Do you own a traditional building? this is why you should use Lime Mortar by the expert’s Lime pointing Edinburgh

Why Should I use lime on traditionally built buildings?

Lime pointing Edinburgh has certain characteristics which make them the most appropriate material appropriate material for repairing buildings constructed or finished with lime. Lime mortars allow ‘, traditionally constructed (mass wall) buildings to ‘breathe’, unlike modern OPC mortars which can be virtually impermeable to moisture, trapping it within the walls and leading to dampness and decay internal.

Why is cement pointing bad vs Lime pointing Edinburgh

Cement pointing traps the moisture, which through the action of frost and the concentration of salts accelerate the decay of the stone.

Cement-rich mortars, like these, will set harder than the stone. Cement mortar is less porous than stone, so moisture gets trapped in the stone and evaporates at the stone face, causing it the weather rapidly and over time leaves the pointing standing proud of the stone. Cement-rich mortar prevents the stone. Bricks from expanding when warmed by the sun, causing the stone to break up more quickly.

In addition to damaging the stone stonework, cement, rich mortar looks out of place, as it is often a grey or off-white colour which does not complement the colour of the stone and is in most cases too strong for the masonry units. For more information on our Lime Pointing services, please contact the Edinburgh Stonemasons Ltd

Please see attached photos below of samples of lime pointing to the house below, if you wish to discuss such projects please don’t hetaite to contact us

Things to look for on your building  Lime pointing Edinburgh vs Cement pointing

1. Stone erosion around hard cement pointing
2. Missing or loose pointing on the stonework

Likely Cause of damage to the building

1. Old decayed lime or cement pointing
2. Cement pointing prevents evaporation, saturated stonework

Suggested repair works

1. Selective repointing of masonry units using traditional lime pointing Edinburgh
2. Carefully remove cement pointing and repoint with lime

Key Points for  Lime pointing Edinburgh  vs Cement

• Lime mortar is more porous than cement mortars,
• Lime is breathable cement is not
• Historic buildings are frequently constructed with relatively soft masonry units and many types of stone and minor movement in such buildings is quite common This movement breaks the weakest part of the wall, and with cement mortar, this is usually the masonry unit. When lime mortar is used, the lime is the weaker element and the mortar cracks in preference to the masonry.
• Non-hydraulic lime takes longer to set and should not be allowed to freeze before it is well set. Although the setting process can be slow, the drying time of a lime mortar must be regulated at a slow rate to ensure a good final set.
• A rapidly dried lime mortar will result in a low-strength, poor-quality displaying shrinkage cracks. In practice, lime mortars are often protected from direct sunlight and wind with damp hessian sprayed with water to control the drying rates.