Understanding The Benefits Of Lime Pointing Leicestershire

Repointing your home is not a project for the inexperienced, as even the most ardent DIYer will encounter difficulties along the road. A competent lime pointing Leicestershire or builder will understand how to repair bricks as they go and the proper mortar to use when the old, crumbling mortar has been slaked away from between the brickwork.

Until recently, most builders would use cement or masonry cement combined with water and sand to fill the spaces between the bricks and seal your home against rain. However, there is a growing tendency among professionals and those in the know to use lime mortar pointing, particularly for work on older homes and historic buildings. If you built your house before the 1950s, it was most likely built using this mortar type, which has a more yellowed appearance than regular grey cement.

Lime mortar pointing is softer and more malleable than Portland cement or masonry cement, and it is better for builders, structures, and the environment. It helps your home breathe more naturally than cement finishes, can aid with damp issues, and allows your home to move organically without cracking walls or bricks. To allow this, mortar finishes should always be softer than the bricks surrounding them, and lime mortar provide precisely such a solution.

You can usually detect if your home is pointed with lime mortar by scraping away some of the disintegrating pointing and dousing it with white vinegar. If it fizzes, it means you have remedial wallties Leicestershire or a lime mortar mix. However, you may ask your artisan about this since they will know if you have the original mortar in place and what materials were used to make any repairs. Your tradesmen should also obtain the time required for the mortar since they will obtain the correct material from builder's yards or specialized suppliers. Not all DIY stores have pure lime or hydraulic lime, which are the components used by your brickwork to make the mortar. Some people will additionally combine lime putty with the sand.

There is sometimes confusion between hydraulic and hydrated lime, but you will need the former, with varying strengths available, to produce a proper blend. Natural Hydraulic Lime NHL 2, NHL 3.5, or NHL 5 will be labeled, with the intermediate strength being the most typical for usage in residential mortars.

One significant benefit of hiring a stuctrual engineers Leicestershire contractor familiar with lime mortars is that they will be skilled at combining the material and will have an opinion on what the proper mix should be, which can range from one measure lime to one-and-a-half sand to one measure lime to three sand. Your contractor should have a feel for the proper mix and consistency, as well as know when to lay the mortar and how to care for it while it cures. Lime mortar should not be used in rainy weather and should be kept dry if rain is forecast. Plastic sheeting or tarpaulins can be used to do this. A uniform mortar mix and a neat, tidy application can improve the street appeal of your property and maybe a huge help if you're looking to sell.

If you are looking for lime pointing Leicestershire services, contact LRBS today!