NHL Archives

What Is the Problem with Hydraulic Lime Mortars?

When working with traditional buildings, using the wrong mortar can do more harm than good. Hydraulic lime mortars are often promoted as a safe and durable solution, but their widespread use in historic masonry is raising serious concerns. At The Yorkshire Lime Company, we specialise in breathable,…

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August 12, 2022

Bimal Patel

5/21/2025

Yorkshire Lime undertook the restoration of a Grade II listed ha-ha wall for us, completing the work to a high standard with great care and attention to detail.

While on site, Lee was punctual and demonstrated strong knowledge of lime materials and a clear understanding of the SPAB approach to working on listed buildings and structures.

We are very pleased with the results and would be happy to recommend Yorkshire Lime for conservation and restoration work to heritage assets.

Charlotte Quinn

5/03/2023

We employed Yorkshire Lime Company to repoint our late 1800s brick-built property. We knew we wanted this doing in lime, and Lee came out and fully explained reasoning for using hot lime versus other methods. He is extremely knowledgeable and the lads who came out to complete the works did an excellent job of both the pointing and some brick replacements which were necessary. The work is very neat, the team polite/friendly and they did a good job of clearing up and cleaning down at the end.

Mark Whitton

9/04/2022

We have had our 1930s house repointed in lime mortar by the Yorkshire Lime Company using Yorkshire Lime. After weeks of work it looks spectacular. The finish is superb due to the workmanship and materials involved. Recommended.

Kickingbird

5/16/2023

Great experience with Lee this past weekend training me in lime pointing. A really knowledgeable guy who is obviously very passionate about what he does. Many may say they are lime experts but Lee is the real deal. I’d highly recommend him for any training or conservation work you need.

sarah miles

10/20/2022

I was very pleased with the work Lee and his team did rebuilding a section of my stone garden wall which had become unstable. The work was carried out using traditional hot lime mortar in keeping with the original. The team were reliable and hard working. I would happily use them again.

Louise Wakefield

10/21/2025

Thank you to Lee & his crew from the Yorkshire Lime company for transforming our 200 year old cottage. It had previously been pointed in cement & all the bricks were spalling. They used a Doff machine to remove some of the terrible plastic sandtex paint & repointed the walls in hot lime mortar which they slaked on site, a true skill & historic trade to preserve our old solid wall buildings. They also replaced an old wooden lintel that was rotten with a new lintel & bricked up above it & also replaced other bricks that were too damaged. We had cheaper quotes from some companies who claimed they were pointing in lime but when you unpicked the quotes they were using NHL from builders merchants which is not proper lime & is still too hard, like cement & so would still cause damage to the bricks, don’t waste your money on these companies, got to the experts, I.e. The Yorkshire Lime company.. Lee also showed us how to make our own limewash which is cheaper than buying it. I I can highly recommend this company if your want to preserve the fabric of your old solid wall building for years to come, lime mortar allows the bricks to breathe & prevents damp internally. A fantastic job, thanks again 😊

Gary oakes

3/17/2025

Cannot recommend highly enough, we’ve had them round twice for two substantial projects, and each time we have been and are delighted with the work. The most recent challenge was the repair / partial rebuild and repointing of a large walled garden wall using hot lime mortar. The job was a huge one, tackled in excellent fashion by Lee and his team. I’m sure you can find the before and after photos on their Facebook page, but the difference is huge. From a shabby, dangerous, rickety, plant growth filled wall to something that is rebuilt, secure, safe and very smart indeed. Can only imagine that the final result is what is would have looked like 150 or so years ago when it was built. Will be booking the team in for their next challenge in the summer! And looking forward to having them with us again.

Alex Pollitt

4/19/2023

Great experience so far - offering exertise and guidance on options for repointing my house in Sheffield. Very helpful and take the time to explain the ins and outs of what is quite a complex topic for old houses!

Charlotte Bainbridge

2/05/2025

Received very helpful advice from Lee, it's been much appreciated.

John Eaveson

11/13/2025

Great Job by Yorkshire Lime Company
Lee surveyed @ advised best option for work

Gage, Harry & Archie completed the work

Limestone mortar pointing, repair lintel wear & tear on our grade 2 listed building

Gage led the work and step by step talked through each stage of the job. Harry & Archie worked well as a team with Gage

The team came at agreed times very polite and tidied as they went and after the work

Big thanks to Shannon @ the office who sorted out booking the work. Communicated throughout the job any amendments to times & tweeks around nature of what need to be done

We certainly will use Yorkshire Lime Company for future work required @ our property

John & Shamsi Sunshine
Elsecar Barnsley

Catherine Mitchell

3/04/2022

We have a large garden wall which was in desperate need of repair. Lee from The Yorkshire Lime Co stepped in after another contractor started the project and let us down. Lee offered advice and guidance about our project, we needed hand made bricks and he helped us source the right bricks for the job. Lee also replaced an aged and dangerous lintel over a garden gate. Lee explained the importance of using lime to rebuild our wall and the longer impact of using other products. He helped us create what is now a beautiful walled garden. Thank you to Lee and his team for their hard work. I would definitely recommend The Yorkshire Lime Co and will use them again for future projects.

