Dublin
Civic
Trust

This half-day seminar, led by a building conservation specifier and a lime plastering practitioner, focuses on the history and repair of traditional interior plasterwork, with an emphasis on wall and ceiling ‘flatwork’ and modest decorative elements.

Most historic interiors in Ireland are finished in plain lime plaster: composed of two and three-coat work on walls, and lath-and-plaster build-ups on ceilings and on some walls. This plasterwork forms the essential fabric of our commonplace building stock, including domestic, commercial, institutional and religious buildings, whose interiors are often enriched with plain and decorative cornices, roses, freehand moulding and horsework. Understanding the composition and layering of these materials is important for ensuring the protection of buildings’ special character, including the challenges of sensitive thermal upgrading.  

Over three lectures, two leading speakers, Frank Keohane, Grade I Conservation Surveyor, and Brian Tobin, Specialist Lime Plasterer, guide attendees through the history and application of lime plasters, materials and structural substrates, identification of defects and approaches to repair. Themes include traditional three-coat work, lath-and-plaster build-ups, thermal/insulating plasters, cornice and other decorative work, site logistics and general specification. The webinar places an emphasis on traditional, commonplace ‘flatwork’ and features a variety of case studies. 

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Frank Keohane is an Chartered Building Surveyor and Architectural Historian who has specialised in surveying, recording, repair, refurbishment and conservation of historic buildings in Ireland for 25 years. Frank is a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Having completed the RICS Building Conservation Accreditation Scheme (BCAS), he is one of only four chartered surveyors in Ireland fully accredited in building conservation.

Frank’s extensive experience includes the inspection, repair and refurbishment of town and country houses, commercial and public buildings and churches of various denominations. He is Chair of the SCSI Conservation Committee, a member of the SCSI Building Surveying Committee and the RICS Conservation Forum Board – and is author of the leading Dublin Civic Trust publication: Irish Period Houses – A Conservation Guidance Manual.

Brian Tobin, ‘Lime Master’ is an experienced traditional lime plasterer with many years experience in the repair and renewal of traditional lime plasters, renders and decorative work. His working ethos is founded on a thorough understanding of the plastering trade and materials, working with the fabric of historic buildings and local working conditions. This ensures consistent, long-lasting and beautiful results that preserve limework and host buildings for generations.

Brian was mentored by leading practitioner Paddy Byrne in advanced traditional building skills, and has experience in brickwork, masonry and lime horse work, hemp plasters and precision lathe setting and operation. Brian has worked on a diverse array of conservation projects including private country houses, Dublin city centre commercial buildings, Georgian and Victorian terraced houses, amongst many others.

Completion of this webinar offers 3 Structured CPD Points.