Where To Buy Hydrated Lime For Mortar BETTER
Hydraulic limes (so called because they set under water) are made in the same way as non-hydraulic lime but using different limestone. They are sold as hydrated lime and have an initial set when water is added, followed by hardening while they absorb carbon dioxide. The more hydraulic a lime is the faster it sets and the higher it's final strength, but this means that it is less breathable and flexible. NHL5 is the most hydraulic, then NHL3.5, and NHL2 the least hydraulic lime. They do not perform in the same way as modern cements, nor contain the same damaging components. It should be noted however that limes marked with NHL-Z or just HL on the bag can contain some additions that could be potentially damaging and at worst be not much better than cement. Only use limes marked NHL - these meet the highest British and European standards.
where to buy hydrated lime for mortar
Non-hydraulic lime (CL or DL 70-90) is sold as either hydrated lime or putty lime; they set and harden through drying out and absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. This means they have a very slow set: CO2 is only absorbed when certain conditions are met. They are the softest, most breathable limes available. These limes are also known as fat-lime, calcium-lime or air-lime.
Lime putty can be made from either type of lime, and is made by adding an excess of water to quicklime. Hydraulic lime putty will set underwater within hours or days making them impractical, whereas non-hydraulic lime putty will remain plastic and improve with age.
Pozzolans are additions that may be added to achieve harder, faster sets to any sort of lime or cement. Pozzolans, when added, produce similar chemical reactions to those found in hydraulic limes, so they reduce breathability and flexibility in exactly the same way. The disadvantage is that you will never know how strong, breathable or flexible a pozzolan lime is beforehand, unless you have considerable experience or knowledge. Adding some types of pozzolans or even the smallest amounts of cement can be very damaging or produce poor performing lime mortars. We always recommend testing first.
Lime putty or hemp lime mixes should be used with caution in houses where damp is a problem. (N.B. if a wall is permanently very damp, a putty mix may never set.) Low suction backgrounds (hard stone or blue bricks etc) and damp cool weather also make the use of lime putty very slow, consider using Lime Green Duro or Ultra instead in these situations.
It has been shown that even small amounts of cement in traditional mortars leads to inferior less durable mortars that can cause problems. If a mortar with a set is required then a hydraulic lime is more suitable. Building with cement and pointing with lime is also a waste of time technically and has no real advantages over a hydraulic lime mortar, which will allow building and pointing to be done in one operation.
Mortars and renders made with cement as the only binder ingredient tend to be hard, impermeable and brittle, which may lead to issues with cracking, water penetration and poor durability. Scientific and industry institutions support the incorporation of lime into mortar and render mixes. See the 'downloads' section at the bottom of this page for more information.
Incorporating an appropriate proportion of hydrated lime into a cement-based mixture improves plasticity and workability, making the product easier to handle on the trowel. Hydrated lime also increases water retention which helps to improve the contact and bond with the substrate.
Incorporating hydrated lime helps the construction withstand the minor movements that occur, for example, as a result of thermal expansion and contraction. These movements can cause a hard and brittle product to develop large cracks or to 'debond' from the substrate, often damaging the substrate as well. Incorporating hydrated lime into the mixture encourages crack formation to be in the form of gradual 'micro-cracking' within the material. These micro-cracks repair themselves naturally by a process of hydrated lime diffusing into the tiny fissures and then hardening by reacting with atmospheric carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate (limestone). This process is known as 'autogenous healing'.
The improved quality of the bond, and absence of large cracks, which comes from incorporating hydrated lime helps to reduce the risk of water ingress. Mixtures containing appropriate proportions of hydrated lime also have a greater ability to transmit water vapour (vapour permeability) than cement-only mixtures. This helps moisture to dissipate, allowing the structure to 'breathe' and reducing the risk of frost damage due to saturation. All these factors contribute to improved durability.
Largely due to the increased permeability of mortars and renders using hydrated lime, there is a reduced the risk of unsightly efflorescence, a powdery deposit of water-soluble salts that can appear on the surface of the building.
