This was an ambitious environmental refurbishment of a hard-to-treat historic clunch house.

The client wanted to remove the non-breathable cement render applied in the 1970s and externally insulate the house. After extensive research, we chose Multipor blocks for their breathability and suitability for this construction type. At the time, it was a pioneering choice in the UK, though several years on, it’s performing excellently.

The project involved removing the old cement render, which revealed the clunch construction along with a few “holes” requiring repair. We then applied a specialist breathable lime render to adhere the Multipor blocks to the façade. Timber double-glazed windows were installed, and external plastic pipes were replaced with aluminium. To accommodate the additional insulation, deeper window cills were created, roof overhangs extended, and external pipework remounted. A generous French drain was also installed around the base to reduce the risk of damp.

Finally, the building was finished with a breathable lime render and lime paint. This ambitious project demanded dedication from both the client and the construction team, but the results speak for themselves: the house has been restored to its former glory, while now being solid, warm, and dry.