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Bricklaying & Repointing

Lime mortar or cement for repointing a red brick house built in 1906

Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 2.32 PM

Very confused and need some advice plse. All re pointering contractors who have quoted me have said they would use cement and sand to repoint, some have said they will use a softer sand with cement due to my worries. I have a terraced standard red brick home built in 1906 in Bolton and all my research points to using lime mortar. Ok so I have now been advised the bricks are known as Accrington Ref Bricks. Had 1 tradesman advice he would use Lime Mortar but with cement added! Mix ratio he noted I think was 4:1:1. Now I'm more confused as some say regardless of how much cement is mixed with lime it will still take on the properties of cement

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4 Answers

R.Hughes Building and Conservation Ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5
Wellingborough
Hi. Your house will almost certainly need to be repointed in a lime mortar. As mentioned above there is no cement in a hydraulic lime mortar mix. You should be using an nhl 3.5 or nhl 5 with a good 3mm to fine mixed aggregate. Contrary to belief stonemasons aren't the only ones who know anything about lime mortar. I am a brick mason qualified in heritage brickwork and was trained by the leading historic brickwork consultant in this country. I am pretty sure my knowledge on lime mortar is beyond that of the average stonemason!!
Answered3 August 2015
13

ADR Property Maintenance

Rating: 5 out of 5
Boston
lime mortar is the way forward, unfortunately today's tradesmen neither understand the reason for not using cement or how to use lime mortar , it will make no difference what so ever the type of sand used if it is mixed with Portland cement, N.H.L contains no cement or additives anyone that tells you different run a mile from. good luck Alex
Answered28 July 2015
5

CMT Contractor Roofing & Building

Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Ellon
Your right, best contacting a stonemason.
Answered27 July 2015
2

Arvonia Roofing & Building ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5
Holyhead
Lime mortar is a must. Mix 3 course sand to 1 lime 3.5 which can be purchased at any good builders merchants or Ty Mawr Lime
Answered20 June 2022
0