Spot on Michael! 👍 Same story here in Ireland. Everything from the Palace to the Pigsty here, was built with these lime stabilised Earth mortars. I have seen them in buildings dating from the 6thC right up to the end of the 19thC.
As an Architect, who has dealt with many historic buildings from Scheduled Monuments down to Grade 2 buildings I would take exception as being labelled as a plonker! I have won awards for innovative design/construction using modern materials in listed buildings that are now listed as industry standards. However, I do appreciate the comments raised in this video regarding traditional construction. I do note that the roof on this building is a modern replacement with some poor detailing. Too many people think that the mortar between the stones or bricks/blocks is there to stick them together - it is not, it should be regarded as being there to keep them apart. Indeed, simple sand bedding can be as effective as any other mortar so long as the sand is prevented from leaching out, which is what the lime and the cement does as they act as a binder
Hey Clive, well pointed out. I was only just looking at the roof and also the stud walling upstairs. All fairly recent. I'd be interested to see what it looked like previously. I would assume pantiles. Sorry if I caused offence with the plonker comment but I got sick to death of the so called "conservation architects" in the south of England - particularly Oxfordshire. Many of them were just chancing their tails trying to secure work on grade 11 listed properties as there are so many of them. It's interesting that you should point out the sand bedding mortar as well. I mixed fine Bath stone dust with nothing but water and it set like cement. Far harder than earth stabalised mortar.
@@michaeljamesdesign Too many historic building professionals are not conservationists but preservationists so that they have to replicate whats there instead of creating a building solution and I suspect because they really don't understand construction. I worked on Coombe Abbey and there we had the original Cistercian monastery, a Jacobean manor house, a Renaissance stately home and a Victorian revivalist extension all in one building, with major Georgian stables and Real Tennis building all sitting happily together with each being the latest and modern style of the day. That brought into sharp focus that buildings need to evolve and change, even when repaired otherwise they deteriorate and become less relevant and lose their character. Fortunately, we had an excellent contractor and a great Conservation Officer and LA Building Control officer and that relationship has lasted, with at times when we often consulted each other of various aspects on other jobs long after Coombe Abbey was completed.
@@clivewilliams3661 This is it. Beautifully summed up. And if a solution is born out of a lack of architectural understanding coupled to unrealistic client expectations where the completed project is concerned then often the result is often a green-washed mish-mash of modern and traditional products and finishes. Particularly if it's a commercial venture.
What can I do to protect the hairy footed flower bees in the mud mortar of South facing wall c 1740. Ashlar blocks are similar to the gable in your video but some eroded and soft with open joints and some cement pointing. No foundation. I'm a sympathetic retired Architect working on my own Listed building and prepared to do the right thing. Sorry to hear about Doris but your new mutt looks very wise.
I’ve long suspected my Victorian property has earth lime mortar in the internal brickwork and plastering. Would it just be the earth extracted when digging the footings?
I've been watching your videos, and I find them very informative, but I find these conservation videos frustrating in a way. I wish people who understand old methods of construction went further than showing some pointing and denouncing the ignorance of builders and damp doctors. Peter Ward has may videos like this, and they're useful, but what about extensive restoration of an old, abused house, or even new construction? For example, what's the best approach to extending an old stone house when building with stone isn't an option? Concrete blocks with hemp insulation on the inside? Maybe hemp on the outside? Something else? Should I plaster the whole thing with lime or use a lime/cement mix? What if I've seen how this modern foam stuff works, and I want nothing to do with it? What if I want to create or restore decorative window reveals on the outside? Can these be shaped in place using wooden blocks like they did in the old days? Do they have to be made with cement, or can a lime mix be used? Does anyone even do this anymore?
Building control and the conservation departments now govern much of what we can do. It's not difficult to make earth/lime mortar and it's pretty straight forward to mix original style plaster and pointing mortar. But building control won't let you use them even if you're extending because it's classed as new build and therefore must conform to current legislation. It's the government who have set these rules in place and it's illegal to go against them. Even plastering in a non-listed period property (if it's over 50% of the substrate) is now notifiable and you can't just use lime, hemp or perlite plasters. You have to insulate and then gypsum over the top. And put masses of trickle vents and fans into your house to stop condensation. These regulations are made up by pen-pushers who have no idea.
@@michaeljamesdesign how about modern architecture? focus on the natural sources? what you say sounds like modern nature-centered approach is forbidden
@@goglebert We spend millions making PIR board insulation and making it illegal not to use it. Yet sheep provide free insulation. All you have to do is clean the wool. But no, not allowed in new build.
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Spot on Michael! 👍
Same story here in Ireland.
