| WWW.LIME-WORK.COM |
| We specialise in the repair , restoration and renovation of older buildings. Types of work undertaken are structural repairs to cob and stone built house's. Lime and clay plastering and rendering interior and exterior we also undertake refurbishment. Our expertise is in the repair to cob, dressed and rubble stone walls . Our aim is to employ the best techniques to achieve lasting repairs to traditional buildings . |
| Q. Why use lime mortars on older buildings . A. Many old buildings are constructed from relatively soft and porous materials such as cob , stone and brick . Lime putty based mortars was normally used as the bedding and plaster . The walls are usually solid and without a damp course . Lime mortar is softer and weaker than cob , stone or brick and therefore able to withstand a certain amount of movement . Thereby cracking doesn't occur during periods of settlement and seasonal changes in the ground conditions . Lime mortar is also porous and allows moisture to freely evaporate , its this permeability that is referred to when walls are said to breathe . Lime mortar helps keep a building dry . Q. What is wrong with cement . A . Cement mortar is usually hard and brittle . Far less porous and often completely waterproof . This is damaging to traditional older buildings for the following reasons . Cement is much harder than cob or some stone and brick. Consequently when natural movement occurs the edges of the stone or brick are pushed against the hard mortar . This results in the masonry being damaged and the mortar cracking . Hard cement mortar can trap moisture behind it . This causes damage to the structure and can encourage ground water to rise from the base of the solid walls . Trapped moisture causes decay and crumbling , in severe cases cob fails . Masonry and cob are susceptible to frost damage if water is trapped in the walls . Over time lime mortar decays but not the cob or stone . It is much cheaper to re point or re render a wall rather than repair the fabric of the building . |
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