Masonry and Mortars

Conservation Management Plans (CMP) are the instruments required to manage a place or work of heritage significance. Statements of Heritage Impact (SoHI) are the documents prepared to manage change in a structure, often required to enable its continuing service or provide for safety to users. Both documents start with a heritage significance analysis, based on historical research; the important elements are readily identified and the conservation strategies can then be formulated in the most effective manner. Buildings, bridges, wharves, tunnels and many other types of historical infrastructure can benefit from an engineering approach to their conservation.

 

A scanning electron microscope photo and spectrograph for an 1830 lime mortar showed the characteristics of the calcium-silicate-hydrate constituent of a hydraulic lime mortar. This allowed proper formulation of a synthetic hydraulic lime for the conservation of an important convict-built structure.

Misuse of Portland cement can cause irreparable damage to historical brickwork and stonework. The modern Portland cements should never be used on historical brickwork and the expertise to formulate suitable permeable lime mortars is now available.

Brickwork of this important historical bread oven was fully conserved to put the oven back into working condition. For this project, a refractory lime mortar was designed to replicate the original.

An 1850s’ brick stormwater culvert collapsed in busy city street. It was fully restored using synthetic hydraulic lime mortar.

Severe brickwork erosion below a cornice of this 1820s’ church was repaired using a synthetic hydraulic lime to match the original and the cornice was protected form further excessive moisture flow using a lead flashing on top.

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