Why build with lime?

Lime has been used in building for more than 2,000 years, from Roman masonry to traditional homes across the UK. Although cement became the dominant choice in the 20th century, lime mortar, lime render and lime plaster are now widely valued once again for sustainable construction, heritage restoration and breathable building design. Durable, flexible and environmentally considerate, lime is an excellent choice for older properties, conservation work and many new-build projects.

Why is lime a sustainable alternative to cement

Lime-based mortars can be a more sustainable alternative to cement mortar. When Masonry is built or repaired with lime, bricks and stone can often be cleaned and reused more easily at the end of a building’s life, helping to reduce waste and support a more circular approach to construction.

Lime production generally uses less energy than cement production and can release fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Lime mortars also absorb carbon dioxide as they cure through carbonation, helping to reclaim a proportion of the CO² released during manufacture.

For homeowners, builders and conservation specialists looking for eco-friendly building materials, lime offers practical performance benefits as well as environmental advantages.

The benefits of building with lime mortar
Lime mortar is not only chosen for its traditional appearance. It also offers several important advantages over harder cement-based products:

• Lime mortar is flexible, helping walls accommodate natural building movement and changes in temperature with less risk of cracking.
• Lime is breathable and vapour permeable, allowing moisture to escape from solid walls and helping to reduce damp, trapped condensation and mould
• Lime-based mortars are compatible with many historic bricks and stones, making them ideal for heritage repair and conservation work.
• Fine cracks in lime mortar can self-heal over time as the carbonation process continues, whereas cracks in cement mortar often worsen if left untreated.

Where can I use lime-based mortar?

Lime-based mortar can be used for a wide range of building, repointing, rendering and plastering jobs. It is best to choose lime early in the planning process, as the specification, drying times and work programme may need to be adjusted to suit the material and the building.

Lime mortar for new builds
Lime-based mortar can be used in new-build construction, particularly for masonry walls where flexibility, breathability and long-term durability are important.

Lime for refurbishment projects
In refurbishment, lime can be used to repair, extend or rebuild parts of a property while maintaining compatibility with traditional materials. Matching new mortars to existing masonry is especially important in older buildings.

Lime for conservation and repair
For heritage buildings originally constructed with lime mortar, using lime for repair work helps preserve the building’s appearance, breathability and long-term performance.

Lime plastering and lime rendering
Lime can be used for breathable lime plaster and external lime render. It can also be combined with natural materials such as hemp to create breathable, environmentally friendly finishes. Lime plaster can be finished smooth or textured depending on the aggregate and desired appearance.

Choosing the right lime product for your project

For traditional, breathable construction and conservation work, products such as St Astier NHL Lime and Cornerstone Mature Lime Putty provide reliable options for different project requirements. St Astier NHL Lime is a high-quality Natural Hydraulic Lime that offers strength, durability and vapour permeability, making it well suited to lime mortars, lime renders and lime plasters for both internal and external applications. Cornerstone Mature Lime Putty offers excellent workability and flexibility, making it especially useful for heritage repairs, repointing and conservation projects where compatibility with traditional masonry is essential.

For customers who need convenient, ready-to-use lime products, brands including Cornerstone, Lime Green and Adaptavate offer a wide range of ready-mixed lime mortars, lime plasters and lime renders. These products are suitable for traditional building, repair, conservation and breathable construction projects, helping to make lime-based materials easier to specify and use on site.

Used together, these lime products support breathable, long-lasting building fabric while helping to preserve the character, moisture control and performance of traditional and sustainable buildings.

Applications

• Lime rendering and lime plastering where breathability and flexibility are important
• Limecrete floors and other lime-based construction details
• Traditional lime mortars for new construction, repair and refurbishment
• Pointing stonework, brickwork and blockwork on older or breathable wall systems

Buy lime products at Celtic Sustainables

Whether you are restoring a period property, repointing stonework, choosing breathable lime render or looking for sustainable building materials, Celtic Sustainables supplies a wide range of lime products for traditional and modern projects.

View all of our lime products here