Lime render · Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
Lime render in Kirkwall
Homeowners and landlords in Kirkwall can get a free survey and a fixed written quote for lime render, covering KW15 and the surrounding area. For period homes in Kirkwall, we look for cement patching that may be trapping moisture before suggesting lime.
- Free survey in KW15
- Guide price from £78 per m² + scaffold, inc VAT
- Fixed written price before work starts
Free survey in Kirkwall
Postcode, service and a phone number is all we need.
What the job covers
- Vapour-open and flexible, suited to older solid walls
- Works with wood fibre insulation as a breathable EWI system
- Slower curing — needs frost-free, protected conditions
- Helps walls dry out where cement render trapped moisture
What we look for in Kirkwall
We cover Kirkwall and the wider Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles; island and remote addresses are surveyed by arrangement. The Highlands and Islands have many exposed stone and harled homes, timber-framed houses and scattered rural properties.
Parts of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles fall in the higher wind-driven rain exposure bands, especially coastal and upland sites, so render specification, movement joints and detailing at cills, verges and the base of the wall matter more than usual.
For stone and early brick properties in Kirkwall, lime render is often the right answer.
- Postcode district
- KW15
- County or area
- Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
- Nation
- Scotland
Scotland: planning and regulations
For Kirkwall properties, flats and tenements need planning permission for external insulation, and a noticeable change of finish on a house often does too under Scottish rules.
Over-cladding work in Scotland often needs a building warrant from the council's building standards service, with Section 6 of the Technical Handbooks setting insulation benchmarks.
How is lime render applied?
Old cement render is removed where it's causing problems, the wall is dampened, and lime is applied in successive coats — usually a scratch coat, a float coat and a finish coat — with curing time between. Freshly applied lime must be protected from frost, rain and fast drying.
Lime render prices in Kirkwall
| Item | Guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lime render, three-coat | £78–£132 per m²inc VAT | Excluding scaffold |
| Removing cement render first | £22–£48 per m²inc VAT | Where needed |
| Wood fibre + lime EWI | £150–£210 per m²0% VAT | See wood fibre EWI |
Confirmed by a fixed written quote after survey. Prices include VAT at 20%. 0% VAT: installing insulation in a home is zero-rated until 31 March 2027, so these figures are the total; 5% applies from 1 April 2027.
What happens next
Tell us about the property
Use the quote tool or form, or call. Photos help.
Free survey
We measure, check the walls and confirm approvals.
Fixed written quote
System, details, access, exclusions and VAT in writing.
Installation
Scheduled for suitable weather, with a clear programme.
Lime render in Kirkwall: questions
Should I remove cement render from my stone house?
If it's cracked, hollow or trapping damp, often yes. If it's sound and the wall is dry, it may be left. The survey looks at both.
Is lime render more expensive?
Usually, because it's applied in coats by hand and needs more curing time.
Can lime render be applied in winter?
Only with protection and in frost-free conditions. Spring to early autumn is the usual season.
Do you cover Kirkwall?
Yes — we survey and quote lime render in Kirkwall (KW15); island and remote addresses are surveyed by arrangement, with a fixed written price before any work starts.