Why use a traditional lime mortar for your property?
Builders have used lime mortar as a construction material for thousands of years. Only in recent decades have empirical tests given us a scientific understanding of lime’s exceptional durability. As a natural building material, lime also offers a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to cement.
Although builders started using Portland cement more widely from the 1920s onward, they had previously relied on lime mortar for house construction. Lime’s permeability allowed moisture to pass from the interior of masonry to the outside, making damp courses unnecessary in older buildings.
Over the past 50 years, however, many tradespeople have repointed lime-built structures with cement. This practice has proven harmful because cement, a non-breathable material designed for modern construction, traps moisture within the masonry. Without the ability to expel this moisture, lime-based walls suffer from spalling and decay. In winter, the damage worsens when trapped moisture freezes and thaws, leading to cracking and surface breakdown.
Cement doesn’t just trap water—it pushes it inward. As a result, interior walls become damp, plaster begins to deteriorate, timbers start to rot, and the structure may require costly repairs. Surveyors often misdiagnose this moisture problem as rising damp and suggest damp-proof course injections, which rarely solve the issue and waste money.
The solution. Lime mortar.
To fix the root of the problem, you need to repoint with a suitable lime mortar that allows the building to breathe. Before doing so, you must repair any cracks caused by the inappropriate use of cement. Lime-based masonry and cement don’t work well together; their physical properties differ too much. Cement remains rigid, while lime allows for gentle, natural movement without cracking.
Today, more architects and contractors recognize the benefits of using slaked lime mortar or NHL (natural hydraulic lime) mortars—not just for restorations, but also in new builds. These mortars provide flexibility, durability, and a visually pleasing finish.
Many historic buildings, often built with shallow step footings only 400mm below ground, don’t need rigid structural support. Their flexibility comes from the lime mortar itself, which allows gentle shifts over time without damage.
The mortar should always be softer than the bricks.
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Prestige Brickwork
Out of 5 stars
Overall rating out of 50 Google reviews
Sam and his team are brilliant, we had all 3 side of our house repointed as well our fireplace, some damaged bricks were replaced and crack stitching also done. communication was quick and easy at all times. We were often at work but were more than happy to leave a key for them. They were always polite and cleaned up at the end of the day. They’re a family business and they know their stuff when it comes to lime repointing and brick work. We’ve had lot of complements about the work. Wouldn’t hesitate to use them again.
I had Sam and his team down to repoint my wall. This is a small family business, the guys are very polite, professional and considerate. The work is done to a very high standard, they came on time and cleaned up behind them. I can highly recommend Prestige Brickwork. It is good to see a lovely group of young men working hard to provide an excellent service. I will be asking them to do a few more jobs for me.
Sam and the team at Prestige brickwork were polite, on time, tidy and completed great work at our home. They sorted out problems with the exterior walls on our house and built a beautiful new retaining wall in our tiered garden. We couldn't be happier, they even came back to jet wash our driveway. Thank you.
Fantastic job on our driveway pillar, really high-quality brickwork and attention to detail. Professional, tidy, and reliable throughout. Highly recommend!
From start to finish Sam and his team have been a pleasure to work with. Provided a competitive quote after a worrying survey and reassured us it wasn't as bad as the survey had said. Then proceeded to come and do the repointing work and adding missing lintels once we had moved in. All of the team were very professional and cleaned up nicely after finishing. Really great service and would highly recommend them!
Highly recommended. The team were very professional and polite, and the standard of the finished work was excellent. We are very happy and will definitely be using them again.
Sam quoted quickly and was approachable to discuss ways to proceed. Scaffolding went up lickety split (arranged by Sam via another company), and Harrison and team turned up to begin power-tooling the concrete render off the worst two walls on my detached house. What could have been a worrying and troublesome period was made about as good as it could be by Harrison and the workmen themselves. They were thoughtful, interested, careful with our property and seemingly genuinely keen to make a positive difference to the house. The phase where the damaged walls were laid bare - wet pointing, damaged bricks, horrible window surrounds with holes and foam, was the worst, but I was encouraged by the lads that this was not the worst they had encountered, and gradually, with replacement bricks and lime pointing, the house started to look solid again. The interior walls are already less cold, and we feel happier that no more damage is being done to the fabric of the building. The cost was substantial, but when you look at the man-hours, materials and tools used, I’d say it was very fair. I’d have these guys back in a heartbeat.
Sam & his team helped fix damp issues on my Victorian home the proper way - replacing external concrete ground with a shingle-lined trench & membrane, removing ground level cement render, replacing damaged bricks & repointing with lime. Totally professional, efficient & would fully recommend!