Conservation & Heritage Issue 49 October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 34
Preserving History:
The Expert Restor ation of
Dunton’s St Martin’s Church
At the heart of the charming rural village of Dunton, Buckinghamshire stands the recently
redecorated Grade II Listed St Martin’s Church.
Outside, weathered limestone and brick which date back
as early as the 12th century, radiates a warmth that draws
visitors in. Project Manager Michael Simmonds of M
Simmonds Decorating Contractors, explains, “The church
has been constructed using the local materials that were
available at the time of construction, mainly Limestone and
lime, sand, straw, clay and oak.”
In-keeping with its original construction, internal repairs
were completed with lime plaster to preserve the building’s
ability to allow moisture to pass through and allow the
building to breathe. Michael adds “The natural materials
used in the church’s construction enable moisture to escape
from both the surface and the underlying limestone and
plaster. It is essential that a breathable paint was applied to
allow the building to continue to breathe without locking in
any moisture”.
The team at M Simmonds Decorating Contractors have
first-hand experience with problems caused by not using
breathable paints in older buildings like St Martin’s Church.
“As with all historic buildings, there are always challenges,
especially when incorrect paint has been used. Flaking
paint, damp, condensation, cold spots and cracks in lime
plaster are all tell-tale signs there is a buildup of moisture
and the building is not able to breathe”.
No stranger to Earthborn, Michael Simmonds has been
using their products for over 15 years and was quickly able
to identify that Earthborn’s highly breathable Claypaint
was ideal for this project. “We traditionally used whitewash
or limewash for painting these historic buildings but
found that Claypaint was a great alternative. It’s a natural
and breathable product with great coverage that can be
applied over lime plaster. It’s also competitively priced in
comparison to other designer paint brands”.
Below, St Martins Church painted in Posset
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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