Frequently Asked Questions
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Featured Articles
05
Nov
#AskAConservator Day – 2021
Ask a Conservator day was founded by the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) in order to spread awareness of cultural heritag...
All Articles and Posts
17
Mar
How To Achieve A Beautiful Tadelakt Lime Plaster Finish Using The Ecologic™ Plaster System
A Brief Overview of Tadelakt
Tadelakt is not a term many in the United States may have heard before. It literally means to “rub-i...
25
Mar
Types of Masonry Binders
lime-and-cement-cycle
by Jessica (Focht) Aquiline, MSHP, LimeWorks....
09
Mar
I have unusual mortar joint details. Could you explain or can I tell you what I know about the subject?
*Using the modern grapevine jointer in brickwork is a form of what is also called “bastard pointing” whereby the genuine art...
24
Jul
How to Save Money with your Historic Restoration Project
LimeWorks.us was commissioned by Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tamaqua, Pa., to diagnose and address the failure of a church tower which utilized man-made cast stone for trim details.
27
Feb
Regional Heritage Charleston, South Carolina
For the record, Doug Scott a local mason to Charleston for over 25 years, had a hand in all this!
27
Feb
Regional Heritage Lancaster, Pennsylvania
For the record, Randy Ruth a graduate of the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology had a hand in all this!
Or...
21
Feb
Trinidad and Tobago
They seem to love me in de Islands. Got invited to Barbados and others to run more workshops. I guess I better...
13
Feb
Misc Training Work
The following are examples of training work we have done. We have provided training for volunteers of non-prof...
13
Feb
2012 APT/PTN Convergence Workshop at American College of the Building Arts (ACBA)
Charleston, SC – September 30 to October 4, 2012
13
Feb
Building a Lime Test Wall
Please watch our 3 part video series on our Lime Test Wall in Cameroon Africa
13
Feb
Restore Wesley United
Click here to read a PDF with the details of this workshop!
13
Feb
Mentoring Young Masons at the Speakers House
Trappe, Pennsylvania, USA - May 2009
AiP’s project at The Speak...
13
Feb
“Mind the Gap” – Traditional Chinking and Daubing
12th annual International Preservation Trades Workshop , IPTW 2008 "A Place for the Trades" Barre, Vermont. J...
06
Feb
Galleting in the Garden
The Bronx, New York, USA - August 2008, August 2009, August 2012
06
Feb
Re-Plastering the Jean [Jacob] Hasbrouck House
New Paltz, New York USA - August 2007
Restoration work at the J...
06
Feb
Examining a Sample
This is why we do our due diligence and thoroughly examine every sample that comes into the lab. This is fro...
27
Dec
PastForward San Francisco 2018: Preservation for the People In SPECS!
During the summer, Melissa Luo interned at LimeWorks.us and assisted our laboratory staff with mortar color si...
20
Nov
List of Nearby Hotels
The Washington House (~1.6 miles away)
Official website
4 Star Hotel ★★★★☆
Colonial-era historic hotel and restaurant
Call ...
15
Nov
Los Cinco Pasos Más Importantes Para la Preparación del Producto
English / Inglés – Descargable PDF
La aplicación de la lima-para rellenar (lime plaster) es muy simila a la aplicación del Cemento ...
15
Nov
5 Most Important Steps
Downloadable PDF
The application of the lime plaster is very similar to the application of cement stucco. A few precautiona...
08
Oct
Lime Paints User Recomendations – Guide
Vibrant and beautiful, the St Astier lime paint range is the perfect compliment to lime plaster, render and harling...
12
Sep
Israel Nature and Parks Authority The Conservation of the Archeological Parks The use of St. Astier Natural Hydraulic Limes
Israel Nature and Parks Authority
The Conservation of the Archeological Parks
The use of St. Astier Natural Hydraulic Limes
...
04
Sep
Render on Wooden Lath – Guide
External rendering on wooden lath using St. Astier products. Timber framed buildings, historic or new construction have a te...
04
Sep
Render on Metal Lath – Guide
External Plastering (Rendering on Metal Lath Using St. Astier Products)
The main difficulty in working on lath is ensuring the l...
