A Stone Cottage Renovation using Beeck Silicate Masonry Paint

A transformation of a Traditional Stone Cottage in the Welsh Countryside using Beeck Silicate Masonry Paint.

The year 2024 was anexciting one at Celtic HQ. We saw many new developments, one of the most thrilling being that we partnered with one of our suppliers to become a supplier of Beeck Paints! We were drawn to Beeck's years of experience manufacturing high-quality, professional coatings, making it the material of choice for many. We are excited to introduce it to our customers. Beeck Mineral paints are an excellent choice for those who want a breathable and durable finish. They are vapour permeable and environmentally friendly, with low VOCs. We look forward to sharing the advantages of this entire range with anyone interested in sustainable renovations.

A local introduction

When customers Jane and Arfon visited our Cardigan Showroom early in 2024, we were eager to learn more about their intriguing renovation project. They shared that, although they had always lived in older homes, this was their first renovation venture. Upon viewing the 175-year-old cottage for the first time, they discovered it had been a beloved holiday home for many years but needed some renovation. Jane and Arfon instantly fell in love with it.

The start of the renovation project

Fortunately, the house had a solid roof and exterior walls, but everything else needed significant attention. Taking advantage of this opportunity, they added a steel sunroom and a tin extension for utility and office space. Their goal was to preserve as much of the original cottage as possible while renovating sustainably. They understood that for the next phase of the renovation, they would need the assistance of professional builders. Fortunately, they found exceptional builders who were experienced with older properties and attentive to their vision for the project.

They used local tradespeople from Towy Projects based in Llandovery for the build.

“We worked closely with local builders 'Towy Projects'; they are so much more than tradespeople; they are experts in heritage building, and they really understood what needed to be done, and the finish was excellent. We were so lucky to have found them.”- Jane

Having builders who understood their needs significantly reduced the stress of the renovation and allowed them to feel secure in the hands of experts. They used lime and cork plaster on the interior and lime mortar on the exterior to ensure the old cottage could continue to breathe and regulate moisture.

A sustainable Build

“We wanted to build something that would stand the test of time and not be adding to the plastics and toxins in the world. Of course, we know all building work is a compromise, and we had a budget to keep to, but I think we did our best to stick to our principles.”- Jane

Help and Product Guidance

Jane and Arfon came to Celtic and asked for assistance in choosing paint for the exterior of their property. We explained the different finishes to them. After considering their options, they confidently settled on  Beeck Renosil Fine Exterior paint in white. They chose this paint for its durability, breathability, UV resistance, lightfastness, and mould resistance due to its alkalinity . This is particularly important as the building is nestled in the countryside, surrounded by numerous trees.

Based on guidance from Beecks' technical team, Jane and Arfon were advised to apply a single coat of Renosil Coarse as a base coat to conceal imperfections and hide hairline cracks on the surface. After that, they were recommended to apply a final coat of diluted Renosil Fine using 15% water, followed by an undiluted coat of Renosil Fine. In both cases, a 12-hour drying time was recommended.

Applying the first coat of Renosil Coarse Exterior Silicate Masonry Paint in 2024

Halfway through last summer, we were still experiencing numerous rain showers and windy days. This can create challenges when it's time to start painting exterior walls. As a general rule, it's best to avoid painting when the weather is likely to be rainy or excessively hot, especially during the application and curing phases, which last for at least 12 hours after painting. That being said, they finally completed painting the cottage, and the results look fabulous!

“The Beeck Mineral paint was ideal and so easy to use. I like painting inside and out, and I found the paint covered really well, which transformed the appearance of the cottage. We liked the look of the lovely river stone the cottage is made from, but we knew old cottages were usually painted, often with animal blood in the paint. Painting the cottage has transformed it and now looks more coherent and complete.” Jane

Maybe one of the best tips from our customers:

“We would use all the paints we have bought from Celtic Sustainables again. They have worked well. Luckily, one of us is good at reading and sticking to the instructions! That's probably our best advice for using new products and listening to builders and product experts who have experience working with old buildings and materials. Their insights are invaluable. Mistakes can be expensive, disappointing or take time and effort to undo.” – Jane.

Painting Complete:

The Renovation Continues

Like most renovation projects, they can take several years to complete (let’s hope that’s not the case with this cottage!). Jane and Arfon's next major task is constructing a new patio around the cottage. Inside, they plan to finish some painting projects using water-based paint, which is environmentally friendly. This approach not only considers aesthetics but also reflects a commitment to minimising their impact on the planet. We look forward to welcoming them back to  Celtic Sustainables soon!