Damp
Why modern materials cause damp in historic properties — and how breathable lime mortar solves it.
This project was started due to damp issues. The house was originally built using hand-made clay bricks and lime mortar. Using lime mortar allows the clay bricks to breathe, meaning no damp.
The clay bricks take moisture through the face of the bricks and out through the joints, which is why the joints have to be softer than the clay bricks. Many years ago it was common knowledge of why lime mortar was used, when craftsmen like myself built these properties and maintained them.
"Cement pointing, plastic paint and cement rendering seal the natural breathing of clay bricks — causing the very damp they were meant to prevent."
By the introduction of modern materials such as cement pointing, modern plastic paint — or in this project both — and then cement rendering, the natural breathing of the clay bricks is sealed, thus causing damp.
Since removing the cement rendering and the plastic paint, the property has already started to dry out. Equally the same applies to using modern gypsum plaster internally.
My motto is: Do it Once, Do it Right.
Work carried out
Photos from recent lime plastering and restoration projects