04
Sep
Sands for NHL Mortars – Guide
Choosing the correct sand when making a mortar is of extreme importance.
Sands should be clean and uncontaminated by clay/silt. ...
04
Sep
NHL Limes: Injection and Grouting – Guide
INJECTION
- PURE LIME
PUMP
NHL5
1bag + 10.5gal of water
Capacity: 35 cu. ft./hr
NHL 3.5
1bag + 10.5gal of water
Press...
04
Sep
Lime Concrete – Guide
Lime Concrete for Floors, exposed aggregate / tamped finish
Ingredients.
10 x 66 lb bags (660 lbs) NHL 5 per cubic yard (or
27...
04
Sep
NHL Renders – Guide
NHL Renders
General information
Sands for renders
Background preparation
Two coat work
Three coat work
Protection
Good working ...
04
Sep
Pointing with NHL – Guide
Pointing with NHL
Understanding mortars
Choosing mortars
Resistance to salts
Protection and working practices
Repointing:...
04
Sep
NHL Render – Guide
Background
Prepare
background
Re-point and dub out as necessary with compatible mortar.
Stipple
Coat Cast or sprayed on only
Must...
04
Sep
Plaster on Blocks – Guide
External Plastering (Rendering) On Concrete Masonry Units
To obtain the highest vapor permeability a block construction should b...
04
Sep
Render on Cob – Guide
Cob is a very simple (and efficient) form of construction that has probably been around forever in some form or other. Structures...
04
Sep
Plastering with a Spraygun – Guide
This method is particularly suitable to ensure optimum bonding even on smooth surfaces. Spraying is recognized as the best method...
04
Sep
Plastering with NHL – Guide
When plastering with lime and using St. Astier NHL instead of non-hydraulic putty mortars reduces the working time by about 50%. ...
04
Sep
Shelter Coat/Consolidation – Guide
The purpose of a shelter coat is to provide protection to surfaces that suffer unduly from the effects of erosion from wind, rain...
04
Sep
NHL Renders – Guide
Defect
Causes
Remedies
Shrinkage
&
Cracking greater
than 3/16"Less than 3/16"
Hairline cracks
General or partia...
04
Sep
Working with Mix & Go – Guide
Mix & Go is a premixed product designed to provide all the benefits of traditional lime mortars for wider general use in the ...
31
Aug
Making NHL Mortar – Guide
NHL Mortar preparation: can be mixed in normal Mortar mixers.
Put approx two-thirds the amount of water, one third the amo...
31
Aug
Cladding – Guide
St. Astier NHL products for use with masonry cladding.
For the purpose of this document Masonry Cladding means thin sections of maso...
31
Aug
Ashlar Joints – Guide
Traditional ashlar jointing and bedding mortars were made with lime and crushed chalk, usually with a small amount of crushed stone ...
30
Aug
NHL Mortars: Consumption Chart – Guide
NHL products are bought by weight but mixed by volume.
Their low density in comparison with other binders means that with the sam...
15
Mar
LOG CHINKING, YE ALDE CALK, MEND THE GAP BETWEEN BRICK/STONE AND FRAMES
If you have a “chink” in the armor of a building it is usually due to different or moving materials coming together and the need for...
21
Feb
Our American Institution
The United States of America and its Heritage
The central theme in the inheritance we receive as citizens of the US is the ideals of...
02
Feb
Biography of Andrew L deGruchy
A Quotable Quote:
Why you should send your kids to Trade School… "My...
10
Jun
Old Stone Basement Foundation FAQ
This is part of a series of blog entries that will feature mason, Randy Ruth.
Randy was the former lab technician at LimeWorks.us an...
08
Jun
Let’s Talk Sand
Our Ecologic™ Mortar uses a sharp well graded proprietary blend, so it’s not just ANY sand!
The dictionary definition of Sand: weat...
19
May
Restoring Mt. Vernon’s Upper Garden Wall
by Debra Grube and Samantha Horvath
LimeWorks.us is providing a custom blend of our Ecologic™ Mortar for the restoration of Mt. V...
