WHERE TO BUY

Are there any buildings Breathaplasta is not suitable for?

Breathaplasta is suitable for all types of building, both old and new. Solid wall buildings will benefit from improved insulation and moisture management. Newer buildings also benefit as condensation and mould are an increasing problem in our newer building stock as we strive to improve the insultation and air-tightness leading to unhealthy and potentially mouldy spaces.

Can I use Breathaplasta on top of old plaster?

Breathaplasta is compatible with old gypsum or lime plaster. To get the most benefit, it’s best to strip gypsum plaster back to the original substrate and re-plaster fully in breathable, lime based Breathaplasta.
If applying directly to old gypsum plaster ensure a consistent surface and good adhesion by using a unifying product prior to plaster application.

A ‘grip coat’ should be applied to create a bond between the od plaster and Breathaplasta. Please seek advice from your local supplier or one of the Adaptavate team if you are unsure.
If applying directly to old lime ensure a consistent surface and good adhesion by using a breathable ‘grip coat’ or unifying product prior to plaster application. Do not use PVA as this is not breathable.

How do I buy Breathaplasta? Can I buy from you direct?

We have a growing network of reliable and knowledgeable stockists across the UK who are all experts in their field. You can locate your nearest stockist using our stockist map available here.

Note that some of our stockists are online stores that do not have a physical store presence. This has been denoted on the map. It is always worth contacting a merchant to check stock levels prior to visiting them directly.

How do you achieve the more textured finish?

Breathaplasta has the versatility to be finished to a smooth surface or textured surface, with a range of finishes in between. This is simply achieved by lightly applying a sponge float in a circular motion to the top coat of plaster to bring the bio material to the surface. This should be around 30-40 minutes after applying the ‘top’ coat of plaster.

The ability to achieve a range of textured finishes offers a design element not easily achieved with other plasters. Feature walls can easily be created by simply altering the application methods and how the surface of the plaster is finished. Textured finishes offer greater flexibility to the heritage and conservation sector.

How does Breathaplasta come?

Breathaplasta is a dry, premixed powder that comes in 20kg bags. The product is simply ‘just add water’ to use and so needs to be stored in cool, dry conditions away from moist air and liquid water.

How does Breathaplasta stop condensation, damp and mould?

Breathaplasta is a dry, premixed powder that comes in 20kg bags. The product is simply ‘just add water’ to use and so needs to be stored in cool, dry conditions away from moist air and liquid water.

Breathaplasta has been scientifically developed by Adaptavate specifically to regulate moisture created by people living and working in buildings. Its natural, breathable formulation allows it to absorb moisture from the air into its porous structure when humidity levels are high and release moisture back into the room when humidity levels fall.
In addition to this, Breathaplasta has insulating properties that helps increase the temperature of the surface of the wall preventing condensation from occurring. A naturally higher pH level (alkalinity) also discourages mould from forming.

How easy is it to use? Can anyone use it?

Breathaplasta is a lime based plaster that has been designed by Adaptavate specifically to be easy to use on site. Any competent plasterer can use Breathaplasta and achieve good results. Those more familiar with lime plasters or alternative plaster products to gypsum will find it very simple.

How long does it take for the plaster to set and to dry?

Breathaplasta is much quicker setting than other common lime and clay plaster products. Breathaplasta sets within 45 minutes, similar to gypsum plaster. At this point, further coats (or sets) can be applied as the plaster is sufficiently set. If the plaster is dry enough to touch with your finger without feeling ‘sticky’ then it is ready for a second coat.

Drying times are longer as the plaster fully expels the moisture within. Usually allow 1 day of drying time per 1mm of plaster thickness. This means that the plaster will usually be dry within 4-8 days for most applications.
Thickness of plaster application will have an effect on both setting and drying times.

How long should I wait after mixing before applying Breathaplasta?

Breathaplasta should be mixed with clean water for 1 minute to ensure a smooth consistency. Once mixed, the product can be applied immediately. This saves time on site compared with other common lime and clay plasters that require time to reach the correct consistency. If left, Breathaplasta will thicken and stiffen. This may be a preferred consistency for some work such as dubbing out walls or plastering onto wooden laths. Additional water can be added for up to an hour to loosen the mix, however, this will significantly increase the setting time of the product.

How much does a bag cover?

Each 20kg bag will cover 5 square metres at 4mm thickness.

How much more insulation does Breathaplasta provide compared with other plasters?

The biomaterial within Breathaplasta gives it twice the thermal performance of gypsum and up to four times the thermal performance of other lime based plasters. Why not use a plaster that will improve the insulation and energy efficiency of your home and contribute to lower energy bills?

I like the natural finish, can I leave it unpainted?

Once dried, Breathaplasta has a light, creamy or chalky appearance that is pleasing to the eye and is frequently desired as a final finish. The surface can be left undecorated, but this may result in dust being generated over time which can be irritating. We recommend sealing the surface using a clear natural resin or wax. Note that natural resins and waxes can vary in colour and may alter the final finish. Suppliers include AURO UK and OSMO.

