Proper Ratio of Lime to Sand We hear the question often, “What ratio of lime to sand should I use?” Our answer, “We don’t know what the void space of your sand is.” There are thousands and thousands of sands across the USA. Within those myriad of sands, there are countless ways that manufactures sieve,
General Project Conditions for Using Lime Mortar 1. Bedding and lime pointing mortar should be placed only if air and masonry temperatures are between 40°F (4°C) and 80°F (27°C), and the air is relatively calm. Conditions must remain so for at least 48 hours after completion of work. If conditions are not within these parameters,
Brick and Mortar Basics The following provides an overview of the characteristics of brick and mortar, and how they sustain unnecessary damage through improper maintenance. This is provided to assist in understanding the masonry sections of this report. A more thorough comparison of Portland mortar and hydraulic lime mortar will be found in some of
How to Remove Mortar Before Repointing Brick The biggest challenge in restoring masonry walls and buildings is repointing brick, replacing Portland-cement-based mortars with a natural lime mortar. The difference between the two is easy to determine. Using a pointing chisel to remove lime mortar is quite easy; the mortar is soft and breaks easily in
What Makes a Great Lime for True Lime Mortars? Higher calcium content leads to quicker carbonation and a more durable mortar. Magnesium and other impurities either don’t react or react slowly with CO2. But is high-calcium lime enough to make a good lime-only mortar? No. Food-grade calcium hydrate is pure, but does not have high