Dan linney

6/18/2022

Fantastic work. Lee has a really passion for what he does and make's sure the job is done properly. Would highly recommend.

Anne Anderson

12/06/2022

Lee and his colleagues have done a great job repointing our 200 year old property, to solve a damp issue. They've worked weekends to get the job done, in some very unpleasant weather. Happy to recommend them.

Henry Jaremko

6/04/2022

Lee and his team did a great job re-pointing our Victorian brickwork with hot lime mortar. Always turned up when they said they would and worked to schedule and to budget. Excellent attention to details and hard working. Delighted with the results and highly recommended!

Ian Bramley

9/09/2022

Lee has done work for us at Sandal Grange. He advised us on some repointing which without his advice we could easily have repointed with cement mortar rather than lime pointing which was required because the building is sandstone. He also recently removed 4 stone finials which were cracked and could have fallen. Both jobs were done in a very professional manner to our complete satisfaction. Lee is very knowledgeable within his field and we highly recommend him.

Nicola Crabb

4/01/2025

Gage and the team did an excellent job of re-pointing my property and re-rendering the chimney. They cracked on with the job, were friendly and cleaned up after themselves. Gage was always willing to share his extensive knowledge of lime pointing, instilling confidence that they were the right people for the job. I'm delighted with the results of their work. Shannon was also lovely to deal with; it took a while to book the work in due to my having to coordinate traffic management as well, but Shannon was patient and kind. This company really cares about its work and I can't recommend them highly enough.

J Parry

12/05/2022

Thank you so much for the absolutely brilliant job patch pointing our brickwork with hot lime mortar pointing on our house in York. We were so impressed with the excellent care and attention to detail and really pleased with the result. Many thanks!

Claire Porter

3/26/2025

Great quality work. The team that come are very polite and hard working. The finished result is great. Our house has definitely benefited from having lime tender. Gage was incredibly knowledgeable and I felt like we were in good hands. I would highly recommend.

A Medi

11/17/2023

We are very pleased with the work Lee and his team have done to remove the render from our gable wall. They were professional and good at keeping us updated throughout the project. We would happily use them again in the future.

Lara Thornton

8/30/2022

We're very happy with a small but important job repairing our lintel at the front of our house. Lee did a great job matching the lime mortar using materials correct for the age and style of our house. And now every time I go outside I don't wince when I look up! The work has made a big difference.

ellis darren

5/04/2022

Lee did a fantastic job repointing our Victorian brickwork with lime mortar. Looks perfect with the original pointing and bricks.

Victoria Oakwell

6/04/2022

Brilliant job, highly recommended. Hardworking, friendly, really know their stuff. Made sure the work was finished to a high standard.

Nicholas Thomas

3/04/2025

Nigel from The Yorkshire Lime Company Ltd provided a detailed assessment of work required to remedy several damp issues affecting various parts of my mother's house. The investigation into the causes of the damp was meticulous and this was followed up with a detailed report listing the necessary steps to address the issues. Very impressed with the level of detail that was provided in the report - Nigel clearly possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Sar Whit

3/04/2022

We have had our 1930s house repointed in lime mortar by Gillard’s using Yorkshire Lime. After weeks of work it looks spectacular. The finish is superb due to the workmanship and materials involved. Recommended.

Jane Shipton

8/31/2022

Lee and the lads have done a fantastic job of repointing our property with hot lime mortar and resurrecting two crumbling garden arches with traditional masonry repairs.

Tim

3/02/2024

Lee and the team re-torched our 1875 slate roof with lime , chalk and goat hair. Lee works hard with focus and attention to detail. There was one detail after the job was done that I wanted seeing to and this Lee immediately and happily rectified. They are pricey but you absolutely do not want to let a regular builder loose on a period property. I will be happy to use Lee again on further work.

Kate Dodd

7/01/2025

The work is first class and they are so reliable. They really care about the property and leave it lovely and tidy when they finish. Highly recommended.

Jane Chung

5/13/2025

Very pleased with the work done by The Yorkshire Lime Company. Dealing with them was very easy from initial contact to job completion. The team that did the work were hardworking, communicated well and tidied the work area up at the end of each day. Gage Carney, the lead craftsman knew his stuff, and he and his team went over and above to ensure everything was done satisfactorily and well. A special thank you to Gage, Harry and Keon who worked an especially long day at the end of the job to ensure everything was completed and that all the rubble accumulated over the five weeks of work was dumped into a skip. Also a special mention to Shannon who dealt with the administrative aspects of the job efficiently and well.

