Lime Pointing Edinburgh

We are proud to say that at James Allan Stonemasons we only use first class lime mortars for all our pointing work.

No cement. Ever.

How We Use Lime Pointing To Renew Your Current Stones’ Mortar To Create Robust Strength And A Seamless, Beautiful Finish…

Without routine maintenance of your lime pointing, after years of weathering, your pointing will crack, erode then finally completely fail leaving your masonry completely open to the elements. This can cause untold damage to walls and building as well as being very unsightly.

This can make your masonry unsafe and prone to fail further as time passes.

However, there is a solution, which will prolong the life of your stonework…

Our Customer Promises:

  • If It’s Stone We Can Definitely Help You
  • Quotations Within 48 Hours Of Survey. Every Time.
  • We Prioritise Urgent and Emergency Work.
  • Quickest Turnarounds In The Business. If You Need It Done Quickly, Call Us first.
  • All Our Work Is Subject To A 10 Point Quality Check When Complete.
  • Guarantees Up To 25 Years
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Lime Mortar Pointing

Lime mortar pointing, at its simplest is making sure the gaps between your individual stone pieces are filled with a lime mortar that is in good condition and is aesthetically very pleasing.

At James Allan Stonemasons Edinburgh, we only use lime mortars for our stone and brick repointing – along with the right preparation and technique – to ensure your stones will remain in place and endure the harshest environments for many years to come.

All our mixed lime mortars are bespoke to your wall or building. Our lime mortars are bonded using natural hydrated lime, the best choice for relatively soft sandstone.

We carefully choose our lime, sand and aggregate to ensure compatibility with the existing mortars used on your building. This means you receive lime mortar pointing that is tough but fits in with your existing mortar.

From time-to-time, all stone buildings and their walls will need repointing.

Hand Crafted Lime Pointing

We take the time to understand how the previous stonemason pointed your stonework. By doing this, we can achieve an identical match and replicate their technique.

This ensures you will have the perfect finish that fits seamlessly into your existing stone craft and restores your building to be like new again.

Our lime pointing Edinburgh process is to:

  • Brush area to be dust and debris free
  • Hose away any remaining dust particles for the perfect adhesion
  • Apply by hand for a solid structure using pointing keys
  • Leave the mortar to cure/dry a while
  • Carefully brush for either a smooth or rustic finish of choice

The pointing in stonework is the mortar that sits between the pieces of stone and bind and hold the wall together.

The two main reasons for repointing stonework:

Decay

If the original lime pointing has decayed over time, then it needs to be replaced.

There can be several reasons for this decay but it is usually down to the effects of the weather over a long period of time and/or poor maintenance.

Anything that causes damp masonry such as an overflow pipe or a blocked drain can also exacerbate the decay.

The main reason damp is such a problem is that during the winter, this moisture within the mortar freezes and expands, thereby breaking down the mortar into little more than dust.

Incorrect mortar

Traditional stone walls work on the basis that moisture entering the wall has to be able to escape as water and water vapour as easily as possible. Some people think using cement for this is a good idea.

Unfortunately not.

The use of cement mortars is widely recognised as being harmful to stone buildings, walls and other structures as they can drastically alter the way the wall handles water and moisture.

Lime mortar however is porous and can handle the transmission of water and water vapour, ensuring the surrounding stonework is not damaged.

Why lime mortar pointing should be used on all stone walls

  • Lime allows buildings to breathe

    Lime is material that is sympathetic to traditional construction. Vapour permeable, it allows buildings to breathe and reduces the risk of trapped moisture and the subsequent damage of stonework.

  • It’s more environmentally sound than cement

    Using lime mortar is generally thought to be more environmentally sound than using cement. It has less embodied energy than cement and also helps to absorb carbon dioxide in the setting process of carbonation and is made in a much more natural way.

  • Lime finishes look great

    Compared to cement and other mortars, lime finishes are beautiful, visually softer and more pleasant to look at, blending in with the surrounding stonework in a much more natural way.

  • Lime is durable and has stood the test of time

    Look at the historic buildings that you can find in Edinburgh, Scotland and the rest of the UK. Many of these were built hundreds of years ago using lime in the building process.

    The Pantheon Temple in Rome is one of the oldest buildings in the world and has a lime concrete dome that is over 43 metres wide. This has stood for approximately 2000 years.

  • Using local limes enhances regional identity

    There is a diverse range of limestone available across the UK which means that different limes can vary in colour, texture and other properties.

    That means local limes have their own regional look and identity and using local limes can help provide a continuous link both the surrounding area and the past, promoting a proud regional identity.

Below is an example of our expert lime pointing:

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Free Professional stonework repair advice

James Allan Stonemasons Edinburgh will always advise you on the correct stone restoration, repair or replacement strategy for your particular building.

We have the facility whereby we can carry out a sample stone repair in Edinburgh, Midlothian or Borders, etc., for you to see before you commit to larger works.

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