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Always thought lime mortar was just for old buildings until a job in Savannah

I was working on a historic restoration down there, and the lead mason showed me a test from the National Park Service. It said lime mortar can flex up to 10 times more than modern cement mortar, which is why it doesn't crack old brick. I found the actual guide online after he mentioned it. Now I get why they insist on it for repointing. Has anyone else had to switch their thinking on mortar for a specific project?
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5 Comments
zara_sanchez
That flexibility thing is a game changer, right? I had a similar wake up call on a project last year (a 1920s bungalow, nothing fancy). We were about to use the standard bag mix until someone brought up the breathability factor. It totally makes sense for old brick to need that give. @robert_ross95 has a point about the footprint too, which is a nice bonus. You just can't beat the right material for the job.
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ross.christopher
Actually, I find cement holds up better.
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robert_ross95
Ever think about the carbon footprint difference?
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the_jenny
the_jenny1mo ago
Yeah, that guide totally changed my approach too.
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the_robin
the_robin23d ago
Oh man, that guide was so long I needed a snack break halfway through... but hey, if it got us all on the same page about mulch, I guess it did its job.
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