Materials Analysts
Materials analysis answers the question every good repair specification starts with: what is this actually made of. Laboratories and consultants in this category analyse mortars, plasters and renders to establish binder type, aggregate and proportions; identify stone and brick and their properties; investigate salts, moisture and decay mechanisms; and characterise paints and finishes. The output is a specification that matches the original rather than approximating it, which matters because incompatible repair materials do more damage to historic fabric than doing nothing at all.
What this category covers
- Mortar, plaster and render analysis: binder, aggregate, proportions
- Stone and brick identification and physical property testing
- Salt analysis and investigation of decay mechanisms
- Moisture assessment by quantitative methods
- Paint and finish characterisation and pigment analysis
British Geological Survey
The British Geological Survey is the national geological survey, an independent research ...
Rose of Jericho Ltd
Rose of Jericho, established in 1989, manufactures and supplies materials for the ...
When to have materials analysed
Analyse before repointing or replastering a significant building. Matching binder, aggregate grading and proportions is what makes a repair invisible and compatible, and guessing typically produces mortar that is too hard, too grey or too fine.
Take samples properly. Analysis is only as good as the sample: it should come from sound, original material rather than a previous repair, be located and recorded, and be large enough to work with. A conservator or the laboratory will advise on this.
Use quantitative moisture testing where damp is disputed. Electrical meters measure conductivity, not moisture, and read high on salt-contaminated plaster. Drill-sample gravimetric testing or calcium carbide testing gives an actual figure, which is what settles arguments about causes.
Keep the results with the building. A mortar analysis is worth having on file permanently, because the next phase of repair, possibly decades later, will need the same specification. Attach it to the building's record rather than the individual project.
Questions to ask
Why analyse an old mortar rather than just matching the colour?
Because compatibility matters more than appearance. A mortar that is harder or less permeable than the original concentrates weathering in the surrounding masonry. Analysis establishes binder type, aggregate and proportions so the replacement behaves like the original.
How much material is needed for analysis?
Usually a small quantity of sound original material, taken from an unrepaired area and recorded by location. Laboratories will specify what they need, and taking samples from previous repairs is the most common reason for misleading results.
Can analysis tell me why stone is decaying?
Often, yes. Salt analysis, petrographic examination and moisture testing can identify whether the cause is soluble salts, frost, cement pointing, water ingress or the stone itself, which determines whether repair, replacement or simply removing the cause is appropriate.
All 2 businesses listed under Materials Analysts
- British Geological Survey Edinburgh
- Rose of Jericho Ltd Dorset
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.