Chrissy Bolton-Radelaar

10/16/2023

Thank you Lee. Great job, great knowledge. Good to meet you and have The Yorkshire Lime Company on our list for future jobs. Great service from start to finish. Thank you!

Joe Porte

10/02/2023

Really professional and knowledgeable service. Lee and his team coped really well with a difficult job and some unfortunate weather conditions which led to some understandable delays. Will definitely be hiring again.

Pete Fox

9/15/2024

Expert advice and a report provided Nigel Copsey, The Yorkshire Lime Company regarding traditional building techniques, mortars and stone. His knowledge, expertise and experience of traditional building techniques that have stood the test of time, is supported by the good quality science to support his advice. Amazing enthusiasm and knowledge. Thank you.

Jo Phelan

9/04/2025

The Yorkshire Lime company recently repointed part of our georgian property in Barnburgh in addition to repairing and repointing both of our chimneys. Gauge, Lee and the whole team worked incredibly hard in both hot weather and heavy rain and did a fantastic job. We hope to use them again in the future and would highly recommend them.

Dan Parker

2/17/2024

Amazing work by Lee and team. Completely rejuvinated our Grade II listed farmhouse by replacing bad cement pointing with hot lime pointing, multiple stone replacements where the cement had caused damage, and effectively rebuilding whole sections of wall due to poor maintenance and previous shoddy workmanship. The blending of the new stone and the finish on the lime is second to none.

Kevin Trickett

12/27/2022

I had a problem with spalling brickwork on my house and asked Lee to take a look. He diagnosed the problem - that, at some point in the past, a previous owner had had repointing done using cement based mortar. Lee arranged for the cement mortar to be removed and replaced with lime mortar. Very neat job and I'm very pleased with the result.

Faye Barclay

6/01/2023

Lee was incredibly helpful with offering advice on how to help prevent damp in a very old house. He was very informative, knowledgeable and responded to emails very quickly. Thank you once again for your help.

Viet Bui

6/18/2023

I had some bricks repointed and a large hole filled up. Great job from the team!

Telemeter

2/12/2024

Mark Lobb

3/27/2024

Wouldn't hesitate to recommend Lee and his team. They performed a partial rebuild of my gable end wall and did an excellent job; very happy with the extent of Lee's knowledge and the standard of the work.

Jaspal Singh

4/25/2023

Great company with in depth knowledge of lime and the mortar industry. Solid information and advice provided Thankyou

Scott Gaynor

7/04/2022

I used Yorkshire Lime Company to repair water damaged sandstone at the front of my period property. I had tried several trades prior and all I can say is that this company was a breath of fresh air. If you want professional expert services this is the company and I would highly recommend. I had a personal service where every step of what was needed was explained. The full front of the house was originally pointed with the wrong motar and this was not enabling the moisture to escape. Lee instantly knew the cause and recommended hot lime pointing. This is traditional appropriate pointing for hertigate type properties. They cover Yorkshire wide. My property is located in Barnsley central and there is no other company I could find to offer this bespoke service. Professional expert service. I am very happy customer. Thank you

S Errington

5/17/2023

Chris Brawn

7/04/2022

Lee is a star. Super knowledgeable and very helpful. He's done a great job for us so far. Highly recommended.

Sarah Cobham

11/12/2022

The Yorkshire Lime Company have been absolutely brilliant as they have just spent 9 weeks working on our Grade II* listed Westgate Unitarian Chapel using hot lime pointing, and lime torching, as well as working with our architects and Historic England who, after inspecting their work said they had never seen such good heritage pointing. I would thoroughly recommend Lee Gillard and his team as absolute experts in their field. The Yorkshire Lime Company went the extra mile to save our chapel wall when we realised the Victorian mortar was destroying the Georgian Bricks!

Laura Orrick

10/26/2023

Lee and his team have done a great job repointing our chimney stack and we finally have a dry house after heavy rain. There were numerous delays due to scaffolding, weather, etc, but The Yorkshire Lime Company stuck with us. It was great to see Lee passing on his knowledge to his team. Thank you to all of you. (Before and after photos)

Sar Whit

9/05/2022

Chris B.

7/31/2024

We highly recommend Lee, Gage and the Yorkshire Lime Team.
It all started with small patch job to prevent water ingress above some windows on the upper floors. ...

Daniel linney

7/04/2022

Fantastic work. Lee has a really passion for what he does and make's sure the job is done properly. Would highly recommend.

Chris B.

