AUTHENTIC LIME TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN WORLD

Just like our ancestors…our technology development is continuous...

All Lime Works own-manufactured materials are based on the observation of history. For thousands of years lime-based materials, have been used as a bed and plaster/render for buildings. The physical evidence of the durability of authentic lime in buildings is well documented and clearly evidenced on many Roman Villa sites and much earlier, where you can examine the existing structures and see the lasting quality of the original mortar. It is as durable as the day it was applied and importantly remains absolutely dry. We respect these proven traditions and have adopted the technology, the methodology principles; and the use of natural local materials, which we now develop and specify for old and new buildings.

Lime works and it’s naturally the best…

At Lime Works we were one of the first to realise that genuine traditional materials are by their very nature ecological and sustainable in comparison to the majority of commonly-used render, plaster and mortar materials that contain pozzolans and modern aggregates. We also realised that authentic natural lime-based formulas worked better than any other contemporary alternative, provided that they are intelligently specified and strategically applied for each individual building in the local vernacular. Following this ethos, we maintain a continuous dedicated technology development programme, where our objectives are to create new aggregates and putty mortars that respect and conform to proven and natural time-honoured traditions.

Unnatural materials can damage our heritage buildings…

We do not use unnatural mass-produced cementitious materials, as they may contain polymers and plasticisers that not only damage our global environment, they can damage our precious heritage buildings. We have proved that man-made polymer-based materials are not necessary to achieve a warm damp-free internal environment that will stay ‘active’ and last for centuries. Even the Romans banned the use of ‘cement’ and credible present-day institutions such as English Heritage and Historic Scotland have banned the use of cement on all historic buildings, because ‘it encourages damp and can actually destroy buildings that have stood for hundreds of years’!

Making our natural eco-materials available to everyone…

In partnership with a major UK builders merchant chain, we are developing special local and regional Lime Works eco-materials, that will conform to the historic vernacular but also have the unique technical properties required for thousands of years. We are in the process of developing a method of setting natural traditional putty mixes without resorting to the use of pozzolans and hydraulic sets – natural or otherwise and their consequential deleterious effects.

Why is cement bad?

Apart from the obvious – the environmental consequences of its’ production and set – it is the type of chemical set (hydraulic) and its combination with modern ‘sharp’ sands. These create either an impervious or capillary material, either is disastrous for the building. Cementitous set is a hydraulic set and cement is lime!

Lime Works Limited | Parks Farm | Cambridge | Gloucestershire | GL2 7AR