AnnaKettle
New Member
Hi James
I use chalk lime a lot. It was always used around here (Suffolk) until about 1800 so it is the first choice for conservation work. I am no chemist but I do know that chalk and lime are closely related chemically which might be why they mix together really well to make a mortar which is rather like clay to work so great for modelling parget with.
Chalk / lime / hair mortar is such a different beast to sand / cement or gypsum plaster. It has _loads_ of hair in it so it is not brittle at all, more like a mat and good for putting on timber framed buildings which move a bit with the seasons. It is _hard work_ to lay on though and not for the faint hearted if you are doing any great area.