7/22/2024

We highly recommend Lee, Gage and the Yorkshire Lime Team. It all started with small patch job to prevent water ingress above some windows on the upper floors. Lee gave us an initial day rate to do the initial work, with an agreement to go fixed price should we progress further. The day rate is expensive, so we were pleased to set a fixed price after a few days. After getting up close to the Ashlar joints, it was very clear that the cement installed (in the 1950’s) on top of the existing lime mortar was causing entrapment of water and subsequent damage to the stone. So with a fixed price agreed, the whole building was done top to bottom. I was very active cleaning, snagging and even learning how to hot lime point. I now have a true appreciation of how slow and delicate Ashlar Pointing is. Snagging is something Lee and the team are more than happy to do, they really accepted my compulsive OCD. Lee is very knowledgable and has a great right hand man called Gage, both have great experience, an eye for detail and an understanding of Heritage buildings. The whole job took 4 weeks. In addition Lee & Gage did some stone repairs with Lithomix. Hot Lime Not NHL (Natural Hydraulic Lime) : The previous year we had entrusted a previous tradesman to do NHL patch pointing, at the time were not aware of Hot Lime, within 12 months the NHL had failed and fallen out in many places. I did a lot of research into to Lime pointing after the NHL failed and was pleased to find Lee and Yorkshire Lime Company. I have included two infra red internal photos showing how the building was holding water (cold dark blue colours) and is now dryer (warmer orange colours). I took both these photos the day after a day of heavy rain. I would also like to complement Lee on his aftercare too, while I was cleaning the building prior to scaffolding coming down, I spotted two key joints that still had cement pointing in, he came straight out and sorted them out while the scaffolding was coming down, Thank you Lee. We finally have a water tight building that can breathe too.

Kate Dodd

7/01/2025

The work is first class and they are so reliable. They really care about the property and leave it lovely and tidy when they finish. Highly recommended.

Scott Gaynor

7/04/2022

Telemeter

2/12/2024

Victoria Oakwell

6/04/2022

Brilliant job, highly recommended. Hardworking, friendly, really know their stuff. Made sure the work was finished to a high standard.

Sar Whit

9/05/2022

Dan Parker

2/17/2024

Mark Whitton

9/04/2022

Charlotte Quinn

5/03/2023

ellis darren

5/04/2022

Lee did a fantastic job repointing our Victorian brickwork with lime mortar. Looks perfect with the original pointing and bricks.

Catherine Mitchell

3/04/2022

Mark Lobb

3/27/2024

Chris B.

7/22/2024

Charlotte Bainbridge

2/05/2025

Received very helpful advice from Lee, it's been much appreciated.

sarah miles

10/20/2022

Dan linney

6/18/2022

Fantastic work. Lee has a really passion for what he does and make's sure the job is done properly. Would highly recommend.

Kevin Trickett

12/27/2022

Henry Jaremko

6/04/2022

Bimal Patel

5/21/2025

Kickingbird

5/16/2023

Jaspal Singh

4/25/2023

Great company with in depth knowledge of lime and the mortar industry. Solid information and advice provided Thankyou

Sarah Cobham

11/12/2022

Sar Whit

3/04/2022

Laura Orrick

10/26/2023

Ian Bramley

9/09/2022

Chrissy Bolton-Radelaar

10/16/2023

Thank you Lee. Great job, great knowledge. Good to meet you and have The Yorkshire Lime Company on our list for future jobs. Great service from start to finish. Thank you!

Tim

3/02/2024

Claire Porter

3/26/2025

Louise Wakefield

10/21/2025

Jo Phelan

9/04/2025

Chris Brawn

7/04/2022

Lee is a star. Super knowledgeable and very helpful. He's done a great job for us so far. Highly recommended.

S Errington

5/17/2023

Viet Bui

6/18/2023

I had some bricks repointed and a large hole filled up. Great job from the team!

J Parry

12/05/2022

Pete Fox

9/15/2024

Alex Pollitt

4/19/2023

Chris B.

7/31/2024

We highly recommend Lee, Gage and the Yorkshire Lime Team.
It all started with small patch job to prevent water ingress above some windows on the upper floors. ...

Lara Thornton

8/30/2022

Daniel linney

7/04/2022

Fantastic work. Lee has a really passion for what he does and make's sure the job is done properly. Would highly recommend.

Nicola Crabb

4/01/2025

Nicholas Thomas

3/04/2025

A Medi

11/17/2023

Anne Anderson

12/06/2022

Faye Barclay

6/01/2023

Jane Chung

5/13/2025

Jane Shipton

8/31/2022

Lee and the lads have done a fantastic job of repointing our property with hot lime mortar and resurrecting two crumbling garden arches with traditional masonry repairs.

Gary oakes

3/17/2025

John Eaveson

11/13/2025

Joe Porte

10/02/2023

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