20
Apr
The Stonemason’s Gospel According to Ian Cramb
Lime Explained by Andrew deGruchy (pg. 143)
(Get the Book)
Limestone, the material calcium carbonate, has never changed fr...
13
May
Learning to Use Lithomex
Recently some of the employees of LimeWorks.us had the opportunity to learn more about our product Lithomex from D...
28
Feb
Masonry Pore Structures
Lime putty for mortar has been in known use for over 6000 years. Modern Portland cement, lime and sand mortars have dominated for le...
06
Feb
St. Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime for Historic Restoration, Conservation and New Build Projects
Prior to the 1940’s many brick and stone buildings were constructed with lime and sand for mortar. Many times these limes were inadv...
04
Feb
Lime as a Green Build Material
Here’s How St. Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) Plays An Important Role In Construction As A Green Build Material.
St. Astier is ...
21
Oct
Restoring St. Patrick’s Cathedral
An Undertaking of Passion and Love
LimeWorks.us is a big part of helping to restore a prominent landmark in New York City, St. Patri...
28
May
Another Successful Straw Bale Building with Natural Hydraulic Lime Plaster – Little Rock Arkansas
Straw bale construction is the best of both worlds, it is a green and sustainable way of building and can be affordable with low mai...
08
May
Limelight on the Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is the only US university with a World Heritage designation, it’s conservation is of the utmost importanc...
21
Mar
Chemistry of Lime Mortar – Neighborhood Preservation in Philadelphia
The Chemical Heritage Foundation released an episode of their award winning podcast Distillations. In this episode, Randy Ruth, for...
28
Feb
Repair Campaign at the Rotunda, University of Virginia Restores with Lime
We’re so proud to be part of an incredible restoration campaign currently taking place at the University of Virginia. The Rotunda is...
25
Feb
Preserving America’s Historic Barns – A Conversation With Historian Jeff Marshall
Watch our Limelight on America’s historic barns. Historian Jeff Marshall discusses his appreciation and understanding of barns, barn...
21
Feb
Historic Lime Stucco and Plaster Repair in New Jersey
The Technical Install Team of LimeWorks.us was called in to perform a Historic Lime Stucco repair to reverse some of the inappropria...
25
Jan
Colorwash Stain, For Brick Walls With Mismatched Brick
Q: There are some bricks in wall that are mismatched in color. Is there a way to have them match without removing them?
A: While th...
30
Nov
FAQ Friday: What are Silicate Paints?
Silicate Dispersion Paint is also known as Inorganic Mineral Paints and is unique in regard to its ability to breathe and supply a l...
30
Nov
Preserving Historic Brick at the Shirley Plantation
The historic Shirley Plantation is situated along the James River right outside Richmond Virginia. It was constructed in the early...
21
Nov
Repointing A Historic New Jersey Home
Historic masonry restoration completed by the Technical Install Team of LimeWorks.us ...
13
Nov
Restoration Well Underway at the University of Virginia
The prestigious Lawn at the University of Virginia is currently in the middle of an enormous restoration campaign. This past summer ...
09
Nov
FAQ Friday
Two weeks ago I attended The 12th International Congress on the Deterioration and Conservation of Stone in New York City. It was fou...
07
Nov
Limelight on Historic Brownstone Restoration – Alfred’s Victorian
Alfred’s Victorian Restoration Story – with Andy deGruchy
This beautiful late 19th century Hummelstown brownstone was recently re...
26
Sep
Replica Lithomex Brick for Charleston Old City Jail
The 2012 APT/ IPTW Joint Preservation Conference is almost here. We’ve been busy preparing for the workshop we’ll be participating i...
31
Aug
Mineral Paints and Stains Make a Breathable and Durable Mural on a Historic Building
1 man
560 hours
28 days
1 Beautiful/ Durable/ Breathable Mural
Jim Gloria of the Totts Gap Art Institute completed the fir...
10
Aug
Conserving A Pennsylvania Treasure, New Hope’s Historic Parry Mansion
The Parry Mansion located in downtown New Hope Pennsylvania is one the finest relics of the river town’s historic past. Benjamin Par...
