Lime Mortars Plaster
This category covers suppliers and specialists in lime: lime putty, hydraulic and non-hydraulic limes, ready-mixed mortars and plasters, renders, limewash and the aggregates that go with them. Lime is the binder old buildings were made with, and using it again is what keeps solid walls working. It is permeable, so walls dry out; it is soft, so it sacrifices itself rather than the masonry; and it accommodates movement without cracking. Firms here supply materials, mix to match analysed originals, and many provide technical advice or training on specification and application.
What this category covers
- Lime putty, hydraulic and non-hydraulic lime supply
- Ready-mixed and bespoke mortars matched to original samples
- Lime plasters, renders and limewash
- Aggregates, hair and pozzolanic additives
- Mortar analysis, specification advice and training
Ecomerchant
Ecomerchant is an independent, employee-owned builders’ merchant supplying natural and sustainable building ...
Heritage Cob & Lime
Heritage Cob & Lime manufactures lime mortars, plasters, cob blocks and associated ...
JH Building Restoration Ltd
JH Building Restoration Ltd is a heritage restoration and refurbishment contractor based ...
Lime Stuff
Lime Stuff manufactures and sells traditional lime-based building materials for restoration: lime ...
Mike Wye Limited
Mike Wye Limited has supplied natural and sustainable building materials from Buckland ...
Old House Store – Traditional Materials for Modern Times
Old House Store is a specialist merchant for traditional and ecological building ...
Organic By Design
Organic By Design is a heritage building maintenance and repair contractor based ...
Rose of Jericho Ltd
Rose of Jericho, established in 1989, manufactures and supplies materials for the ...
Saint-Astier
Saint-Astier is a family-owned, independent French lime producer that has quarried and ...
The Breathable House Company Ltd
The Breathable House Company restores, refurbishes and maintains historic and listed buildings ...
The Limecrete Company
The Limecrete Company is a specialist contractor that does one thing: laying ...
Choosing the right lime
Match the mortar to the masonry, not to a habit. Softer, more permeable stone and hand-made brick generally suit lime putty or a feebly hydraulic lime; more exposed elevations, chimneys and copings may justify a moderately hydraulic lime. The mortar should always be weaker than the units it joints.
Get the original analysed where the job is significant. Mortar analysis identifies binder type and, importantly, the aggregate – sand colour, grading and shape do more to match appearance than the binder does. Several suppliers offer this service and will mix to the result.
Allow for the working method. Lime is slower than cement: it needs damp substrates, protection from sun, wind and frost, and time between coats. Programmes written around gypsum or cement timings are the most common reason lime work fails, and the season matters – most specialists avoid starting external lime work late in autumn.
Ask about training and support. Several suppliers run courses or provide on-site technical visits, which is worth taking up if your contractor is capable but new to lime.
Questions to ask
What is the difference between lime putty and hydraulic lime?
Lime putty (non-hydraulic) sets slowly by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and stays soft and highly permeable. Hydraulic lime contains clay impurities that let it set with water, giving a faster, harder set. Putty suits soft, sheltered work; hydraulic suits exposure and structural situations.
Can lime work be done in winter?
External lime work should not be carried out in frost, and most specialists stop in late autumn. Lime needs time and moderate temperatures to carbonate, and a frost before it has set will destroy the work. Internal work can continue with care and protection.
Why does the sand matter as much as the lime?
Aggregate makes up most of the mortar's volume, so its colour, grading and particle shape largely determine the finished appearance and much of the performance. Matching the original sand is usually what makes a repair blend in; matching only the binder rarely does.
Directory information is provided to help visitors identify potentially relevant specialists and suppliers. Inclusion does not constitute a recommendation, approval or guarantee by Tuscan Foundry Products. Please check current services, credentials, availability and suitability directly with each business.