Historic Mortar

Historic mortar, primarily lime-based before 1900, possesses unique properties essential for preserving Ontario's heritage buildings and preventing damage from incompatible modern materials. These soft, flexible mortars accommodate building movement, allow moisture transmission, and self-heal minor cracks through carbonation—properties modern Portland cement lacks. Using hard cement mortars on historic masonry concentrates stress in softer brick, causing spalling and irreversible damage to irreplaceable materials. Proper restoration requires matching historic mortar's composition, including binder type, sand characteristics, and any additives like animal hair or oyster shells. The myth that harder means better has destroyed countless heritage buildings through inappropriate repairs. Modern NHL (Natural Hydraulic Lime) mortars provide similar properties with improved durability for restoration work. Fix My Brick understands historic mortar science, ensuring repairs preserve building integrity while meeting modern performance standards. Proper mortar selection can mean the difference between preservation and destruction of architectural heritage.