Issue 41 Spring web - Flipbook - Page 56
Case Study: Breathable
Claypaint used in the
restoration of a decorative
pattern discovered in a Church
St Lawrence’s Church is a Grade II listed building that is perched on a hill in Longridge, Lancashire.
With the original stone walls dating back to the 16th century, the Church has undergone several
restorations over its 470-year history. Most recently, the team at Heritage Property Repairs were asked
to assist in the restoration of the Chapel of Remembrance. Whilst working on this section, they made
a remarkable discovery. The team uncovered an original pattern that would have once adorned the
Church’s former entrance.
‘breathe’. Scott at Heritage Propety Repairs tells us ‘Most
choose Claypaint for it’s breathability, however the environmentally friendly benefits are also an important factor.
One particular feedback I recall is that the very low VOC
was appealing, the client could therefore ‘paint right
through the night’ without the chemical smell making her
feel unwell!’
Prevent and protect
Many historic buildings suffer from issues of damp, so to
help prevent and to protect the future of the building, it’s
important that breathable materials are used for any
restoration or decorative work.
In this case, years of non-breathable paint coverings
meant the recovery of the original pattern would be a
difficult and expensive operation. Thankfully, the team
at Heritage Property Repairs found an alternative
approach. Using limewash to preserve the original pattern
and Earthborn Claypaint to recreate the pattern’s design,
they ensured that breathability was at the forefront of
their restorative work.
Stencils and Pattern
Firstly, Scott traced what was left of the original pattern
and used these drawings to create stencils. ‘The traced
patterns were marked on a firmer backing card. We found
that for our repetitive patterns, thick paper was too flimsy
to use multiple times. Instead, Manila card proved ideal
for transposing the patterns’. Next, a bespoke green hue
was specially mixed to provide the background with Lady
Bug(Colour of the year 2023), Hobby Wood, Sapling and
Straw picked from our Classic palette to recreate the rest
of the pattern.
Breathable Claypaint
Earthborn Claypaint was picked due to its highly
breathable properties meaning that moisture doesn’t
become ‘trapped’ beneath the surface of the paint. Instead, Claypaint allows any moisture to pass through the
walls and evaporate, effectively allowing the walls to
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Above, St- Andrews stencil
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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