There are a few different types of lime, and they all set via different processes. This can make it difficult to understand how long a lime mortar will remain plastic and usable. In addition, certain lime building materials have shelf lives while others don’t. So, how long does lime mortar remain workable? Putty-based (fat lime) … Read more
In today’s buildings, we often think that the stronger the mortar, the better. This is, in fact, not the case at all. Contrary to popular belief, building mortars which are too strong can have very negative consequences on the building they are used on. So what happens if the mortar is too strong? Mortars should … Read more
As you may have heard, lime mortars are a fantastic building material. They can help protect buildings and their stonework. But how do you know if you should use lime mortars for your project? Most houses built before the 1900s were constructed with lime. Any building constructed initially with lime building materials must have similar … Read more
It can be highly frustrating to see your brand-new lime mortar beginning to crack after lots of hard work and effort to get it right. So what are the main reasons that will cause lime mortar to crack, and how do you stop it from cracking? The most common causes of fresh lime mortar cracking … Read more
Lime mortars are made by mixing together the binder, either lime putty or hydraulic lime and various sands and aggregates. It’s essential to use the correct sands and aggregates for lime mortars as they strongly affect the strength and durability of the finished mortar. So what sands should be used to make lime mortars? Lime … Read more
Lime mortar has been used as a building material for thousands of years. It has many great qualities that allow for amazing longevity, even when compared to modern Portland cement-based mortars. Lime mortars can last for thousands of years or only 50. Generally, factors such as exposure and the type of lime mortar used will … Read more
From the 1930s onward, Portland cement mortars gradually overtook lime mortars to become the most commonly used building mortar. This is mainly because Portland cement has a speedy set compared to some lime mortars, which allows for quicker (and often sloppier) building. So how do you know if you should use lime mortar or cement … Read more