How can you tell if mortar is lime or cement?

The first thing to look for is the color of the mortar – is it closer to a shade of gray or a shade of white? A whiter mortar typically indicates a lime mortar. If mortar is grayer in color, it is likely Portland cement modern mortar.
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Is my house lime or cement mortar?

Take your house key out and scrape it across the mortar joint in question. If the mortar scrapes away and you could dig it out without turning your key into a nub then you likely have lime mortar or at least a mortar with higher lime content than portland cement.
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How is lime mortar different from cement?

Lime mortar is more porous than cement mortars, and it wicks any dampness in the wall to the surface where it evaporates. Thus any salt content in the water crystallises on the lime, damaging the lime and thus saving the masonry.
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What color is lime mortar?

Lime mortar made with local sands to produce pale yellow or off-white coloured mortars using Morstead, Wareham or Extra Fine White sand. A wet product supplied in tubs. Lime putty mortar is slower to set than NHL mortar.
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Does all mortar have lime?

Hydrated lime is not a necessary mortar ingredient. You can make mortar with just Portland cement, sand and water. The mortar that I used to permanently attach my brick and stone to my patios did not contain any hydrated lime.
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Is it Lime or Cement Mortar?



When did lime mortar stop being used?

Lime mortar has been used in construction since the time of the ancient Egyptians around 4,000 to 6,000 BC. It continued to be used until the 19th century, when the introduction of Portland cement led to the emergence of cement mortars, which were faster setting and had a higher compressive and flexural strength.
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How can you tell lime render from concrete?

Although a range of finishes exists with each, the latter has a more uniform appearance, and corners and details are sharper and more defined. Weathering characteristics also differ. Cement renders often fail in patches and detach from the wall, whereas lime renders erode back gradually in a more even manner.
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Why does lime mortar go white?

Possible causes of smeared Lime Mortar over masonry/brick

Sponge finishing of pointing to reveal aggregate, if done when the pointing is too wet or done hurriedly, can cause lime to be deposited over the face of the wall. A thin layer of lime when wet will not be visible however it will dry white.
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Does lime mortar darken over time?

New lime mortars will age and weather and therefore change appearance over time. Lime mortars will also appear different when dry and when wet.
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Can you add cement to lime mortar?

The addition of cement to lime mortars is a widespread, almost traditional practice, but few consider why it is done or the consequences. There is also confusion over the substances and chemistry involved.
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How can you tell lime plaster?

Lime plaster is usually an off-white colour (as opposed to pinkish as with gypsum-based mixes.) When trying to identify your plaster type, check for the presence of sand and hair — both tend to be good indicators of lime plaster, as is the finish being soft to the touch and obviously old.
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Is lime mortar more expensive than cement?

+ Lime mortar is generally more expensive than cement based mortar? Yes, it is more expensive due to production cost of lime vs cement, basically down to volume of production. As more lime is produced, cost will reduce.
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Why does lime mortar crumble?

Crumbling or failing mortar can be caused by a number of reasons: Failing mortar can usually be attributed to a lack of carbonation of the lime within the mortar meaning that the mortar will have little if any, strength.
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Does lime mortar set hard?

Lime mortar does not require water to grow crystals, cure and get hard like cement based mortars. Limes get hard by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
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Should I use lime mortar for pointing?

The use of a lime mortar for pointing in general masonry allows you to use a material that is both porous and softer compared with mortars that feature cement. This allows the moisture to evaporate from the joints more effectively which reduces the level of moisture in the fabric of the building.
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Does lime change the colour of mortar?

Similar to the way in which lime can significantly lighten the colour of mortar, as you may imagine, using white cement has the same effect. So as you can see, not only does the colour and type of the sand that used in a mortar mix affect its colour but so does the cement and the presence of lime if it has been used.
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How do you repoint lime mortar?

We recommend the following procedure:
  1. Start with an empty mixer.
  2. Add 1 part sand.
  3. Mix in 1 part lime.
  4. Followed by 1.5 parts sand.
  5. Mix dry for at least 5 minutes.
  6. After 5 minutes slowly add water until the desired consistency is reached, it is very important not to drown the mix by adding too much water.
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How do you remove old lime mortar?

Using a pointing chisel to remove lime mortar is quite easy; the mortar is soft and breaks easily in front of the chisel. Portland-based mortars are quite hard, and hand-chiseling takes many blows from the hammer to remove just a couple inches of joint.
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Does lime mortar stain?

Lime Staining stems from the joints. The wall is unprotected and becomes saturated. Free lime released by the mortar seeps out of the joints. Calcium hydroxide is formed on the surface turning into calcium carbonate or limestone which is impervious to water.
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Is lime mortar soft?

Made with non-hydraulic lime, commonly known as lime putty. This mortar is extremely soft and flexible, perfect for conservation of delicate masonry. It carbonates very slowly but this leaves it vulnerable to frost damage in cold conditions, it is not suited to damp conditions where it may not carbonate at all.
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Can you render over lime mortar?

Lime mortars are extremely cohesive but require more effort than for cement bound render, requiring greater pressure to press the render onto the surface (aided by the pre-damping). Application should be reasonably even and once applied should not be overworked or straightened too much.
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How do you remove lime mortar from stone?

Vinegar is the best bet for removing the lime residue on the stone faces - you just have to keep at it.
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How do you stop lime mortar from cracking?

In general, when mortar has stiffened up, it should be firmly compacted into the joints by beating with a stiff bristle brush. This will help eliminate any initial shrinkage cracking and ensure that the mortar is fully compacted into the joint with a good bond to the surrounding masonry.
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