Does Lime Mortar Stop Damp?
If we categories buildings into modern and old, it is usually the modern buildings that are constructed with damp proofing barriers in place, such as additional ventilation.
Old buildings, which were usually built using lime mortar as opposed to modern cement, relied heavily on its ability to ‘breathe’ as its form damp proofing.
The lime mortar joints of these old buildings were, as a result, much more porous than the brick or stone that it was built with. The joints would drain and shed water through evaporation, causing little to no damage to the building’s masonry.
Can lime mortar help protect buildings that are experiencing damp problems? Our team of specialists are on hand to share our knowledge, using our experience and specialist-level knowledge of lime mortar. Contact us today to find out more.
Lime Mortar for Damp Proofing
It is important to first understand what type of damp the building is dealing with.
- Rising damp – this is where moisture in the ground moves up the house through the small spaces between permeable building materials such as bricks.
- Penetrating damp – occurs as a result of structural building problems (such as faulty guttering) where water puddles, saturates and absorbs through the exterior wall, causing brown patches to form on the inside wall.
- Condensation – where the warm interior air makes contact with a cooler surface, such as a window or sometimes the wall itself.
Due to the porous nature of lime mortar, in older buildings especially, it has helped to promote the evaporation and escape of moisture, something of which modern buildings with standard cement don’t have.
Most modern buildings’ insulation materials don’t mix well with water. Water molecules will collect in the small gaps within the insulation and create a cold bridging, which is a big causer of damp.
A breathable lime mortar wall can help combat this problem, by offering water and moisture a means of escape. This type of breathable render is hygroscopic and porous, allowing water and excess moisture to enter and store without causing damage. This will prevent it from reaching the insulation which could have a huge positive impact on the building’s damp proofing.
Need Lime Mortar Services? Get in Touch
To find out more about lime mortar walls, or to chat with our team about our various landscaping and lime mortar construction services, get in touch.
Give us a call on 01963 351850, or send an email to info@tomtrouton.co.uk. Alternatively, you can send us a message using the online contact form.
