including in print and online. Participants may take photos and short videos for personal use, with permission of the course leader and all other participants in frame. If you want to post on social media, please message SPAB's Comms Team (press@spab.org.uk or @spab1877) for permission. If your material is good, we might ask to share it with our followers.

All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions.

Photo credit: Ralph Hodgson.

This event is in association with the National Trust.