Not to be confused with hydrated lime, hydraulic lime products react with water in the mix to form a 'set'. Hydraulic lime products can be either manufactured from naturally occurring rock (Natural Hydraulic Lime or NHL), or from a formulated mixture of hydrated lime and reactive binder components (Formulated Lime or FL).
Silo mortars are a complete system consisting of a portable silo containing the dry ingredients (sand, cement, hydrated lime, additives) with a built-in mixing system to blend the dry ingredients and combine with water from site supply. The mix proportions are pre-set by the supplier according to the grade requirements given by the customer.
Ready to use wet mortars are factory produced fully mixed (cement-hydrated lime-sand-additives-water) mortars for immediate use, delivered to site in tubs. Additives are incorporated in the mix to retard the set and extend the workable period.
Lime-sand mortars are a factory produced mixture of damp sand and hydrated lime delivered to site in specified proportions, to which cement, additives and water are added in a mixer prior to use. The proportioning and mixing guide for site-made mortar (below) also applies to lime-sand mortar.
For site-made mortars, mix proportioning is normally by volume. For accuracy, use buckets or gauge boxes rather than shovels. Add some water to the mixer, then sand and hydrated lime. Mix for at least 5 minutes then add cement and finally water to adjust the workability.
Nearly all masonry up to the early 20th century was constructed using mortars where lime was the only binder in the mortar. Renders and plasters were also made in this way. Most masonry construction was of solid walls and the use of lime binders allowed the moisture to quite freely move within the structure. It is important that mortars used in repair and renovation of these buildings are sympathetic and compatible with the other materials in the structure, are able to accommodate minor movements and to allow water vapour to escape and not trap moisture within the structure.
Ecologic Lime Mortar from Limeworks is a prepared blend of binder, aggregate, and pigments to which you just add water, mix, and go to work. The dry ingredients have already been prepared so that you get the right type of hydrated lime, the correct blend of screened sand, and earth pigment if needed.
Ecologic Lime Mortar will reach the 750 psi required for a Type N mortar while maintaining the high permeability required for repointing and repair to historic structures, originally built with lime mortars. Due to the lack of Portland cement, Ecologic Lime Mortar is immune to sulfates and salts.
Calcium hydroxide (traditionally called slaked lime) is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca(OH)2. It is a colorless crystal or white powder and is produced when quicklime (calcium oxide) is mixed with water. It has many names including hydrated lime, caustic lime, builders' lime, slaked lime, cal, and pickling lime. Calcium hydroxide is used in many applications, including food preparation, where it has been identified as E number E526. Limewater, also called milk of lime, is the common name for a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide.
Another large application is in the paper industry, where it is an intermediate in the reaction in the production of sodium hydroxide. This conversion is part of the causticizing step in the Kraft process for making pulp.[9] In the causticizing operation, burned lime is added to green liquor, which is a solution primarily of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate produced by dissolving smelt, which is the molten form of these chemicals from the recovery furnace.
Lime mortar or torching[1][2] is composed of lime and an aggregate such as sand, mixed with water. The ancient Egyptians were the first to use lime mortars, which they used to plaster their temples. In addition, the Egyptians also incorporated various limes into their religious temples as well as their homes. Indian traditional structures built with lime mortar, which are more than 4,000 years old like Mohenjo-daro is still a heritage monument of Indus valley civilization in Pakistan.[3] It is one of the oldest known types of mortar also used in ancient Rome and Greece, when it largely replaced the clay and gypsum mortars common to ancient Egyptian construction.[4]
With the introduction of Portland cement during the 19th century, the use of lime mortar in new constructions gradually declined. This was largely due to the ease of use of Portland cement, its quick setting, and high compressive strength. However, the soft and porous properties of lime mortar provide certain advantages when working with softer building materials such as natural stone and terracotta. For this reason, while Portland cement continues to be commonly used in new brick and concrete construction, in the repair and restoration of brick and stone-built structures originally built using lime mortar, the use of Portland cement is not recommended.[5] 041b061a72