Recent headlines have drawn attention to the widespread failures associated with insulation installed under government-backed energy efficiency schemes. According to a National Audit Office (NAO) investigation, almost all external wall insulation fitted through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) requires repair or replacement. Of the approximately 23,000 homes that received external wall insulation, 98% were found to have defects re

It's an interesting time to be involved in architecture. We face many challenges regarding climate change which is putting immense pressure on the industry to change. Working in the heritage sector, means we spend a lot of time looking to historic methods and materials. We understand we have lost knowledge of traditional materials but it is only when we look back not just 100s of years but 1000s, do we see just how much potential knowledge we have lost. Looking at truly ancie

With the help of a group of experienced plasterers across the UK, we are trying to fin an alternative to Chinese plastering fibres. We are trying to source an option that is produced in the UK and is easily scalable. One of the options is Hemp - but there is more than one type of hemp: Hemp Shiv is commonly used as an aggregate in insulating plasters and hempcrete. It is sold in a number of lime suppliers and is widely used by plasterers. It doesn't work as a fibre. This shou

For those of you who haven’t used local horse fibre before, I thought it would be interesting to show you how it differs from the Chinese fibres. In the video below you can see an image of Chinese fibres. Most suppliers send them in small bundles which you can then cut to the desired size. It reminds me of synthetic dolls hair – quite soft and swishy. If we compare this to the locally source horse tail – its very different. The local fibre is noticeable thicker, courser –

Plasterers - we need your help to find a sustainable, ethical alternative to the current plastering fibres in the market.