Lime mortars in traditional buildings

Historic Scotland publish a short guide on lime mortars which is aimed at building professionals who deal with issues relating to the maintenance and repair of traditional and historic buildings and structures. However, it will equally be of use to contractors, home owners and students with an interest in lime mortars and finishes, traditional materials and historic building maintenance strategies.

The process of preparing and using lime mortars in building work is an essential skill for all those working on traditional buildings. Traditional buildings (defined by the Scottish House Condition Survey as buildings constructed before 1919 of solid masonry) make up around 20% of the existing housing stock in Scotland and therefore the skills required to maintain such buildings should not be considered ‘specialist’. The aim of this guide is to provide the reader with a background to the history and use of lime mortars in traditional building, the sourcing of raw materials, preparation of lime mortars for repairs, and how to recognise and reduce the risk of failure.

This guide provides advice on how to approach the specification of lime mortars, however it does not offer exact mixes, as these are always site specific. Where specification of lime mortar is required for conservation work, or where there is uncertainty about the correct specification to use, the reader is encouraged to employ the skills of a buildings consultant experienced in the specification, application and maintenance of lime mortars and finishes

Click here to read the full guide

This and other guides and publications available free of charge from Historic Scotland www.historic-scotland.gov.uk