25
Jul
Historic Brownstone Restoration With Breathable Natural Hydraulic Lime
This beautiful late 19th century brownstone was recently restored by deGruchy Masonry Restoration, the Technical Install/Training Te...
20
Jul
Favorite Books on America’s Building Heritage and Masonry, FAQ Friday
While it may not be directly in front of you, information about our building heritage in the United States and countries around the ...
19
Jul
Restoring the Historic French Quarter with Breathable Lime Mortar
Founded in 1718, the French Quarter or Vieux Carré is the oldest neighborhood of New Orleans. Much of the quarter’s historic buildin...
13
Jul
How To Stay Cool While Working with Lime in Extreme Heat
With temperatures across the U.S. exceeding well beyond the 90° F during the day and relentless scorching sun I have been asked the ...
21
Jun
Discussion on Masonry Preservation and Sustainable uses for Lime
Join us June 27th in Lancaster PA at the Central Pennsylvania Preservation Society. Lab Tech Randy Ruth will be presenting on the im...
15
May
How do Natural Hydraulic Lime Mortars Compare to Common Type-O Mortars Containing Portland Cement?
For well over 30 years it has been common practice to prescribe the use of a Type-O masonry mortar for use on the conservation of ma...
04
May
Yes, We Can Save The Frank Furness 19th Street Baptist Church
This beautiful church was designed by Frank Furness and is located at the corner of 19th and Titan in South Philadelphia. It almost...
04
Apr
Tadelakt Plaster Finish is FINISHED at the Bucks County Designer House
The walls are complete in the powder room at the Bucks County Designer House in Doylestown, PA. Here is a photo to tickle your fancy...
30
Mar
Tadelakt Plaster Application At the Bucks County Designer House & Garden
LimeWorks.us was commissioned to complete a Tadelakt plaster application at the Bucks County Designer House in Doylestown PA. Tadela...
13
Mar
Understanding Mineral Paints and Stains for Masonry Applications
Ecologic™ Silicate mineral paints are mineral paints made using potassium silicate, also known as waterglass. They are combined...
02
Mar
What Sand Should I Use With Natural Hydraulic Lime For Repointing My Building? FAQ Friday
How to choose sand for Natural Hydraulic Lime
Quick and short of it…. when choosing sand for Natural Hydraulic Lime, make sure the ...
24
Feb
Case Study on Masonry Repair and Patching Material – Lithomex
Damaged stone and brick is a common problem for many historic structures around the world. Lithomex is a breathable in-kind repair m...
24
Feb
“Soft Reds and Hard Tans” Exploring Historic Masonry Architecture in the French Quarter
New Orleans. It’s quite the town especially during the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras, known as Carnival. Technical...
16
Feb
The Bill of Rights for Masonry Structures
Photo Credits:
Bryan Papciak
...
10
Feb
Repairing Broken and Damaged Stone and Brick using Lithomex – FAQ
Of course following the Lithomex technical data sheet is important to ensure a quality application, but what about the little things...
09
Feb
The Mysterious Newport Tower, Restored Using Natural Hydraulic Lime
The Newport Tower is a peculiarly placed piece of stonework. It currently resides in Touro Park surrounded by one of the ritziest r...
03
Feb
A Green Portland Cement Alternative, FAQ Friday
You might ask yourself… How is Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) a green building material? The simple answer would be that it releases a...
20
Jan
Lime Paint Brush (Natural Bristle) vs other paint brushes? FAQ
Often when applying Lime Paint the surface texture may be rough, such as that of a brick, stone or stucco. A good brush for Lime Pai...
12
Jan
Restoration of the Eldridge Street Synagogue in New York City with Ecologic™ Mortar
In the heart of what is now Chinatown on the Lower East Side in Manhattan lives the Eldridge Street Synagogue. A very important Jewi...
06
Jan
Chalky Finish With Lime Paint, FAQ Friday
Q: I want to use Lime Paint as a finish of my basement walls but am worried about it chalking. What can I do to prevent or fix this?...
