Plaster performance
Lime can cause staining in wood and other surfaces. Purchasers should take all necessary precautions to protect windows, doors, skirting boards, architraves, stairs, floors, furnishings, and fittings from spoiling and to maintain an orderly site to prevent damage. Clients and house holders are reminded that plastering will cause a certain amount of dust and smears during the plastering operation. Please consult with your plasterer regarding the protection and cleaning of surfaces during the build. In sensitive cases the plaster will need to employ labour to maintain a tidy site throughout the operation and this will have a cost.

Hempire does not accept responsibility where mineral staining occurs where plaster is applied to stone or brick walls. Painting may be necessary and clients are advised to talk to either KEIM or Beeck breathable paint suppliers.

As with all plasters, some shrinkage will occur, especially where applied thickly. It is recommended that layers of 10mm are applied to minimize shrinkage. Timber may swell and contract, causing hairline cracks at the material interface. Use scrims to minimize shrinkage cracks. Where board systems are used, a mesh should be incorporated into the plaster to prevent cracking at joints due to board movement.

Hempire Plaster has high flexural properties. However, Hempire cannot be held liable for the movement of boards, walls timber frames or any other system supplied by third parties, which occur due to subsidence, drying, or stress which has caused cracking. Hempire does guarantee that no liquid water will penetrate the plaster layer once Hempire Weather Barrier* or a potassium silicate layer such as KEIM or Beeck paint has been applied. Hempire warranty will only apply where such a material has been used on exterior surfaces. Hempire does not recommend the use of moisture-blocking film paints internally, or cement based paints externally, and cannot be liable for reductions in hygroscopic performance due to use of membrane paints.

Plaster drying rates vary depending on a number of factors and Hempire cannot accept responsibility for slow drying in situations where substantial dampness occurs in walls, or where gutters or down-pipes have not been installed and/or maintained.
Lime will wash out from plaster in driving rain; protect from large areas by using scaffold and a temporary drape barrier.

Plasters must be applied when ambient temperatures are 5ºC or greater. Plastering at sub 0°C must only be undertaken with adequate protection and is at purchaser’s own risk. See Case History – Frost** Risk diminishes until water content in plaster has dropped to 18%.

Hempire Weather Barrier* or suitable paint is then applied to achieve a waterproof weather seal. Changes in colour and reflective tone of plaster with varying weather conditions is normal and is should not be a cause of alarm.

Surface algae may occur especially in damp areas with overhanging vegetation. To remove, use steam cleaning or an algaecide.

Delivery
Plaster supplied in 20g bags can be delivered easily, but purchasers should make sure that suitable arrangements are made to unload the plaster at its destination, including forklifts to unload 1-tone pallets if these are not supplied by the haulers. Access to sites should be adequate to receive 1-tone pallets if necessary.

Note: Hempire Plaster must not be combined with Portland cement or other propriety plasters. Hydrated lime or raw hemp can be used to adjust dryness and/or plasticity!