Properties of innovative renders on a lime basis for the renovation of historical buildings

Mechanical and hygric properties, namely compressive strength, bending strength, water sorptivity, moisture diffusivity and the water vapor diffusion coefficient, of two innovative lime plasters with pozzolanic admixtures (metakaolin, metashale) and two commercial renovation plasters are studied in this paper. Reference measurements with common lime plaster are done as well. Experimental results show that the analyzed lime-pozzolana plasters are suitable for an application in reconstruction of historical buildings. Their mechanical properties are superior to lime plaster and better or similar to commercial renovation plasters. Their hygric properties are similar to lime plaster or slightly better and comparable with commercial plasters.