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Why Lime?

Building Lime Background
For the last 100 years modern artificial cements have slowly been replacing traditional lime based mortars and plaster’s, to such a degree that now virtually all construction is carried out using only modern materials. Whilst many of these materials are perfectly suitable for modern buildings and essential for thin skinned and taller structures they have been found to be incompatible with the construction of old buildings.

The need to understand the different technology involved in historic and modern structures is essential if successful repair and maintenance programmes are to be carried out.
Lime has been the primary binder used in mortars and plasters for many thousands of years and the vast majority of all buildings constructed before 1900 made use of lime. Despite this until very recently  lime has been ignored as a binder for construction and even for the repair of buildings built with lime.

 

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So why lime?

Modern cements are harder and less permeable than lime mortars, the general aim when selecting mortar or render is that it should “breathe”more freely than the material which it is applied to and that it should have less composite strength than the brick or stone which it is used with. This is essential if you are to prolong the life of the historic buildings.

 

Would you consider cement for this building ?

 

Modern buildings generally rely on an outer layer to prevent moisture penetrating the walls, whereas buildings constructed before 1900 generally rely on allowing the moisture which has been absorbed by the fabric to evaporate from the surface. In essence old buildings exposed to the elements are continually absorbing moisture and the ability for the moisture to evaporate again is crucial to the well being of the structure. Using cement based mortars and plasters in traditional buildings runs the risk of locking-in the moisture which could result in dampness internally and spalling of brick and block externally as a result of freeze and thaw. Problems generally arise when the building has been ''repaired'' with inappropriate materials through lack of knowledge.

It is interesting to note that many structures built using lime technology 500+ years ago and maintained correctly are still in excellent condition today.
 

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Why our Lime?

Our Natural Hydraulic Limes and lime putty’s are natural products. They contain no additives and are not blended.

We use  chalk for our  our own lime putties. Being the predominant local stone chalk has been used to build and plaster traditional buildings for centuries in the South.

 

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The advantages of lime

 

A variety of strengths and colours are available to suit existing mortar, whatever the age.
No gypsum or cement related salt attack.
No need for cement, plasticizers, water retainers, waterproofers etc,
Free-lime content gives excellent workability and also gives self-healing properties.
No expansion joints on well designed buildings, minimal shrinkage and cracking.
Permeability – essential for solid wall construction.
Insulation – permeability reduces moisture in structure.
Frost - has an earlier resistance to frost than non-hydraulic lime mortars.

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The Building Lime Company | Tel: 01794 884294