Use of Lime Mortars

Ellis & Moore have supported lime based construction technology for the last 20 years. We actively promote use of hydraulic limes in these areas through the work of the Building Limes Forum.

Hydraulic lime is now becoming a mainstream UK construction technology. The advantages of the material include recombination of CO2 liberated in manufacture, plasticity in use, and enhanced flexibility of completed structures. Movement joints can be avoided, and the masonry elements protected from saturation and frost attack.

The growth in lime use is in part due to the work of UK Limes, a research consortium comprising Ellis & Moore with UK manufacturers and importers (Hydraulic Lias Limes, HL2, and Castle Cement), academic partners (Bristol University) and other specifiers (Rodney Melville Associates).  Ellis & Moore are currently project managers for a £440,000 research programme looking at the engineering properties of the material.

The first phase of research work into the use of Hydraulic Lime for masonry construction has now been published and is available from Donhead publications.