The breathing wall

A wall finished with lime breathes. This is not a metaphor — lime is vapour-permeable, so moisture is not trapped inside the wall but passes through it freely. In practice this means a more stable indoor climate, less moisture condensing on the surface and much harder conditions for mould.

Paints and plasters based on plastics form a sealed film that can lock moisture into the masonry. Lime does the opposite: it regulates humidity, releasing and absorbing it depending on the conditions in the room. The wall works with the house, not against it.

On top of that comes the natural, high alkalinity of lime, which in itself limits the growth of fungi and bacteria — with no added biocides or chemicals. That is why lime finishes work so well in bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms, and wherever healthy air matters.

If your wall should simply age well and help rather than harm — lime is a choice that has proved itself over thousands of years.