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The MGN Structural Consolidation System is designed to strengthen masonry and vaulted structures using lime-based structural mortars, reinforced with glass fibre mesh and connectors. It combines traditional lime mixes with modern reinforcement to create a continuous structural layer across the surface of the wall.

Unlike concrete-based systems, which are dense, rigid and often too strong for historic masonry, this system is built around materials that are very similar to the original fabric. Lime mortars are more flexible, more accommodating of movement, and able to absorb and redistribute stresses rather than forcing them into the masonry.

A full refurbishment of a 200-year-old building, upgraded with external lime-aerogel insulating render to enhance thermal performance while maintaining a breathable, heritage-compatible finish using MGN lime materials.

Here is an application example of Rasacol MGN lime plaster directly onto calcium silicate insulation panels, first as a mineral adhesive and then as a finishing plaster.

The Rasacol is a heritage-appropriate composite lime mortar, formulated with natural air lime, some hydraulic lime (NHL 3.5), cocciopesto (brick dust) and natural pozzolans. This combination gives it a dual hardening mechanism — hydraulic and pozzolanic — allowing it to gain early strength reliably while remaining vapour-open and compatible with damp historic masonry.

It forms a continuous, breathable, capillary-active system. It bonds securely without synthetic resins, tolerates moisture during curing and by buffering humidity at the insulation interface, protects and keeps the insulation material dry — a critical zone in traditional buildings.

This old Victorian farm building sits in an area with an exceptionally high water table and, as a result, suffered regular winter flooding. Groundwater would rise into the cellar to a depth of approximately 1.2 metres, leaving the space submerged for much of the season. Despite the installation of a sump pump, the volume and persistence of incoming water proved too great to manage, and the cellar remained flooded throughout the winter months.

The issue was resolved using Rinzaffo MGN Roman waterproofing lime plaster, a relatively simple yet highly effective intervention. This heritage-friendly system provides a complete barrier against liquid water while still allowing the wall fabric to breathe, making it particularly well suited to historic buildings. The result is a dry, stable cellar achieved without compromising the long-term health of the original masonry.

The Conservation and Environmental Heritage Show (Salone del Restauro) in Ferrara stands out as a premier event celebrating the art and science of heritage restoration. We attended that show and here are some photos. 

The partial restoration and structural consolidation of the Ferrara Castle (Castello Estense), a 14th-century moated medieval fortress located in the heart of Ferrara, northern Italy—as presented by the Ferrara City Council at the 30th International Conservation and Environmental Heritage Show 2025, Ferrara, Italy.