In this Bath restoration of a Grade 1 property, the developer was not allowed to damp proof the building. Using Earthborn Claypaint over lime plaster, he has ensured the building breathes.
Restoring a listed property isn’t for the fainthearted. It involves planning, energy, time and money, and there are usually a few hidden surprises along the way. But Guinness World Record holder and Britain’s fastest snowboarder Jamie Barrow, who has turned his hand to property development, decided to take on the challenge. He fully renovated a Grade 1 Listed two storey apartment in the beautiful city of Bath.
Restoring a listed property
Paragon is a grand Grade 1 Listed Georgian Terrace designed by Thomas Attwood and built in 1768. Situated in Bath city centre, it is surrounded by period architecture. Being a property with a rich history, Jamie wanted to do justice to the building. He explained:
“Being a property developer in an historic city like Bath, I believe there is a social responsibility not just to make these developments on the outskirts of the city, but also to restore these amazing historic buildings for others to enjoy for years to come. Every material used in the property is as in-keeping and natural as possible, to match how it was done originally when the property was built.”
Breathable plaster and paint
In a Grade 1 Listed building with a basement, there were obviously some damp issues. As Jamie was not allowed to damp proof the building, he had to use breathable materials, such as lime plaster on the walls.
Damp proofing a property of this age can cause all sorts of issues further down the line, and actually exacerbate damp or mould problems in the future. Older buildings are designed to breathe so planners often request that traditional, breathable materials are used.
At first Jamie used lime wash to finish the lime plaster. But he decided to change to Earthborn Claypaint due to its high level of breathability, thick creamy consistency and ease of use. He added: “We initially used a lime wash as this is what was suggested but after many coats it just wasn’t covering well. This is when I looked into what other breathable paints are out there and came across Earthborn Claypaint. I decided to give it a go and after just 1 coat it covered amazingly and gave a really nice luxury feel. That is why I am now using it on my other project.”
