Chose lime mortar over Portland on a 1910 re-point, no regrets so far

I had to re-point a brick cellar wall in Cincinnati this month and had to pick between modern Portland cement or traditional lime. I went with the lime mix because the old soft bricks need to breathe, cost about $80 more but it feels right. Did 6 test panels in the back corner first to see how it cured, and the color blends way better than the grey stuff. Anyone here stick with lime for older homes even when it takes longer to set?

2 comments

2 Comments

anna7173d ago

The lime mix sounds right for that 1910 wall, but one thing that caught my eye is the $80 difference. Lime can actually end up being cheaper if you factor in how it lets the wall move and keeps bricks from spalling down the road, so you might not be paying extra at all. Also those test panels were a smart move, most folks skip that step.

ward.diana3d ago

My buddy Tom skipped them, @anna717, and his 1911 wall crumbled six months later.