Lime Mortar (Non-Hydraulic)
Traditional Lime Mortar, Ready Mix with Fat Lime Putty
for Lime Plaster, Lime Render & Vernacular Building.
Buy online, 3 traditional mixes.
Lime Plaster (Backing Coat), Building, Pointing, Repointing
The most popular traditional lime mortar mix because of its charming rustic appearance.
Coarse stuff is a fat lime putty mortar that is made with coarse grained sands and aggregates to give its traditional gritty texture.
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Lime Plaster (Finish Coat), Masonry with Tight Joints
Fine Stuff's smooth finish makes this mortar mix the most popular for non-hydraulic lime finishing plaster.
This lime mortar mix is also suitable for bedding, pointing & repointing of architectural detail or stone masonry with tight joints.
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Internal Lime Render, Anything else
Medium Stuff has a moderately gritty texture and can be used instead of Coarse Stuff or Fine Stuff wherever this medium finish is more appropriate.
This material is a good choice for lime renders in internal areas.
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Need a different traditional lime mortar mix?
Get a ready-mix mortar to match your existing building.
We can mix the mortar to match the existing mortar on your building.
We charge £35 including VAT for this service.
You will need to supply us with a small mortar sample from your building and a mix reference to identify your mortar mix.
From then on, whenever you add mortar to your cart you'll be able to choose from any mixes you've had matched.
We'll show you a list of your mix references to choose from.
The matched mortar costs the same as the standard mix, you only pay for the matching service initially.
Matched lime mortars are usually shipped in 2 to 3 days but in some cases it might take a bit longer.
This all depends on the availability of the sands and aggregates when you place your order.
Please remember this if you are planning a building project, we advise you to allow 10 days to cover the worst case scenario.
If you're interested in this service then please make an enquiry, we'll get back to you promptly with more information.
Please include your mix reference in the enquiry, something that is easy for you to remember and identify later.
If you're a builder or contractor we recommend you use the project as a reference eg. Ref: Client Name, Street Address, Bath, Repointing Listed Building.
Using non-hydraulic lime mortar.
A few things to consider before you buy lime putty mortar.
Using non-hydraulic lime mortar (or lime putty mortar as it is also known) is very different from using a modern sand and cement mortar.
The material may need to be knocked up and the mortar must be cherished for several days after application.
When you buy from Conserv you can call our team anytime for help and advice.
All the same, if you're a DIY enthusiast or a builder with no experience using lime mortar then we recommend you use our straight-forward, ready to mix Hydraulic Lime Mortar.
You will find this a beautiful material to use, it is less prone to shrinkage and is mixed in the same fashion as a modern cement based mortar.
Knocking Up
Our non-hydraulic lime mortar is supplied premixed in a tub ready to use.
However, as evaporation takes place the mortar may need knocking up.
Knocking up is the practice of beating, chopping or ramming the mortar with a wooden stick or batten.
This helps maintain plasticity of the material with only the minutest amount of water added to retain workability.
Cherishing (Moisture Control)
Before the placement of any lime mortar, plaster or render, it is essential that the masonry substrate is wet (not saturated).
Moisture control is then critical within the first several days after mortar placement.
This is especially so with fat or high calcium limes because carbonation can only be made at the margin of wet and dry material present.
Slow drying or wet curing will help prevent shrinkage cracks developing and helps improve the pore structure.
All works should be screened from the sun and wind to prevent rapid drying or from rain and frost to prevent damage during the drying cycle.
This can be achieved using screening materials such as hessian, mortar fleece, plastic sheets or tarpaulins.
As the mortar dies out it should be sprayed periodically with a fine mist sprayer at intervals determined by the weather conditions on site but generally anywhere from once a day to every 4 hours.