Using Natural Finishes

Written By Green Books
Dated: January 21, 2008

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USING NATURAL FINISHES
 
Using Natural Finishes is a new book due to be published for the first time on 28 February 2008.

It is a 264 page, full colour, step-by-step guide to lime and clay based plasters, renders and paints written by Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce.  The book is a lavishly illustrated guide to using natural paints and other finishes in your home.  David Pearson, author of The New Natural House Book has described it as “An inspiring vision and practical guide to one of the oldest and most versatile building materials.”   With the increasing awareness of eco-building techniques alongside the desire to make our homes healthier, the historical benefits of using natural renders and paints are being rediscovered.

Using Natural Finishes is an in-depth guide to the selection, mixing and application of lime and clay based plasters, renders, paints and washes.
Providing step-by-step instructions with detailed illustrations to show the practical elements of working with lime and clay-based finishes, the authors demonstrate how these natural ‘breathable’ plasters and paints can be used on a wide variety of wall surfaces, including traditional and eco-build materials like cob, strawbale and stone, as well as modern plasterboard and concrete surfaces, withstunning results. 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.  The book contains sections on 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.

The Authors: Adam Weismann & Katy Bryce work with lime and clay on a daily basis through their company, Cob in Cornwall. They learnt these skills through restoring ancient vernacular buildings in Cornwall, and then began to apply the traditional techniques and materials to contemporary ‘eco’ builds. They have a passionate belief in the power of using these natural materials to benefit the health and well being of people, buildings and the environment. Adam and Katy are the authors of Building with Cob: A Step by Step Guide, also published by Green Books. Their website is www.cobincornwall.com

Bibliography

GREEN BOOKS, Foxhole, Dartington, Totnes TQ9 6EB Tel: 01803 863260 www.greenbooks.co.uk
For further information, please contact
Bee West: email bee@greenbooks.co.uk
or phone 01803 863260.
www.greenbooks.co.uk