Everything from the Palace to the Pigsty here, was built with these lime stabilised Earth mortars. I have seen them in buildings dating from the 6thC right up to the end of the 19thC.
thanks Mike, bloody brilliant as usual
Excellent video once again Michael
As an Architect, who has dealt with many historic buildings from Scheduled Monuments down to Grade 2 buildings I would take exception as being labelled as a plonker! I have won awards for innovative design/construction using modern materials in listed buildings that are now listed as industry standards. However, I do appreciate the comments raised in this video regarding traditional construction. I do note that the roof on this building is a modern replacement with some poor detailing.
Too many people think that the mortar between the stones or bricks/blocks is there to stick them together - it is not, it should be regarded as being there to keep them apart. Indeed, simple sand bedding can be as effective as any other mortar so long as the sand is prevented from leaching out, which is what the lime and the cement does as they act as a binder
Hey Clive, well pointed out. I was only just looking at the roof and also the stud walling upstairs. All fairly recent. I'd be interested to see what it looked like previously. I would assume pantiles. Sorry if I caused offence with the plonker comment but I got sick to death of the so called "conservation architects" in the south of England - particularly Oxfordshire. Many of them were just chancing their tails trying to secure work on grade 11 listed properties as there are so many of them. It's interesting that you should point out the sand bedding mortar as well. I mixed fine Bath stone dust with nothing but water and it set like cement. Far harder than earth stabalised mortar.
@@michaeljamesdesign Too many historic building professionals are not conservationists but preservationists so that they have to replicate whats there instead of creating a building solution and I suspect because they really don't understand construction. I worked on Coombe Abbey and there we had the original Cistercian monastery, a Jacobean manor house, a Renaissance stately home and a Victorian revivalist extension all in one building, with major Georgian stables and Real Tennis building all sitting happily together with each being the latest and modern style of the day. That brought into sharp focus that buildings need to evolve and change, even when repaired otherwise they deteriorate and become less relevant and lose their character. Fortunately, we had an excellent contractor and a great Conservation Officer and LA Building Control officer and that relationship has lasted, with at times when we often consulted each other of various aspects on other jobs long after Coombe Abbey was completed.
@@clivewilliams3661 This is it. Beautifully summed up. And if a solution is born out of a lack of architectural understanding coupled to unrealistic client expectations where the completed project is concerned then often the result is often a green-washed mish-mash of modern and traditional products and finishes. Particularly if it's a commercial venture.
What can I do to protect the hairy footed flower bees in the mud mortar of South facing wall c 1740. Ashlar blocks are similar to the gable in your video but some eroded and soft with open joints and some cement pointing. No foundation. I'm a sympathetic retired Architect working on my own Listed building and prepared to do the right thing. Sorry to hear about Doris but your new mutt looks very wise.
Hi Sue, you want to protect the bees?
I’ve long suspected my Victorian property has earth lime mortar in the internal brickwork and plastering. Would it just be the earth extracted when digging the footings?
I wouldn't know. What it will be is a low organic matter content colloidal soil.
I've been watching your videos, and I find them very informative, but I find these conservation videos frustrating in a way. I wish people who understand old methods of construction went further than showing some pointing and denouncing the ignorance of builders and damp doctors. Peter Ward has may videos like this, and they're useful, but what about extensive restoration of an old, abused house, or even new construction? For example, what's the best approach to extending an old stone house when building with stone isn't an option? Concrete blocks with hemp insulation on the inside? Maybe hemp on the outside? Something else? Should I plaster the whole thing with lime or use a lime/cement mix? What if I've seen how this modern foam stuff works, and I want nothing to do with it? What if I want to create or restore decorative window reveals on the outside? Can these be shaped in place using wooden blocks like they did in the old days? Do they have to be made with cement, or can a lime mix be used? Does anyone even do this anymore?
Building control and the conservation departments now govern much of what we can do. It's not difficult to make earth/lime mortar and it's pretty straight forward to mix original style plaster and pointing mortar. But building control won't let you use them even if you're extending because it's classed as new build and therefore must conform to current legislation. It's the government who have set these rules in place and it's illegal to go against them. Even plastering in a non-listed period property (if it's over 50% of the substrate) is now notifiable and you can't just use lime, hemp or perlite plasters. You have to insulate and then gypsum over the top. And put masses of trickle vents and fans into your house to stop condensation. These regulations are made up by pen-pushers who have no idea.
@@michaeljamesdesign it sounds disgusting
@@michaeljamesdesign how about modern architecture? focus on the natural sources? what you say sounds like modern nature-centered approach is forbidden
@@goglebert We spend millions making PIR board insulation and making it illegal not to use it. Yet sheep provide free insulation. All you have to do is clean the wool. But no, not allowed in new build.
@@michaeljamesdesign smells good too mate, fresh fleece is pleasantly fragrant