Lime plasters can be difficult to use and time consuming, how is yours different?

Breathaplasta is a lime based plaster that has been designed by our founder, Tom who used to be a plasterer. He wanted to make a product that has numerous health and environmental benefits but is easy to use and install on-site. It’s easy to mix, apply and finish to a smooth surface that sets in a similar time to gypsum plasters. Setting and drying times are much quicker than common lime plasters. This leads to significant labour and time savings, having a direct impact on your budget.

What is Breathaplasta and what are the benefits of using it?

Breathaplasta is a high-performing internal plaster product comprised of a blend of limes, bio material, fine sand and natural additives to improve its ease of installation. Its natural formulation is quick setting, chemical free and highly vapour permeable allowing moisture to freely move through the plaster. Breathaplasta is an easy-to-use solution to reduce problems with condensation and mould.

What is the best material for Breathaplasta to be applied to?

Wood Wool and Wood Fibre boards are common alternatives to gypsum plasterboard, most often used in heritage buildings, eco builds and for those with chemical sensitivities or seeking more natural products. Breathaplasta is ideal for these boarding materials as they benefit from compatible breathable plasters such as lime or clay. Breathaplasta is of huge benefit as it’s easy to use and quick setting so a large surface area can be completed quicker than with common lime and clay products.

What is the shelf life of the product?

Stored in a dry and stable environment, off the ground, Breathaplasta has a shelf life of 6 months and can be used at any time within this period. Beyond this time you may find that the setting time is increased which could lead to more difficult workability or reduced adherence.

What lime is used in the product? Is it compatible with older buildings?

Breathaplasta is a 100% natural plaster product primarily comprised of Hydrated Lime which is a high quality ultra-fine/ultra-white hydrated building lime. We also have a small proportion of NHL 3.5 in the mix. The overall composition makes for a product soft enough to use in older and heritage buildings that require a more sensitive approach and durable enough to be used in areas that are subject to higher levels of wear and tear.

What materials can Breathaplasta be applied to?

As a versatile plaster product, Breathaplasta is compatible with a wide range of background materials including plasterboard and equivalents such as Wood Wool board – where the labour-saving benefits are really felt. Breathaplasta can also be applied directly to most masonry e.g. brick, block and stone as well as over skimming gypsum plaster if the plaster is firmly consolidated. Installation methods and recommended plaster thickness will vary so it’s best to check the product installation guide or contact your local supplier or one of the Adaptavate team.

What paints should I use to decorate Breathaplasta with?

We advise allowing Breathaplasta a couple of additional days to fully dry prior to painting to ensure best results. Breathable paints are recommended to preserve the breathability of the plaster. Whilst regular paints have an element of breathability, natural paints are mineral based paints with fewer chemicals and no harmful emissions. A few of the leading suppliers are AURO UK, Earthborn and ECOS.

What plaster beading can I use with Breathaplasta?

Plaster beading is used to give added strength to corners and weak points that may be subject to greater wear and tear. Both beading and fixings must always be stainless steel or plastic when using lime plaster or render. Lime attacks steel and galvanised steel is simply covered in a thin layer of zinc. Any slight removal of this protective covering will lead to rusting and staining of the plaster as the lime reacts with the steel. This may cause either or both the plaster and beading to fail.

Why is condensation, damp and mould such a problem in our homes and buildings?

Condensation, damp and mould have always been problems in our homes and buildings and can be a serious problem for our health. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 UK homes have moisture problems with rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation being the three most commonly experienced.

Condensation is the most common kind of damp and is a growing problem in the UK. It is caused by moist air condensing on walls, particularly in rooms with a lot of moisture, such as kitchens and bathrooms. It’s most frequently a problem in the winter when walls are often much colder than the warm air inside.

Our older housing stock, mostly built before the mid-1930s and consisting of over 7 million often poorly insulated homes have long suffered from damp problems, but this is exacerbated by the removal or blocking of chimneys and addition of energy saving measures such as double glazing. Traditional properties were built to breathe and allow moisture to evaporate away through the building.

Condensation is increasingly a problem in our new homes and buildings as we’ve built them to keep water out and taken measures to make them more insulted and airtight. However, the average family produces around 14 litres of moisture from daily activities such as cooking, cleaning and washing and this high humidity air inside gets trapped where it settles, leading to damp and mould.

Why would I not just use mechanical ventilation or natural ventilation by opening windows?

Mechanical ventilation and natural ventilation can be used and when done correctly can improve air quality, air flow and replace old, stale, moist air with fresh dry air. This is not always the case.
The problem with mechanical ventilation is that it requires constant service and maintenance and energy to perform correctly. Poorly installed or maintained systems can even make air quality worse.

Natural ventilation by opening windows is counterproductive in the cold, wet winter months when we’re wanting to keep our homes warm, cosy and insulated against the cold.
Breathaplasta provides passive management of moisture and requires no energy input. Once installed it requires no service or maintenance and works in the background without the need for anyone to do anything whatsoever. We see this as a more fool proof solution to air quality.

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