04
Jan
Checking up on the Lithomex Repairs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
A team from LimeWorks.us recently ventured up to NYC. While there, they took some time to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art where...
30
Dec
Total Repointing, FAQ Friday
Q: What is the correct method for total repointing?
A: Correct total repointing requires removing the joint to a depth of approxima...
28
Dec
Historic Fabric melded with Traditional Mortar at the Irish Hunger Memorial in New York City
Blocks from the World Trade Center Memorial and the construction site of the new World Trade Center sits a half acre patch grass ded...
23
Dec
Damaged Bricks, The Quick Moving Culprit? FAQ
Bricks can hollow back quite profusely in some cases. What are some of the causes?
Don’t forget vermin. Accelerated wetting and dryi...
09
Dec
Green Construction in Today’s Built Environment – FAQ
Q: When people talk about “green” construction, I often wonder what the environmental benefit of the construction is. Is it new cons...
02
Dec
Lime Paint and Plastering System for Interior Application, FAQ Friday
Building on last week’s FAQ Friday, the use of lime paints doesn’t have to stop with use on the exterior of a building. Lime paints ...
25
Nov
All About Lime Paint, FAQ Friday
Although they date back thousands of years, some of the best examples today of lime paint are those pictured in scenic postcards of ...
18
Nov
Lime Mortar and Hardscaping, FAQ Friday
When it comes to hardscaping with masonry, I am all for mortarless construction. The beauty of a well built dry stacked stonewall or...
04
Nov
Reconstruction of Historic Lime Mortar and Renders FAQ Friday
Q: I want to restore my old stone house and have heard there are ways to reuse the mortar already in my building during the repointi...
29
Oct
Stucco Over Historic Stone Buildings, FAQ Friday
Q: Why are beautiful stone farmhouses and other historic stone buildings covered with stucco? Is it for insulation? If the stucco ov...
21
Oct
How Lime Mortar Traditionally Got it’s Color and How We Can Replicate this Today – FAQ
Seven factors that can affect the color of lime mortar in no particular order of significance, Lime, aggregate, pigment, water conte...
14
Oct
Sandblasting Historic Buildings FAQ Friday
Q: Someone wants to sandblast my house. Should I let him sandblast?
A: Invasive cleaning methods such as sandblasting or high-pressu...
07
Oct
Using Natural Hydraulic Lime in cold weather, FAQ Friday
Q: As fall encroaches upon us with its cold weather, a question that is going to be popping up with more frequency is… Is it too col...
30
Sep
Wet Basements and Masonry… FAQ Friday
Basements are notorious for moisture problems. Mold can spread quickly and cause serious health problems throughout a home. Here is ...
27
Sep
Burning Lime, The Traditional Way
This is an incredible video that really shows the difficulties of burning limestone the old way. Stacking wood, limestone and coal i...
23
Sep
Deteriorating Brownstones – FAQ
Q: I have an old brownstone house and some of the stone have been falling off, what can I do to prevent further damage and...
16
Sep
One quick question on Natural Hydraulic Lime, FAQ Friday
Fall has arrived, this morning it was in the 40s! Randy has quick answer today in his FAQ entry…
Q: Does your Ecologic mortar produ...
09
Sep
Techniques for Plastering a Wall, FAQ Friday
Q: I have painted drywall in my home and would like a lime plaster finish. How can I achieve this?
A: There are many ways to achieve...
07
Sep
A Message from Ian Cramb, a younger man…
We got an email back in 2011 with some amazing photos of Ian Cramb.
These photos are from 1958 in Iona, Scotland. Ian was working on...
02
Sep
Differences Between Repointing with Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) Mortars vs. Cement Based Mortars FAQ
Q: Is pointing with lime different from pointing with cement? I’ve done work with cement but I want to know what the differences a...
19
Aug
FAQ Friday
Hooray, Today is Friday! Another rainy weekend will be upon us here in Pennsylvania, but now it’s time for another FAQ Friday with R...
12
Aug
Lime Mortars vs. Cement FAQ
Shall I use Lime or Cement?
Q: Could I perhaps use cement and sand? What is the advantage of using lime on old ston...
