Why lime mortar on flint walls
Older flint walls were typically built with lime mortar. Sand-and-cement pointing is often the wrong later repair. Flint & Form removes unsuitable cement pointing and repoints in lime so the wall can work as it was built to.
The problem with hard cement pointing
Dense cement mortar is less flexible and less vapour-permeable than the lime mortars flint walls were historically built with. Over time it can contribute to damage at the face of the wall and leave flint looking trapped in a hard, grey joint.
What we do instead
Where cement pointing is unsuitable, we remove it carefully, clean the flint, and repoint in a lime mortar chosen to complement the wall. The finish should restore definition to the flint while keeping the character of an older elevation: crisp, not artificially new.
On new work
We also use lime mortar on new and contemporary flintwork, including knapped faces, so the joints suit the material as well as the look of the wall.
A note on products
Mortar choice depends on the wall and the job. On individual projects we specify the lime mortar that fits the work; case studies name the products used on that site where helpful.
Suspect cement pointing on your flint walls?
Send photos for an initial view.